What’s Up With This?

/ Marcia Meara

Sometimes you just have to wonder what the heck is going on in people’s minds. I’d say this isn’t for real, but it’s been in this range for several months.

You think maybe these stores are having a hard time finding someone who wants Finding Hunter this badly? (Especially given that it is not out of print and is still available on Amazon for the low, low price of $13.99. )

Hey. Maybe these are signed copies! Oh, yeah. That would explain it. (Insert derisive snort here.) 😀 

Don’t get me wrong. It is a great book, of course. (Just ask me.) But get serious!

 Anyone else find things like this now and then?  Just curious. 😀

 

 

37 thoughts on “What’s Up With This?”

  1. Nope. $31.54 is the highest mine appears on Amazon. Now, I’m not saying that Finding Hunter isn’t worth the $813.56 price tag – it’s a moving and powerful book that really stirred my heart – but if I could buy it for $13.99 that would still leave enough left over for me to send it by courier to its amazing author (with a request for her to sign the copy), send it back to me, and I’d still have plenty left to indulge in a retail therapy spree that would leave me drained but happy. 😀 ❤ 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Hahahaha. Great minds think alike, Trish! Who would pay something like that without even checking on Amazon first? Now Jim Butcher’s out-of-print first edition copies of certain Dresden Files books are usually in triple digit figures–except for one, which I saw for over $1,000–but those books are true collectibles from a vastly famous author, and if I had it, I’d consider buying each of them to finish out my perfect set. Having said that, I’d never pay such prices if I could still buy the original (with the Chris McGrath cover) on Amazon, for the normal price. And I’m a major fanatic about the Dresden Files. Or hadn’t you guessed?

      There can be no reason to list Finding Hunter (and thanks for the lovely compliments on it) for such a price. And yet, it’s still there, and only changes a few cents or so each month. (Why it’s worth $.25 more one month than another is anybody’s guess.)

      Still, it’s interesting to keep an eye on it. What if there were a way to tell that some strangely motivated soul actually bought one at those prices? It’d be fun imagining WHY they would do such a thing. 😀

      Like

      Reply

    • Thanks for the link, Olga. I read through all the comments and suggestions to answer the question, and there was no consensus of opinion, with guesses ranging from money laundering through ways to manage inventory so you didn’t lose track of things. Huh? It still makes no sense to me at all, though I have to think if it were illegal to do this (which money laundering is, of course), Amazon would put a stop to it, so as not to get dragged into something like that. I don’t know. That’s just a guess, too. It sure is a strange thing to find one of your books priced like that at three “supposedly different” 3rd party sellers. Weird. If I ever find out something solid, I’ll share it with you guys, though. 🙂

      Like

      Reply

    • Well, this is only from 3rd party sellers, of course. Amazon still charges exactly what I told them to. But it sure is crazy to see someone offering the book for over $800, especially since it’s still available on Amazon for the normal price. *still scratching my head, here*

      Like

      Reply

  5. Find highly inflated but not outrageously priced, copies of my paperbacks on sale via Amazon via diverse book sellers. Makes you wonder… ❤ Congrats on the release of Finding Hunter, Marcia! May sales rise outrageously above expectations and continue to do so! xo

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • This isn’t a new release, Miriam. It has been out for 5 years. And I don’t think these numbers appeared until a couple of months ago. I wasn’t checking for them, but I do think I’d have noticed sooner. Now I check all of my books, just to see what’s going on. All the others have 3rd party prices of between $15 and $30 or so. It’s very mysterious to me.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • Hahahahahahahaha.I love it! And you know, maybe you’re right. Either that, or since no one has seen hide nor hair of me for months, perhaps they think I’m no longer around, and all my books will suddenly become vastly expensive collectibles which they’d better grab while they can still find them for a mere $800 or so. Yep. I think you’re on to something! Dead or alive, I’ve made it! 😂🤣😂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  8. Add this to the long list of things I don’t understand. Has anyone figured out why sometimes a used book is priced higher than a new one on the same site right next to each other? Does it increase in value when we get our smudgy fingers on something?🤣

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • That’s a qood question, Pete, and definitely related to what’s happening here.It makes no sense to me at all. If I ever find out, I’ll definitely share the information here. 🙂 But it’s good to know I’m not the only one wondering just what’s going on. 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • Well I’m definitely going to be miffed if anyone pays $800+ for a copy of Finding Hunter, since I’ll make nothing on it whatsoever, and I could have at least made a couple of bucks if they’d bought it on Amazon for $13.99. *grumble, mumble, mutter* It’s so weird, isn’t it, Denise?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  10. I don’t get it either. It’s kind of like when I was in real estate. Some people wanted to list their homes for 3 or 4 times what they were worth. Their assumption was that if someone was dumb enough to pay that, they’d sell it to them. In that business, they don’t understand that I’m not investing my time and advertising dollars in something that will bleed me dry. Also that an appraiser would kill any eventual deal anyway. They guy probably has a copy in the garage somewhere that he’ll be happy to ship out for that price. Online ads don’t cost him anything.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Maybe so. There’s a link above (under Olga’s comment) where this is being discussed on an Amazon forum, and there’s no definite answer, but a lot of comments claimed this was a “money-laundering” scheme, but I find that kinda hard to believe. I would think Amazon would have a way of handling that. But then again, what do I know? I can’t remember what I had for dinner last night. 🙄It’s a mystery to me. (Dinner AND the $800+ thing. 😀 )

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • Could be, but it’s an awful small amount of money for laundering. They would have to have a volume of titles to move, and they would be selling them. In other words, if someone were paying me off, they’d have to buy the book to create some kind of transaction record.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        • I don’t pretend to know how money laundering actually works, but my impression from those suggesting it was that they do this to LOTS of books. I agree. While it’s a ridiculous price to put on a book still in print, it seems like chump change for a money-laundering scheme. I have given up on trying to figure it out, but it’s interesting to watch that number change by pennies now and then, like that makes a difference, somehow. 🤔

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

  12. Wow! that’s mind boggling. I haven’t checked out my books, but I’m sure mine aren’t in that price range. It makes you wonder how this stuff happens. Sure would be interesting to see if someone actually pays those prices. Too bad that isn’t going into your pocket!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • There’s just something weird going on, Mae. Out of print, collectible books can go for astounding sums, but this book isn’t out of print. It can be bought on Amazon for $13.99. And NONE of my other books have 3rd party prices like that. Usually just $15 to $20 or so. Might be one for $30. I always thought those were silly, when the books are still available. But 3 supposedly different 3rd party sellers asking over $800? Something’s fishy! 🙂

      Like

      Reply

Looking forward to hearing what YOU think! NOTE: If in doubt about leaving comments on this blog, please read the privacy statement in the menu at the top of the page.