Recently went to the new Trolley Square location. Presented an LDS employee 2006 gift book, italian leather bible, never out of the box. A used one sold recently on eBay for $201. New in-the-box ones are becoming rare. Nothing currently on Amazon and the last on on eBay a year ago went for $250.
I have a large collection of new LDS employee gift leather books and was shopping for a local buyer by bringing a cherry to see how I would be treated and if I would get a fair price.
First of all, Tony Weller, the owner, took my book out and began handling it without gloves! I was apalled as it had never been out of the box and protective liner paper.
He searched his computer and offered me $20 store credit, citing that cash for books is reserved for large sellers.
I told him I would pay him five times the offer, $100 in cash for a similar book. He said he didn't have any.
This is my second attempt in 15 years to sell a collectible to this organization. The first one was ""The 19th Wife."" They offered me $20 then also, saying that binding restoration would cost them over $100. I sold it on eBay for $491.
Not a rumor, but first person story related to me was a young man who was attempting to sell a First Edition Book of Mormon he inherited from his father's estate. He asked for $5000. Wellers told him it was worthless since it had no title page. As he was leaving, the rare book buyer said, ""Oh. I'm in a good mood today; I shouldn't, but i'll give you $50.
He went to another book dealer in Salt Lake who said he'd give him the five grand or sell it for him on 20% commission. He agreed and the book sold for $21,000.
I wasn't expecting anything even close to retail, but $20 store credit? Don't waste your time unless you were on your way to a thrift shop to donate your rare or collectible book and decide you want to sell it instead and buy a bagel.
What Tony doesn't seem to appreciate is that potential sellers won't be back with other treasures.
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