A man phoned and ordered a $300 book. I took the information and happily packed it, very carefully padding it and putting it in a box. I affixed the label, and then ran the credit card through. It was rejected. Probably I wrote it wrong as he recited it. I'll phone him. Uh, I didn't ask for his phone number. How careless. On to the problem-solving-Internet. He was easy to find because he had an unusual spelling for a common name. Sure enough, there it was: three listings at different addresses but all with the same phone number. Good. Ring, ring, and here's the operator: This number has been disconnected.
I told another book dealer, and he said, "How long have you been in business - 30 years? And this is the first time? Finally, welcome to the retail world"
A few months ago, I got an order for an $1800 book from someone in Portugal. It was very tall book, with stunning hand colored plates of early Portuguese and Spanish military men in their flamboyant military attire. The book is scarce because the individual plates frame beautifully.
I sent an e-mail to members of the ABAA to ask whether any of them had done business with this customer. Our chat line is a wonderful source of information. While nobody knew the man several offered suggestions on how to handle the money issue from a foreign country. I always accept credit cards, but there are some countries one must be suspicious of. Hello, Nigeria.
It is not paranoid to expect the worst. Stolen credit cards, bad credit cards, credit card charges later refused or reversed. Everyone had a horror story. The one method several agreed on was to open a second account with only $100 in it, and have the customer wire money to this account. The minute it is deposited, move it to the regular account. This way he can't pull the money back out, or take out your entire balance.
So, suavely, I advised him to wire the money. He agreed. The money came in, I went through the whole prescribed ritual, feeling very financially astute. Aha, I had outwitted him if he had evil intentions.
When he got the book, he emailed me. He was ecstatic. "I had heard of this book, I never hoped to own it. It is too wonderful for me to keep. I am donating it to our museum. Thank you for your kindly help and cooperation."
I felt only a tiny bit abashed.
--Florence
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