Buying things specifically to sell for a profit.

[mistercrowley]

I think its suffice to say we will agree to disagree. I'm still going to flip books when I can and you will continue to not like it. It happens.

[Kingfan24]

I've flipped one book (according to another member here the count would be two, however, he forgot that my order for the second s/l Joyland was canceled). I agree with most of what T-dogz and Frankie say, though not that firey.

I still laugh at the guy on ebay who has a huge stack of Dr. Sleep s/l and hasn't sold them. Kinda backfired there. Then there is mr. Fat catz on ebay who has something like 10-15 s/l joylands listed for 6,000 bucks.

[Highbury]

So if I bought two copies and sold one for twice the cover price in order to cover the costs of my order its okay but if I sold both its not correct?

I have no interest in commenting on what is correct and incorrect but if the rule is 1 per customer household address, to me its clear that a decision has to be made to find a way to buy 1 copy or walk away and accept the fact you the buyer may not be in a financial position to afford that copy.

And Frankie in the nicest way I can only speak to what Brian has said and that is you struggle with the marketplace in general I think. It doesn't matter what it is, supply and demand and scarcity rules all. No room for warm and fuzzy feelings although that doesn't mean you can't find a cool story and i'd say its safe to say its happened on this forum before or why would anyone want to be here. And I haven't even been around long.

[mistercrowley]

I wasn't referring to the situation where you can only order one copy. If I am only permitted to purchase one copy of a book that is what I buy. I have no interest in trying to beat the system

[Frankie]

So if I bought two copies and sold one for twice the cover price in order to cover the costs of my order its okay but if I sold both its not correct?

I have no interest in commenting on what is correct and incorrect but if the rule is 1 per customer household address, to me its clear that a decision has to be made to find a way to buy 1 copy or walk away and accept the fact you the buyer may not be in a financial position to afford that copy.

And Frankie in the nicest way I can only speak to what Brian has said and that is you struggle with the marketplace in general I think. It doesn't matter what it is, supply and demand and scarcity rules all.

PS should put every copy of Carrie on eBay one at a time I guess then.

although that doesn't mean you can't find a cool story and i'd say its safe to say its happened on this forum before or why would anyone want to be here. And I haven't even been around long.

I'm not even really sure what you're saying here.

[Highbury]

What I am saying is that the marketplace is what it is. As long as someone is willing to pay and meet the demand set by whoever is selling, why argue it. It seems cold and cruel to some maybe but it doesn't mean good deals and transactions can't be made, they happen here.

That is what I am saying, briefly speaking.

[Frankie]

What I am saying is that the marketplace is what it is. As long as someone is willing to pay and meet the demand set by whoever is selling, why argue it. It seems cold and cruel to some maybe but it doesn't mean good deals and transactions can't be made, they happen here.

That is what I am saying, briefly speaking.

It isn't the marketplace that bothers me. If PS prices them such that they can only find 26 people that even want to buy one and it means I don't even want one because they're so expensive, then bully for them. They nailed it. Glad they're making tons of profits, because maybe it means I'll continue to get their cheaper books from them for a long time.

[Br!an]

So am I a flipper or providing a valuable service for member on the forum:

On california book day - a new story by Neil Gaiman was published in a HC - first and only time it will be published as a stand alone. Only sold in 93 CA bookstores one one single day. After that - any unsold the following day are shipped back to publisher - never to be seen again. So I call around to local bookstores and I find one that has 9 copies. It is near the end of the day - and they are able to sell me all 9 copies - which i gladly buy. I then turn around and offer the books to everyone here first - and make about $5-10 per book on my end (less after you consider packing materials, etc - but i never include that kinda stuff). Now whatever is left after these books sell - I then put up on ebay for a slightly higher profit - to cover the rest of the books that i purchased from that indie bookstore. Most copies sell here - but a few go up on the bay.

So where does that put me in this stream of logic?

Right where you should be.

A creative collector, a fine friend and a flippin' flipper! 8)

[God]

So am I a flipper or providing a valuable service for member on the forum:

On california book day - a new story by Neil Gaiman was published in a HC - first and only time it will be published as a stand alone. Only sold in 93 CA bookstores one one single day. After that - any unsold the following day are shipped back to publisher - never to be seen again. So I call around to local bookstores and I find one that has 9 copies. It is near the end of the day - and they are able to sell me all 9 copies - which i gladly buy. I then turn around and offer the books to everyone here first - and make about $5-10 per book on my end (less after you consider packing materials, etc - but i never include that kinda stuff). Now whatever is left after these books sell - I then put up on ebay for a slightly higher profit - to cover the rest of the books that i purchased from that indie bookstore. Most copies sell here - but a few go up on the bay.

So where does that put me in this stream of logic?

Either at the pulpit, or in hell...

[Br!an]

If scalping is seen as an acceptable business practice, why is it illegal (or otherwise prohibited) in several countries and US states?

It is not illegal in the US. It is perfectly legal almost everywhere in the US except at the venue.

And isn't the venue restriction more to avoid the sale of fake tickets?

