I will often get sales from libraries, businesses, churches, convents (I kid you not), and sometimes even book stores. But one of the more interesting sales I had recently from was a business called "New World Archive". Often when I get a particularly interesting business purchasing something I'm selling, I'll do a Google search, which often times results in nothing as interesting as it seems. In this case, it was the exact opposite.
New World Archive seems to try to avoid having any online presence whatsoever. In doing some digging, I first found a mention of them on BookThink.com. They linked to a more in-depth article about New World Archive.
According to their research, New World Archive is a Canadian based company that buys books from all different places and consolidates them in their warehouse (of which they think they found a picture; there is apparently a US location as well). They then have a huge staff dedicated to improving the items they get (erasing marks made with pencil, cleaning them up, repackaging them) and then they resell them either as new or at a higher grade than they purchased them. In many cases, they're buying from individual sellers or sometimes stores in the US that have these items at significantly lower prices than the Canadian market is supporting. It's not limited to books, either. According to this site, they have a high volume of CDs that they clean industrially to sell re shrink-wrapped as new.
This whole thing is completely fascinating to me. It feels like some majorly covered up conspiracy, but really it's just a strange business model that seems difficult to keep up a constant profit.
Weird!
They have bought books from me too, however I only sell brand new books, so kind a surprised how will their model work on new books.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they are Canadian. I was told they sell on Amazon.ca as Vanderbilt CA, and looking at their feedbacks it show that many buyers are dissatisfied with them.
ReplyDeleteIf this is the same one that my mother is dealing with right now, they want her to send their money back and do not want her to put anyone's name on the check as their bank will not accept it. They are threatening to sue for it and there is not a thing wrong with the book. Amazon has messed up her account that she has had for about six years. She was hacked into and cannot get into her account as whomever hacked it changed all passwords and e-mail address. Amazon says they cannot access her account either, so six years and 3400 books down the drain. I'm wondering if this company with the strange requests and complaints could have anything to do with all of this? Any comments or suggestions welcome, am at a lose as what to do.
ReplyDeleteI have had 4 damage claims by New World Archive in a row. It is an impossibility, that all of these 4 claims would be legitimate, as I have hardly ever a return; complaints are very rare! Last time before I shipped the book I had inspected the book; it was prefect; it was returned to me without prior authorization and they themselves created defects, including with scissors a tear in the dust jacket! I for good reason did not issue a refund on this illegal last return and have informed them to refrain from purchasing anymore books. The damage claims included claiming missing cds, entire packaging missing, postal service removed package, but they had actually attempted to ‘return’ empty package, so it came through as ‘refused by receiver’; an attempt for fraud, claiming the book ‘fell out’. Other claims were writing, highlighting etc. which appeared to be not there before either. I submitted claim to Amazon.com for their illegal conduct and hope they take appropriate action as well. I have also heard that they make illegal copies of these books and sell them on the European market. Don’t know if it true; their conduct however is illegal.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am experiencing the same thing with New World Archive. I believe they order the book and if the price goes down the intentionally damage the book and want a refund. I am considering cancelling all orders from them but they do place a lot of orders that don't get returned. I think their taking advantage of Amazons return policy.
DeleteWhy are your claims "anonymous"? Are you scared of something? It appears you don't want to be made well known and I've dealt with these so called re-sellers for years and had a problem with a torn open package as it was shredded by a postal machine in Springfield as "Anonymous" is claiming. If you were really people and not wanting to make false claims you'd put your names on your so called stories.
ReplyDeletethis anon is correct what is scary candy is that it is true. what do you do for a .living besides bitch online about things you dont know. do you work for these criminals?
DeleteI just received the third refund request from NWA in the last 30 days. The last one I checked especially well and was positive it was new/mint as claimed. They say the bottom is torn and I KNOW that's not true. I packaged it in bubble wrap and a hard-sided mailer so it would arrive in the condition it was sent in. I don't know what's going on, but this company does not seem to be on the up and up. My feedback has always been excellent. People are very happy with the items I send them...except these folks. As far as anonymous postings, based on what one writer's mother experienced, maybe we do have reason to be scared of something.
ReplyDeleteI just canceled an order. Nothing but trouble, even selling a new book
ReplyDeleteThese scenarios sound much like what our store deals with when it comes to NWA. Our policy is to package the orders to a point of absurdity.
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