New value for used books flows from Amazon

The Internet has helped the book market become larger and more efficient--and that has upset a number of publishers and authors.
The New York Times

The story "New value for used books flows from Amazon" published July 29, 2005 at 7:35 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[Eric Giguere]

And not all used books are used

What's funny, actually, is that many of the "used" books featured on Amazon aren't actually new books. My latest book's only been out for a month, so there certainly wouldn't be many used copies out there, but Amazon lists 9 "like new" copies that are actually brand new and 2 "collectible" copies that are also brand new (and no, I haven't signed those ones!). It would be interesting to see the stats for only the truly used books.

Eric
Author of "Make Easy Money with Google", <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.memwg.com" target="_newWindow">http://www.memwg.com</a>

[Eric Giguere]

And not all used books are used

What's funny, actually, is that many of the "used" books featured on Amazon aren't actually new books. My latest book's only been out for a month, so there certainly wouldn't be many used copies out there, but Amazon lists 9 "like new" copies that are actually brand new and 2 "collectible" copies that are also brand new (and no, I haven't signed those ones!). It would be interesting to see the stats for only the truly used books.

Eric
Author of "Make Easy Money with Google", <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.memwg.com" target="_newWindow">http://www.memwg.com</a>

[Below Meigh]

Don't forget

ABE.

And there is a cheaper postal rate for books.

But yes, ebay has caused grief to many retailers. Especially jewelers (buy a mount at jeweler but get the gem on ebay...).

[Below Meigh]

Don't forget

ABE.

And there is a cheaper postal rate for books.

But yes, ebay has caused grief to many retailers. Especially jewelers (buy a mount at jeweler but get the gem on ebay...).

[Jeff Putz]

It does hurt the authors

Well, it does hurt the authors, because we only get paid for the first sale. The authors don't get a substantial cut from the publisher in the first place... 10-12% if they're lucky from the sale price to the distributor. That means a buck or two in most places. For niche computer books, that sucks because you'll only sell 5,000 copies or something along those lines.

[Jeff Putz]

It does hurt the authors

Well, it does hurt the authors, because we only get paid for the first sale. The authors don't get a substantial cut from the publisher in the first place... 10-12% if they're lucky from the sale price to the distributor. That means a buck or two in most places. For niche computer books, that sucks because you'll only sell 5,000 copies or something along those lines.

I wish Amazon and Half.com came out in 97

I used to buy pricy textbooks for my college years. And that's a LOT money for a poor student like me. And the college bookstore is the only place you can buy, and sell back textbooks. For example, a computer operating system textbook costs about $75, and their buy back price is like $25. And their re-sale price for it is $60. That's an obvious rip-off that many of us students could only accept at that time.

Now amazon and half.com (some other smaller sites as well, bigwords, ecampus, etc.) are offerting studetns a steep discounts on used books. Many books are just used once or twice, so they are really *new*. I wish they came out early in 97 so I can save literally $2000 in terms of textbook cost.

[sanenazok]

Back in the day

I went to college in the mid 90's and would check BBS and other posts for used books, I think I used the book store only my first semester of freshman year, after that it friends and post office.

Now it's just twice as easy - you don't even need friends.

[Rusdude]

True; also buy "International" Edictions

I made a mistake during my first year of college of buying books at the bookstore (which is run by B&#38;N here). Now, I buy most books online (Half/Amazon, rarely eBay because I need them fast) and save 45-50% or more.

One thing to note is the wide availability of so-called "International" editions which are basically soft-cover duplicates published for UK (maybe Canada too, not sure). Sometimes, they lack advanced internet features (that most people don't use anyway) but their price more than makes up for that :)

As for selling back, there ARE times when selling a book back to the bookstore is better for you. Many sellers who don't sell professionally are probably not taking into account the fees (which can be quite steep). I usually price all books on Half/Amazon, calculate my return after fees &#38; commissions, then go to the bookstore and see what I can get there.

I wish Amazon and Half.com came out in 97

I used to buy pricy textbooks for my college years. And that's a LOT money for a poor student like me. And the college bookstore is the only place you can buy, and sell back textbooks. For example, a computer operating system textbook costs about $75, and their buy back price is like $25. And their re-sale price for it is $60. That's an obvious rip-off that many of us students could only accept at that time.

Now amazon and half.com (some other smaller sites as well, bigwords, ecampus, etc.) are offerting studetns a steep discounts on used books. Many books are just used once or twice, so they are really *new*. I wish they came out early in 97 so I can save literally $2000 in terms of textbook cost.

