Used Books

[Anduril]

I seem to remember an article about a guy who would go into used book stores, and using his Iphone or whatever, would scan the barcode. If he could sell the book on amazon for more than what the bookstore was selling it for, he would buy it.

For the life of me, I can't remember where I read this. Does this sound familiar to anyone else?

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

It's a variation on the dropship theme I guess.

If the bookstore sells it before this guy does, he'd end up with a lot of negative feedback.

 

[Misfit Toy]

I seem to remember an article about a guy who would go into used book stores, and using his Iphone or whatever, would scan the barcode. If he could sell the book on amazon for more than what the bookstore was selling it for, he would buy it.

For the life of me, I can't remember where I read this. Does this sound familiar to anyone else?

I saw a guy doing this today in a thrift store! I couldn't figure out why he was scanning the barcodes of all these used books - you've solved a mystery!

 

[Starbreaker]

I scan movies to see if I'm getting a good deal. Most of the time... I'm not.

 

[Anduril]

Found the article I was searching for. http://www.slate.com/id/2268000 Interesting read.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Heh. That's a great idea. Very Cyberpunk.

 

[propita]

I don’t see anything wrong with that. The bookstore could do the same if they chose. It may not be cost-effective for them. And if the sell the book to the guy for the price they had marked, they haven’t lost out on anything.

It’s the same as antique dealers, isn’t it? A bit more obvious, but the same.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

That is a very smart use of that app. I like it. In this economy, you have to make money any way you can. At least this guy is proactive.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I'm certainly a bibliophile, but I think it would be really pathetic to look down on people who do this. First off, it IS a business, and secondly, why should I bite the hand that might feed me a book I want someday?

 

[Snaploud]

I think that guy (re-selling books) is being way too hard on himself. He should be thinking about all the joy he is providing the people who purchase his books online, and those bulk purchases are sure to help his local used bookstores financially.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Exactly. Everybody wins. It's a great idea.

 

[Holdfast]

One thing the internet is helping hugely with is price arbitraging on a grand scale, of which this is but one tiny example. This kind of greasing of the wheels of the global economy is incredibly helpful to boosting world GDP levels, as the market becomes increasingly efficient at price-setting.

 

[Miss Chicken]

As someone who buys used books online I see nothing wrong with this man's profession. He works hard to offer used books to a wider audience. Without him, and others like him, a reader might not be able ever find a book they are looking for. The book might stay in the thift shop unwanted by the few hundred people who might go into the thrift shop. Once it is on Amazon Marketplace its potential buyers are in the millions.

This guy deserves every penny he earns.

 

[Captain_Nick]

So how does this work exactly. You need an 'app' of some sort?

 

[SmoothieX]

Used book stores creep me out, and smell funny.

 

[Anduril]

So how does this work exactly. You need an 'app' of some sort?

I believe the article stated that he used a bar-code scanner attached to his laptop. I'm not sure though, have to go back and re-read the article.

I'm also curious if this can be done with an app. I have a Shop-Savy app for my phone that will scan a barcode and tell you prices online.

 

[RoJoHen]

There are barcode scanner apps for cellphones. They work through the camera.

 

[SiorX]

Used book stores creep me out, and smell funny.

I think this may be the most I've ever disagreed with anybody about anything on this BBS!

 

[RoJoHen]

We have a brand new used book store that just opened about 6 months ago. It is in a plaza next to a Starbucks. It is anything but creepy, and it certainly doesn't smell funny.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Used book stores smell like old books-- i.e., wonderful.