Amazon.com has new copies of the book Penn Central Power available for less than 50 dollars. I'm not sure if this is a new printing-- it could very well be, but in any case, this book has been out of print for many years and has been very hard to find, with copies selling in excess of 100 dollars or more.
Yes, that is the book. I ordered a copy for myself and will report further if and when I receive it.
Seems a little strange that Amazon has it for such a relatively inexpensive price when it has been selling for much more places like ebay and abebooks.com.
Has anyone actually received a copy from Amazon, yet? I ordered mine on the last day of February, along with another book, and neither have shipped. The estimated ship date has always been 4/2.
It's strange; Amazon typically beats their shipping and arrival estimates by a week or so.
I ordered Penn Central Power two nights ago from Amazon (New, $45.00) and sent this question into Amazon Customer Service:
"I recently placed an order for the book "Penn Central Power" by
Robert J. Yanosey. I know for a fact that the First Edition of this
book is very hard to find as it is out of print and was published in
1987. I would like to know if the copy I ordered from Amazon is a
new First Edition and where this book was obtained from. Also, why
does it take so long to get shipped to me? Any help would be
greatly appreciated."
Customer Service sent me this in response:
"I'm sorry about the delay in getting your order to you. We recently
learned that "Penn Central Power" is now back-ordered.
This item is from Publisher "Morning Sun Books", 1st ed edition
(December 1987).
I have researched your order, and can confirm that we still expect
to ship your order by the date listed in Your Account: May 18,
2007.
If you do not receive a shipment confirmation by May 19, 2007.
The estimated date of shipment was calculated at the time you placed
your order and is based on the availability of the items in your
order, the proximity of inventory to the delivery address you
provided and the shipping method you chose.
The shipping method selected for this order is our free Super Saver
Shipping option. As stated on our web site, when you choose Super
Saver Shipping, you can expect your order to take a few days longer
to ship out than if you select our standard shipping option. This
extra time is reflected in your estimated shipment date.
This item Usually ships within 4 to 6 weeks This additional time
allows us to ship your order in the most cost-efficient way
available, and enables us to pass the savings, in the form of free
shipping, on to you.
I apologize if this time frame was not clear at the time you placed
your order."
Now my question, is this book a second printing, first edition? If Amazon is communicating with Morning Sun, they must be telling Amazon that they expect to ship more since obviously they're getting a lot of orders. Why wouldn't Morning Sun offer them on their website if that's the case?
I posted a comment about Amazon in another thread, but it seems like the same thing keeps happening.
It appears to me that they're working with an intermediate distributor who has made his catalog available to Amazon directly. When you order however, there are long delays.
I'm still waiting for my copy of the new book about the Great Northern blizzard... I already cancelled Railroaded in Cooperstown.
When you want something, backordering is a living hell. Sometimes when you come up against that barrier, you're better off to keep looking. You are likely to find a better deal in better condition. I don't like ordering stuff sight unseen.
D/
Video If the problem is Digital, The Solution is ANALOG!!