I'm not certain. I think it has more to do with previously scanned real tickets. The criminal "scalper" would enter the venue and collect tickets that had already been scanned. Since they can only be used once the previously scanned tickets are useless. The thief would then walk back out front of the venue and sell these "real" tickets that would not work for admittance. Of course the result of making it illegal to sell tickets at the venue is that the scalpers and the thieves go to adjacent areas to sell their tickets. It makes it harder for the legal scalpers and easier for the criminals.

[becca69]

Buy book from PS: 60 seconds?
Get book, open package, take pictures, put back in package: 3 minutes?
Place ebay ad: 3 minutes?
Drop package off at the PO after it sells: 5 minutes?

It takes quite a bit longer than that to sell a book on Ebay and then package and ship it if you do it well. It takes me longer than that to unpack a book. That is all.

[Frankie]

Buy book from PS: 60 seconds?
Get book, open package, take pictures, put back in package: 3 minutes?
Place ebay ad: 3 minutes?
Drop package off at the PO after it sells: 5 minutes?

It takes quite a bit longer than that to sell a book on Ebay and then package and ship it if you do it well. It takes me longer than that to unpack a book. That is all.

How long? Keep in mind you just got the book from PS, presumably well packaged. Unless the packaging was nearly destroyed I think most people are just going to put it right back in the same package.

[Frankie]

So am I a flipper or providing a valuable service for member on the forum:

On california book day - a new story by Neil Gaiman was published in a HC - first and only time it will be published as a stand alone. Only sold in 93 CA bookstores one one single day. After that - any unsold the following day are shipped back to publisher - never to be seen again. So I call around to local bookstores and I find one that has 9 copies. It is near the end of the day - and they are able to sell me all 9 copies - which i gladly buy. I then turn around and offer the books to everyone here first - and make about $5-10 per book on my end (less after you consider packing materials, etc - but i never include that kinda stuff). Now whatever is left after these books sell - I then put up on ebay for a slightly higher profit - to cover the rest of the books that i purchased from that indie bookstore. Most copies sell here - but a few go up on the bay.

So where does that put me in this stream of logic?

Either at the pulpit, or in hell...

Heh

[Patrick]

I was one of Chad's buyers. I consider him a friend. I appreciate that he took it upon himself to get educated about this event, reach out to people who share his appreciation of the author, and committ the time, effort, and funding to secure a supply of the items before knowing whether there was a market. At the end of a busy day with my kids, I was very happy to hear from Chad as I had missed it completely and had no free time that day even if I had known. If I can toss him an extra $5-$10 for his efforts in getting me one of the books (retail price below $20), I am more than happy to do so. Heck, he even mails stuff to my home. Doesn't get any easier than that!

[Mr. Rabbit Trick]

I hope all you guys who are selling books are paying your taxes. The IRS needs your money to pay for foreign aid.

[Br!an]

I hope all you guys who are selling books are paying your taxes. The IRS needs your money to pay for foreign aid.

I'm keeping tabs on it around here somewhere.

I'm sure I can come up with something, hmmm, I mean, um, find the ledger when audited.

[stroppygoblin]

This is the UK tax laws on collectibles:

Capital Gains Tax is due on any gains you make from the sale of collectibles for £6,000 or more. The £6,000 limit applies for both single items and sets, such as a set of chairs or chessmen or case of fine wine. However, the tax is only due after taking into account your Capital Gains Tax allowances. You can deduct things like sale and purchase costs from your profits, but not things like maintenance and storage costs.

If you buy or sell a lot you might be considered a trader rather than an investor for tax purposes. In this case you’ll pay Income Tax, on your profits, not Capital Gains Tax.

EDIT: I think I'm safe from the taxman. I can't think of a book that will make me £6k after I deduct the purchase price! (other than that 'salem's Lot $8.95 'my friend' thought he found )

[dnemec]

I hope all you guys who are selling books are paying your taxes. The IRS needs your money to pay for foreign aid.

I have bought some books related to my field that I have written off my taxes, but my trusty accountant won't let me write off my Stephen King books. He'd be cooler if he would, but I pay him so I don't get audited. When I can write off the expenses and purchases, I will claim the income.

Imagine what I could buy if I could write off my books as investments?!

[Frankie]

I think its suffice to say we will agree to disagree. I'm still going to flip books when I can and you will continue to not like it. It happens.

Works for me. And I apologize to everyone for the sleaze comment. I honestly never intended to imply that anyone that does it is actually themselves sleazy, but obviously it came across that way. Upon further reflection on the arguments made in this thread by everyone, it wasn't the right word to use (and even if I felt that way, I could have worded it in a less antagonistic and insulting manner). I still don't like it, but it isn't sleazy.

[mistercrowley]

No hard feelings Frankie. You seem like a good guy

[Randall Flagg]

WTF, I can't take a week off without all of this drama (fun ).

[Merlin1958]

WTF, I can't take a week off without all of this drama (fun ).

Don't sweat it, RF. As usual, God had your back!!

[cit74]

WTF, I can't take a week off without all of this drama (fun ).

we all kept waiting for you to chime in

[Jimimck]

I can't wait for Frankie to ever want to sell some of his collection. Looking forward to Gunslingers and Carrie first editions at issue price....

[WeDealInLead]

That's not even close to what he was saying.