[sanenazok]

Back in the day

I went to college in the mid 90's and would check BBS and other posts for used books, I think I used the book store only my first semester of freshman year, after that it friends and post office.

Now it's just twice as easy - you don't even need friends.

[Rusdude]

True; also buy "International" Edictions

I made a mistake during my first year of college of buying books at the bookstore (which is run by B&#38;N here). Now, I buy most books online (Half/Amazon, rarely eBay because I need them fast) and save 45-50% or more.

One thing to note is the wide availability of so-called "International" editions which are basically soft-cover duplicates published for UK (maybe Canada too, not sure). Sometimes, they lack advanced internet features (that most people don't use anyway) but their price more than makes up for that :)

As for selling back, there ARE times when selling a book back to the bookstore is better for you. Many sellers who don't sell professionally are probably not taking into account the fees (which can be quite steep). I usually price all books on Half/Amazon, calculate my return after fees &#38; commissions, then go to the bookstore and see what I can get there.

[Rusdude]

How publishers are battling this...

I'm in my 5th year at a large public university and I served two years on the bookstore advisory committee which oversaw the campus bookstore run by Barnes &#38; Noble, so I feel qualified to make the following comments.

Publishers are increasingly pushing out new editions. I believe, it used to be every 4-5 years and it's now down to 2-3 years if that. And the new editions don't even have any significant changes, just maybe a new cover and some junk on a CD or web-site.

Publishers are pressing professors, many of whom don't care, to use new textbooks in return for... well, that depends ;)

Also, I increasingly notice so-called "bundling" where a textbook and a study guide (or different books) are shrink-wrapped together and, once opened, can't be returned period.

Not nice...

[Rusdude]

How publishers are battling this...

I'm in my 5th year at a large public university and I served two years on the bookstore advisory committee which oversaw the campus bookstore run by Barnes &#38; Noble, so I feel qualified to make the following comments.

Publishers are increasingly pushing out new editions. I believe, it used to be every 4-5 years and it's now down to 2-3 years if that. And the new editions don't even have any significant changes, just maybe a new cover and some junk on a CD or web-site.

Publishers are pressing professors, many of whom don't care, to use new textbooks in return for... well, that depends ;)

Also, I increasingly notice so-called "bundling" where a textbook and a study guide (or different books) are shrink-wrapped together and, once opened, can't be returned period.

Not nice...

Used books can generate new book sales

I was amazed to read that publishers are upset about the increasing ease of finding used books. When a person discovers a new author, for example, either through a free book or a used purchase, and finds that the author is very readable, the reader then goes in search of other books by the same author. This has happened to me many times. I find a new author, am very happy with the quality of writing, and go on a search for other titles by the same person. Sometimes I find that used books are available through my primary source, Amazon, and occasionally no used books are listed for sale. Then I buy the book new if I want it bad enough. By the way, Amazon does not sell used books directly, but acts as a clearing house for many independent vendors who actually store and ship the books after the purchase is made to Amazon on their website.

My basic point? Used books generate some percentage of new title sales, which increases the percentage of the reading public in their purchase decisions. More people, especially youth, liking to read can hardly be a bad thing!

Used books can generate new book sales

I was amazed to read that publishers are upset about the increasing ease of finding used books. When a person discovers a new author, for example, either through a free book or a used purchase, and finds that the author is very readable, the reader then goes in search of other books by the same author. This has happened to me many times. I find a new author, am very happy with the quality of writing, and go on a search for other titles by the same person. Sometimes I find that used books are available through my primary source, Amazon, and occasionally no used books are listed for sale. Then I buy the book new if I want it bad enough. By the way, Amazon does not sell used books directly, but acts as a clearing house for many independent vendors who actually store and ship the books after the purchase is made to Amazon on their website.

My basic point? Used books generate some percentage of new title sales, which increases the percentage of the reading public in their purchase decisions. More people, especially youth, liking to read can hardly be a bad thing!

Another option

Perhaps book publishers could wrap their books with a paper EULA wrapper that states that by breaking the wrapper, the user agrees to not resell the book. They're probably talking to Hollywood about some kind of "reader" flag technology.

Another option

Perhaps book publishers could wrap their books with a paper EULA wrapper that states that by breaking the wrapper, the user agrees to not resell the book. They're probably talking to Hollywood about some kind of "reader" flag technology.