What do we think of them? I've had at least three visit my office so far and I always feel vaguely guilty--though I don't know why--when I sell books to them. Thoughts?
Book buyers
(10 posts) (8 voices)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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then you should probably think about a different handle :)
Posted 2 years ago # -
publishers try to squeeze students for every penny they can get. I feel no remorse for selling books they peddle to me for course adoption, particularly when they're unsolicited. and no, this is not a leading cause of skyrocketing book prices.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Generally, they're nice people. Some give better prices than others, and nope, I feel no guilt at all. Just don't request a bunch of copies of books that you then plan to sell off.
Posted 2 years ago # -
It's clearly wrong, since it violates the terms according to which you received the books, whether you requested them or not. It's dirty money. That's why you feel vaguely guilty.
Posted 2 years ago # -
^not sure if I agree. I can see why it would be unethical if I had requested books with the intent of reselling them, but what about cases where I didn't request them, or cases where I requested them in good faith, but decided not to use them? It doesn't seem unethical in those circumstances. And if I didn't request them, what "terms" did we have?
At any rate, the ones I have sold were cases where I had somehow come into a duplicate copy. It would be silly to request books then turn around and sell them for $4 a pop. I'd have to do so on an industrial scale to make it even remotely worthwhile.Posted 2 years ago # -
If I request a book, I don't sell it, even if I end up deciding not to use it.
If a book is sent to me that I don't request, I'll sell it. It's better than just having the book take up space in my office or in the garbage. I suppose I could return the book to the publisher, but that places a burden on me (or the departmental staff) to take effort (and maybe pay money, as I don't think a pre-paid return box is included) when I never wanted the book to begin with.
Posted 2 years ago # -
If you did not request the book under the pretense of turning around and selling, and you do not want it, then you are making yourself and several other buyers and sellers along the chain from you to the eventual student worse off by keeping the book.
Posted 2 years ago # -
True story- I tried to return a book I requested to the publisher this summer using their own instructions. They told me not to return it and forget about it. I didn't feel bad about selling that book to a book buyer.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Agreed with Fiona. I once tried to return four or five textbooks after deciding not to adopt them and every publisher (even the ones that included requests to return their books) told me not to bother sending them back.
Posted 2 years ago #