| QUESTION: While I was listing a chemistry textbook | | | | maybe the seller is hoping Amazon will accidentally |
| for sale on Amazon Marketplace, I noticed that new | | | | cycle off the lower-priced listings, so they get the |
| copies were available for $20.22, while a used copy in | | | | sale.These "highball" sellers probably don't have any |
| "good" condition was listed at $1,346.00! Why would a | | | | books in inventory, they just have a file of ISBNs they |
| seller list their book at such an exorbitant | | | | upload to Amazon Marketplace after jacking up the |
| price?ANSWER: My hunch is this seller is trying to | | | | prices. When they get a sale, they probably drop-ship |
| make a fast buck without really doing anything. This | | | | through another bookseller.I guess this is technically |
| has been going on at Amazon ever since I started | | | | legal, you can sell a used book for whatever the buyer |
| selling there in 2001, although it's a lot less common | | | | pays for it. But it's sleazy, and makes all of us honest |
| now.It's possible this seller made a typo when they | | | | sellers look less credible. These scammers degrade |
| listed their book for sale, or while editing their listing. | | | | the marketplace, just like spammers ruin the e-mail |
| Maybe they meant to enter a price of $13.46 instead | | | | system for everyone else.See a real-time list of the |
| of $1,346.00. I've made mistakes like this a few times, | | | | most highly sought after used and collectible |
| so I don't want to convict anyone without a hearing.But, | | | | books.Read more free articles on selling used books |
| there have always been several sellers on Amazon | | | | profitably online: Weber is author of "The Home-Based |
| who price books at 10 to 20 times their market price. | | | | Bookstore: Start Your Own Business Selling Used |
| They do this on all their listings, so it's no accident. | | | | Books on Amazon, eBay or Your Own Web Site" |
| They're counting on one dopey buyer out of a million | | | | (ISBN 0977240606). Got a question for Steve? |
| who figures the highest-priced book must be best. Or | | | | |