Mutiny at ABE

Sellers at ABE are incensed about recent changes at the bookselling network. Starting in April, sellers must use ABE’s credit-card processor even if they have their own merchant account. Yet ABE is reserving the right to file chargebacks against sellers.

This week, one longtime ABE seller went ballistic, firing the below message in an e-mail blast to previous buyers:

Dear Customer,

ABE is changing its business model to be more like Amazon and Alibris, a move toward new books and textbooks, with minimal contact among buyers and sellers. Beginning in April, you will have little contact with your ABE seller. Questions about your purchase or shipping options will be difficult, and shipping for most orders will be delayed by some days.

ABE will no longer allow book dealers to process their own credit cards, and this has several implications for you, the customer:

1. Because we will not be processing your credit card, you will no longer receive a credit card receipt with your purchase.

2. Ordering on the ABE order page will prevent you from requesting shipment to an address different than your billing address. The seller will not be able to accept your order for a gift to be mailed directly to a friend or relative.

3. In addition to its high monthly fees and commissions, ABE is adding high fees for processing your payment. Because of this, many dealers plan to raise prices on ABE, while maintaining current prices on Biblio, TomFolio and ChooseBooks, which don’t interfere with sellers. And many of its best dealers already have abandoned ABE.

4. We won’t discourage you from shopping on ABE, but we encourage you to avoid its high fees. Go directly to “Bookseller & Payment Information” at the end of every ABE listing, and click on “View Bookseller’s Homepage.” You’ll find the dealer’s address, phone number, and e-mail address. That way, you can order outside the ABE site, and any special requests you have can be handled promptly.

Related posts:

1. Security fears led to unpopular change at ABE
2. Got a Web bookstore? Here’s a new way to collect payments