COLLEGE MOM TRADING POST
Used College Textbooks

 When purchasing an item from a student on College Mom Trading Post:

1. HIGHLY SUGGESTED.  This issue is very common. Always ask for a tracking number when the item is mailed to you and add lost item insurance which only cost $2. The seller is not responsible for lost items in the mail. Tracking numbers can help prove that the seller mailed it.  Lost mail is covered by insurance and offered through the post office.

2. Please confirm your mailing address and the details of the book before you complete any transaction.  Sometimes your PayPal mailing address may not be correct so please keep it updated. Most sellers use this address for shipping unless otherwise stated.

3. You can use Pay Pal to pay for the item which offers some protection to you if you use your own account to pay. But you can pay through Pay Pal without an account with just an email address if the seller wants to send you an invoice to your email address. This way is very easy to pay. All personal Pay Pal accounts are free to use and have a certain amount of protection.

4. Give the seller a deadline to send the item to you or you may have to take action if the item has not been sent. If you have a problem getting an item from a seller, you can check the tracking number to see if the seller has even really sent it. You can also let College Mom know about the failed transaction so that she will be aware of that student’s action. But College Mom will not assist in this situation. College Mom has the right to not post that students list anymore and send a warning to the other students if this happens again.

5. College Mom does not suggest sending a check. It is not as safe or traceable.

6. If sending a money order buy one from the Post Office only because they are the easiest money orders to trace.

7. Always put the details of the book on your PayPal payment in the comment box to confirm what book you are purchasing and expecting from the seller.  

When selling an item to a student on College Mom Tra

ding Post:

1. HIGHLY SUGGESTED. This issue is very common.  Always get a tracking number when sending the item and give that tracking number to the student. Do not throw it away until you have a confirmation that it has been delivered by the buyer. This tracking number will help prove you mailed the item.

2. HIGHLY SUGGESTED.  This is another common issue. Always offer to the buyer a chance to purchase lost item insurance from the Post Office and state that you are not responsible for lost items in the mail.  I would state this in your initial lists on the website also. 

3. You can also send the buyer an invoice to their email address from your Pay Pal account. This way is the fastest and easiest. You can list the item sold, the price and any other comment wanted. This way also is best if the buyer does not have a Pay Pal account of their own.

4. It is also a great idea to give the student a deadline to send the money and to receive it. If the money does not reach you at the time then the item will go back up for sale. If you receive the money after you have resold it to another student then send the money back to the student who missed the deadline to send it. Be sure to let them know when they missed the deadline when the deadline arrives and tell them you are re-selling the item. It is always best to be as friendly as possible in all transactions.

5. Ask the buyer if sending a money order to purchase one only at the Post Office so that it can be traceable unlike money orders that are purchased elsewhere,

6. College Mom does not recommend accepting personal checks for payment. It may not be safe and it is not traceable.

7. I do not recommend giving your phone number as a contact. If the buyer is unhappy, you could get harassing phone calls.

8. I do not recommend trading even with anyone.  This is an open opportunity for trouble.  Some people may not send you their book or the correct one.  Also, the transaction has not gone through PayPal which means you will not have any support in case of a bad transaction. 

9. Always put the details of the book on your PayPal invoice to confirm what book is being sent for future references. 

ADDITONAL NEW TIPS FOR BOTH PARTIES IN THE TRANSACTIONS:

I would like to address some recent questions that have been asked me from students on the College Mom Trading Post. I hope this will help answer your questions and help you have better and safer transactions in the future.

1. I buy all of my books here on this website. I never buy them new. If you make sure the book title, author and the edition are all the same then it will be the correct edition text for the class. Having the right edition is what guarantees you that it is the right book. Sometimes in the past, the ISBN numbers have been different but the book was correct if all of the other information matches. The student course guide will give you the required text information and also tell you about a change in the edition or text changes that are coming up. This helps you to buy the correct edition at the right time. Text books do change from time to time. The link to the student course guide is: http://ashford.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_6385_1 You will have to sign in first as usual. This link also tells you about the class and the syllabus along with the detailed homework assignments.

2. I strongly suggest to the seller that you get a tracking number Also, offer the buyer a chance to buy lost item insurance from the postal service and tell them that you are not responsible for lost items in the mail. The tracking number will prove that you sent the book. This has been an issue several times. I suggest that you ask the buyer if they want insurance for the item. If you are buying the book then ask for a tracking number and buy insurance which only cost about $2 for $50 coverage. Items do get lost in the mail at times which is out of the control of the seller. Insurance is offered for this purpose by the Post Office. If the buyer does not like your terms of the transaction then the buyer does not have to do business with you. So be very clear about your transaction details both in buying and selling a book.

3. I suggest that you be very aggressive in your search for books by replying to the new list of books that you need as soon as possible. The books sell very fast.

4. I suggest that you look for your books at least two classes early or and always be watching for your future scheduled classes ahead of time. Don’t wait until it is time for that class. You may have to buy it new if you wait. The student course guide will give you the required text information and also tell you about a change in the edition or text changes that are coming up. This helps you to buy the correct edition at the right time. Text books do change from time to time.

5. When selling your books on this website, the suggested prices are to sell them for half the price of the new book in the bookstore. Your price should include the shipping price also.

6. You can search for a particular book by going to the search box on the Books for Sales link.  Follow the directions under the link. You can also contact the seller through the email address provided on that list. 

Good luck with your transactions. Thanks for supporting the website.

If you have any other suggestions, email College Mom at collegemom@collegemomtradingpost.com