My browser page feeds me a curated selection of things it “thinks” will interest me. This week I began to see Ebay ads for my most recent mystery, The Book of Christmas Joy.
In the past I’ve seen online sellers offering used copies of my books, usually for less than new ones sell for. I even bought one once, because the used price was better than I could get for an author’s copy, and I needed one I could beat up and make notes in, for use at public readings.
One weird thing about most of the Ebay listings is they are asking A LOT for my books. I am puzzled about where they would get the purportedly new copies of my books. My books are printed on demand by a company here in Ontario. When I order author’s copies to deliver to bookstores, or to sell at book fairs and church bazaars, they are shipped to me from the printer in Bolton.
I think the only other way to get a newly printed copy is to buy it retail from one of the handful of independent bookstores that I supply, or order it from Amazon.
That might explain why a company in Australia is asking $41.55 plus $109.60 for shipping, for a new copy of The Book of Christmas Joy. I am guessing they take the order on Ebay, use the buyers’ information to order a copy to be sent directly to them by Amazon., and bank the difference between what they charged, and the cost of buying it from Amazon.
I reached out to a couple of these Ebay sellers to ask, effectively, “what the heck?” The one vendor who replied said,
“Thanks for your email. Please be advised that we’re an online retailer that sources titles through publishers, and do not work directly with authors. For any concerns regarding distribution, availability, or pricing, please consider reaching out to your publisher directly. They’ll advise how and where your book is being made available.”
So I should ask my publisher. (Which is me!)
I had a little talk with myself, and decided three things:
As much as I love having people read my books, I don’t want them to pay crazy amounts to get them.
I can’t stop the re-sellers, so I set up Ebay listings for my books, at prices comparable to what they sell for in bookstores, and through my other distributors.
I also want to encourage people who have read and enjoyed my books to ask their local libraries to add them to their collections.
O my!!! Now I need to go to EBay and see if I have a similar problem. I hope that since I have a publisher I won't. I'll let you know.