On Grading Books

I'v been running across variations on this aggravating theme in far too many book descriptions lately:

"In good shape considering its age."

There is no age modifier in book grading, dad gum it!

A title published in 1928 is held to the same standards of condition as a title published in 2011. I lay the blame for this kind of muddy description at the feet of the internet. The book business has historically been apprenticeship based, newcomers learning the ins and outs from savvy old hands with limited patience for imprecise grading.

Now, any yayhoo with $800 can pick up a bar code reader, load some software into their phone and declare themselves a bookseller.

smh.