Ginevra Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 This always baffles me. Usually, it is an out-of-print book. I guess "rarity" is the motive, but seriously? Would anyone really pay $242 for a children's book? Once, I looked up a book on home haircutting and it was like this too. Out of print and hundreds of dollars for a used copy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Supply & demand. The rarer the book, the more it is going to cost you. I once sold a children's book written by John Denver for $100. For a long time the Kingfisher history book with the white cover was selling for ridiculously high prices. If you really want a shock look up some of the early Stephen King's on Amazon and Ebay. If you are looking for a book that you just want to own but don't need right now then monitor it over a period of time. I have seen fluctuations of up to $100 in book. If a book doesn't sell at a higher price the seller will eventually lower it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwickimom Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 I have been wondering the same thing but never wanted to ask. thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charmama4 Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 But what about a Magic Tree House book set for $999.00!!! http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0375813659/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&qid=1278945520&sr=8-1&condition=used scroll all the way down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginevra Posted July 12, 2010 Author Share Posted July 12, 2010 But what about a Magic Tree House book set for $999.00!!! Yeah, see? That's just kooky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 I've noticed that, too. Like, "Little House in the Big Woods" with a torn cover for $129.99. Right after you can get the same book for $1.50 from someone else. I have no idea. I've often wondered if it's a typo or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkle Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 I know!! What about a Pokemon math workbook for $253.35 - I'm so sure someone's going to pay that! http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0307306151/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&qid=1278946998&sr=1-1&condition=all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 A Spelling Workout workbook for over $100! A saw that one several years ago. It happens because larger booksellers monitor prices electronically, and jack them up automatically. Over five years ago I did get in on one of those crazy price wars, and I sold a paperback for several hundred dollars. It was a very obscure craft book, and I guess that enough people were desperate to get it that it went over the top. That's never happened again though, and I've sold lots and lots of books that I made just a few dollars on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikitorch Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Ive always wondered, I can't imagine anyone paying those exorbitant prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 As a collector of certain children illustrators, I can understand some of the high cost used books. But many others are simply non-sensical since there are many other copies that are reasonably priced on the same page. Those I don't get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satori Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 And here's one I've been keeping my eye on for a year, it is a $4 coloring book that started out as $19 last summer and it's now $607!!! http://www.amazon.com/Color-Anatomy-Christine-Becker/dp/1565657381/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278953453&sr=8-1 But I do understand why the prices go up on rare books. I have sold a few myself and bought a couple that were overpriced, but I would never spend hundreds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarlaS Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 I have often wondered what they are really selling (like in the case of the Magic Tree House book or other commonly available books), but I'm suspicious that way. I'm certainly not going to buy one to find out though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 There are some used books for sale on Amazon for $100+ more than the price for a new copy. Yes, they are still in print. I don't know why the sellers bother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LND1218 Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 I have often wondered what they are really selling (like in the case of the Magic Tree House book or other commonly available books), but I'm suspicious that way. I'm certainly not going to buy one to find out though. That's what I have always wondered.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 I think much of the pricing for volume sellers is done automatically by computers which check for availability and price by ISBN. Sometimes you'll see one copy of a book listed for a crazy price, and check back later to see a number of copies listed at similar crazy prices. I usually go to eBay and check the completed listings for the last 60 (or is it 90?) days to get an idea of what the book is really selling for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negin Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 I know!! What about a Pokemon math workbook for $253.35 - I'm so sure someone's going to pay that! This made me giggle and smile when I read it yesterday. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keptwoman Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 I saw a UCLA history book on Amazon yesterday linked from here for $999!! It's still in print, but I guess you can only get it from the University. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Here's a message I just got in my shopping cart today: Please note that the price of (book) has increased from $3.04 to $500.00 since you placed it in your Shopping Cart. I don't think so! What I hate also is books that are in the 4-for-3, and then the "fulfilled by amazon" used price -- including for books with considerable wear! -- is 1c less than amazon's price. Who would buy that?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 What a timely bumping of this thread. Here's a blog entry I read a few days ago: Amazon’s $23,698,655.93 book about flies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan in TN Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 On half.com there are a couple sellers that routinely waaaaaay over-price their books. They might be listed in "like new" condition for $13 but these guys will be selling their "good" condition copies for $87. Maybe they think someone, somewhere will screw up and pay that much for it, or it might eventually be the last copy available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginevra Posted April 25, 2011 Author Share Posted April 25, 2011 What a timely bumping of this thread. Here's a blog entry I read a few days ago: Amazon’s $23,698,655.93 book about flies. Fascinating! I figured there was some sort of function that created an automatic price, but I've never before thought about a seller listing a book they didn't actually have yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negin Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 I saw a workbook last week on amazon, one that I sort of wanted for $999 :lol:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 I have often wondered what they are really selling (like in the case of the Magic Tree House book or other commonly available books), but I'm suspicious that way. I'm certainly not going to buy one to find out though. Oohhhh..."Magic" Treehouse. That never occured to me. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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