Looks like he returned quite a few of these

http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISA ... =AllFeedback&myworld=true

Yes, I noticed he had had some issues with is merp_shop purchases. It really appears that the Merp_shop is a bit dodgy with some of its listings as they seem to:

(a) Show pictures of books that aren't part of a given auction
(b) Includes the titles of books that aren't part of a given auction in the listing title (usually in lower case)
(c) Use pictures that are not of the actual books being sold. If you look at the Hatchards Hobbit that he currently has listed and the listing for the (different numbered) one that finnish_guy purchased, many of the pictures are the same, which means that one or both of the auctions are using pictures that are not of the book being sold. In his feedback, finnish_guy complains that the hobbit had stains that were not in the description (or apparent in the pictures, presumably).
(d) Misdescribes books. If you look at the John Howe set, the text states that there is "only minor wear (one split edged, but not visible and only minor)". But then in the picture you can see that the top of the slipcase is held together with a one inch piece of tape. Assuming the picture of the books is of the actual ones being sold, the description is a flat out lie.

In think eBay is getting worse for "listing mistakes" at the moment. I wonder if it is a product of the bad economy?

S.

Interestingly, some of these are my books and I am not very happy with the merp_shop showing the pictures.

The pictures of the Hatchard's Hobbit are from my copy, for a long time he included the number of my book in the listing (as if he was selling my copy)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HOBBIT-DELU ... ction&hash=item2eb9df0ae2

I eventually put a complaint into eBay, which like every other complaint I have ever made to them was ignored, but he did stop using the picture of the limitation page from my book, the rest of the pictures are from my copy.

The John Howe Box set also showed my pictures (I got it for £99 because of the tape on the box). I started a thread on this copy to do with the size of the box set.

http://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/n ... ost_id=5542#forumpost5542

If these were the best pictures he had of the box set then I wonder what the set really looked like.

Now you can see them as he has changed the pictures (the spines look very different)

My copy

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200659394236

Copy on sale at the moment

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LORD-RINGS- ... ction&hash=item2eb9df094a

Attach file:

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  my copy not the merp_shops.jpg (45.45 KB)

It is a disgrace that he can get away with doing this. Makes my blood boil!

Still, it looks like I did well with my AUD 36 set of unread John Howe books a couple of weeks ago (especially as I also got the Hobbit which I needed thrown in). The slipcase isn't perfect, but it is the best I have seen. I was surprised there was only one other bidder, to be honest.

S.

Only book I ever bought from merp shop was a Hobbit Deluxe Edition, 1st Impression 1999 for GBP175. Condition of the book was as described so I guess I was lucky. My offer was 30% below his asking price otherwise I wouldn't have bought it.