766
Current Talk '17 II / Re: Auction for Overpriced DS BooksI
« on: December 04, 2017, 02:15:53 AM »
Well, that listing is certainly "interesting," Doctor! There's this weird phenomenon I've noticed with online used book prices in recent years (it might have started as long ago as ten years back, now--I haven't kept track). This is where a vendor lists a copy of a book that isn't all that rare but is somehow perceived to be "hot"--but sometimes, only in a fairly obscure niche market. For instance, this morning I was on Amazon and I saw some old Sax Rohmer paperbacks from the 1950s listed at around $450 apiece. What I recall having been told years ago is that this means that if you "buy" the book, the vendor will then search for a copy for you. And yes, you pay shipping.
Thankfully, there are still plenty of more reputable book dealers who don't engage in this kind of scamming. I'm not sure that there's anyone to appeal to about this kind of thing since I don't think the used book sector is at all regulated. "Buyer beware."
Still, somebody "auctioning" a lot of fairly commonplace Ross paperbacks in such an extreme fashion on eBay sets a new benchmark. As I said... interesting.
Best, G.
Thankfully, there are still plenty of more reputable book dealers who don't engage in this kind of scamming. I'm not sure that there's anyone to appeal to about this kind of thing since I don't think the used book sector is at all regulated. "Buyer beware."
Still, somebody "auctioning" a lot of fairly commonplace Ross paperbacks in such an extreme fashion on eBay sets a new benchmark. As I said... interesting.
Best, G.