Thanks, Kelly, for that insight on that “alleged” bookseller. Last year when we were reviewing/weeding our reference collection we used ABEbooks on a daily basis and saw those ridiculous book prices. I told my staff to always ignore the prices from that “dealer.” Yes, they were always “flawless” or “as new” – even if they were 18^th or 19^th century titles. Red flags went up for all of us and I wrote to ABEbooks to complain, because it seemed so wrong. Other than a computer generated  thank you, nothing seemed to happen. We , as well, wondered who would possibly buy books at those prices and how they could stay in business.

Now we know.

Thanks again,

Karen

 

 

 

Dear Kelly et al,

Yes -- I believe I know the name(s) of this "vendor".

They usually offer books that are "flawless copy, brand new, pristine, never opened" at ridiculously inflated prices far, far beyond fair market value.  The problem they create for me is when donors of books to my library go online to try to pre-calculate their potential gift-in-kind tax receipt and see the crazy prices - only to be disappointed when I appraise it at much lower value.

I wonder HOW these people stay in business?  Who the heck is buying books from them?

Cheers,

Margaret

On 1/30/2013 2:17 PM, Brodhead, Heather wrote:

Wow, that is a helpful insight into the behind the scenes shenanigans.  Thanks. 

 

 

Yes, as Anne and Kevin note, the prices can be very fluid indeed!

And obviously the prices being cited online cannot necessarily be considered to represent what the books are "selling for," as no one may be buying them. Consequently, it is not a reliable method for determining the actual market value or replacement cost of a given book.

One bookseller who operates under various names routinely lists art books on Alibris, Abebooks, etc. at ridiculously inflated prices. At one point they copied electronically thousands of our bibliographic records (which contain certain unique elements, including descriptive comments written by our staff) and loaded the records onto various online book sites, offering the titles at several times our own prices. (We ourselves list only a small portion of our inventory on sites other than our own Web site, so the unsuspecting buyer might not have known that copies of these titles could easily be found elsewhere at reasonable prices.)

Just as Kevin speculated, that seller of course did not actually have copies of the books they were advertising, but would place rush orders with us if they happened to receive any orders. When we realized what they were doing, we closed down their account, but similar opportunists continue to plague us with new schemes and creative deceptions. One even went so far as to set up a fake Web page to try to convince us they were an art research library to whom we might be willing to sell our last copies of certain out-of-print and hard-to-find titles that we had priced very modestly for the benefit of our library clients. Once they deplete their competitor's inventory, they can more freely charge whatever they wish.

And once one copy becomes listed at an inflated price, other booksellers unfamiliar with the material may start listing their copies at prices somewhat more reasonable but still very inflated, assuming that if someone is "selling" a copy for $800, then they might be able to sell their copy for a $400. In the meantime, we might still have three copies of the title in stock, still in the publisher's shrink wrap, being offered at the original list price of $50.00. But if no is buying any of these copies, what is the real commercial value of the book? Certainly not what it is "selling for" on Abebooks.

Kelly Fiske
Worldwide Books

Mr. Kelly M. Fiske, President
Worldwide Books
1001 West Seneca Street
Ithaca, NY 14850 USA

Phone 607-272-9200 ext. 16
Fax 607-272-0239
US & Canadian orders 1-800-473-8146

1962-2012 :: Celebrating 50 Years!

Find us on the Web:
http://www.worldwide-artbooks.com
http://www.facebook.com/WorldwideBooks

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-- 

Margaret English

Librarian

Department of Art Library

University of Toronto

100 St. George St. - 6th floor

Toronto, ON.

M5S 3G3

(416) 978-5006

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