Is selling used books the root of all evil?
There’s nothing new about used book stores. There’s also nothing new about young, passionate readers like myself selling off old books to make more room on their overflowing bookshelves. But given the hurting economy and people pinching more pennies than ever before, could buying/selling used books really be hurting the publishing industry?
Consider this: When you buy a used book, neither the publisher or the author receives a dime from the transaction. Not surprising, right? As more people shun new, shiny books from the bookstore in order to buy a used copy from a friend or amateur bookseller, it’s easy to see how this can be a problem for the publishing industry.
I came across this article in the New York Times, which talks about used books becoming more of a burden, even as the number of used books being sold has swelled:
They get their books from friends, yard sales, recycling centers, their own shelves. castoffs (I just bought a book from a guy whose online handle was Clif Is Emptying His Closet). Some list them for as little as a penny, although most aim for at least a buck. This growing market is achieving an aggregate mass that is starting to prove problematic for publishers, new bookstores and secondhand bookstores.
Of course, there’s little danger that we’ll see the practice of buying and selling used books become outlawed. If selling used books became illegal, then selling anything second-hand would also have to be illegal. But there are actually laws protecting the sale of used goods, provided it was bought legally in the first place.
Upside to used books
The obvious upside to used books is for the buyer – being able to purchase a book for pennies on the dollar. The seller is also unloading unneeded books, so it seems like a win-win.
But I think used books can actually benefit publishers and authors alike. If you are considering buying a book from an author you have never read before, you will be much more likely to buy a book used, where there’s little risk in paying a dollar or two for the book your interested in. Now if you read and enjoy that book, you’ll probably search out more by the same author, and you’ll probably buy a new copy from a bookstore.
Used books give readers the chance to take a chance on previously unknown authors. This can easily translate into healthy sales of new books from your traditional bookstores.
What do you think? Will the selling of used books take down the publishing industry, or are people just looking for a scapegoat for the struggling book industry? Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts!
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