Other people reselling your books for a significant profit

[Randy]

Following the link from The Whatever to the paperback version of Android's Dream, I noticed that John's limited edition of Agent to the Stars is selling second-hand at astronomical markups. Low end $179, high end $999.

So, is this something that is just a "fool and his money" issue, or is it wrong for someone to sell a $25 book (with autograph) for $1000? Well, not "wrong" as a moral question, but more of a "I can't believe someone else is going to make $975 off of MY work and MY name".


http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... 59&sr=1-10


http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ46 ... 1314214882

[taustin]

The first thought that comes to my mind is that there's a world of difference between asking a grand for a book, and actually getting it.

[scalzi]

My thought on it is if people are really getting $1k for Agent, I've got Athena's first year of college tuition sitting on my portable refrigerator. Go me!

I have no moral objection to people reselling my books, although I think paying more than twice list price is a little silly, and especially for a book the text of which is freely available on my Web site. I don't really have the "collector" gene.

[acheron]

The $1000 one is "Ultra-Rare! Special Signed Limited & Numbered Edition (1422/1500)!"

I have #239... obviously the lower numbers are better, so I think $1500 is a fair price, yes? Any takers, let me know.

[hugh57]

AbeBooks.com has two copies of Coffee Shop available for about $250 as well. Amazon lists this as "Currently Unavailable."

For Coffee Shop, this at least makes some sense: there were, I think, only four or five hundred copies printed, and it is not available, as far as I know, in any other edition, online or off. So supply and demand and all that...

BTW, didn't I hear that Tor, or someone, was going to come out with a trade paperback edition of Agent? If and when that happens, look for those $1000 copies to be (asking-)priced at more like $100.

[taustin]

My thought on it is if people are really getting $1k for Agent, I've got Athena's first year of college tuition sitting on my portable refrigerator. Go me!

In all seriousness, I sincerely wish you the best of luck on that.

Maybe you should start signing body parts at conventions. Leave you wife at home for that, though.

[taustin]

The $1000 one is "Ultra-Rare! Special Signed Limited & Numbered Edition (1422/1500)!"

How brain dead does someone have to be to believe that 1500 is a "limited" edition? I've got three real limited edition pieces of art - one is #2 of 3 - by Kinuko Kraft, who is - no offense to our esteemed host - rather more famous. And none of them cost a grand even with custom framing.

[Nathan]

I have #1140 (bought from Amazon for $20-30, I don't remember). In the "valuableness" scale we're setting up, I should get $1200 or so.
Fun reading and then a profit.
Shweeeeeeeet!

[PixelFish]

I have 101/1500. Since I AM unemployed, it did briefly skitter across my brain...but I would only get 2 months worth of rent out of this, and I wouldn't have my copy, signed to me, in bacony goodness. Also, I like the PA cover. It was like combining two great tastes of mine. The new cover is nice, but it's not the original.