Because describing the physical condition of a used book is rather subjective, buyers are often unsure about the real physical condition of the book they are purchasing. To avoid possible misunderstandings, we don’t use photos from the editor; instead, we use our own photos of the items we are selling.
We also provide an accurate and honest grade of all the used book conditions you might find on up2dateSKILLS. Our customary standards fall into a 5-level grading scale: (1) as new; (2) very good; (3) good; (4) fair; and (5) poor.
1
As new
‘As new’ means that the book doesn’t show signs of use. It is in the same condition as when it was published.
2
Very good
‘Very good’ describes a book that is worn but shows no damage except for the effects of normal use, i.e. the book may have been opened and read, but there are no defects to the book or pages.
3
Good
‘Good’ describes the condition of a book with some small signs of wear – but no tears – on either binding or paper. It might contain the handwritten name of the previous owner or a stamp.
4
Fair
‘Fair’ shows moderate signs of wear and some tear particularly on the edges of the cover but it’s complete, sound, and clean.
5
Poor
‘Poor’ describes a book that shows serious physical condition flaws but is still complete and holding together.
If you would like clarification on any of the used books in our catalog, please contact us.
