# I pit used book sharks **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 30, 2021, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692 "2021-09-30T21:11:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/21 "2021-10-01T13:41:12Z")
He had no interest in books. He was rude to me and said Welcome to (my city)" I said welcome to English because he was not looking inside any of the books he was hoarding. He was loitering there for hours in a pandemic trying to put his paws on every book, and being rude about it. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/22 "2021-10-01T13:44:49Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Thrift store or garage sale, it’s common to have people who buy cheap in order to try to sell dear. It’s seen all the time on Pawn Stars, where the sellers are often disappointed to find that that miraculous buy they found at a garage sale isn’t worth what they thought. Selling dear is for the benefit of ebay and bezos. And not any reader, or consumer, except for the asshole who monopolizes the store in a pandemic while you wait for them to finish, so you can shop (in a mask btw) like a normal book buyer. > [@Spoons](#): > > Besides, most of my books in my collection are too old to have bar codes. Good point. Me too. But still. It’s not just about me. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/23 "2021-10-01T13:46:29Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > However, the library in the adjoining town, when they have (had?) their big sales, allow them only on the first night (Friends of the Library only) and charge $20 for a wristband. Let’s just say they haven’t had to call the police since they started this. Towards a good idea. They are looking out for actual readers. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/24 "2021-10-01T13:48:55Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > If some dude is walking around and buying stuff without you know, pushing other people in the store who actually want to use the thing, more power to them. They are the agents of capitalism, here to take advantage of arbitrage between the local market and the internet. It is a burden to have them in a pandemic. I have already explained it. They touch everything and hang out too long. > [@Max\_S](#): > > Church thrift stores though, the kind people donate to, that’s a different story. This whole thread is about thrift stores and churches both of which are based on donations. I am not talking about bookstores. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/25 "2021-10-01T13:53:47Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > They’re more likely selling to other “investors” than they are to people who were just really searching for that one book. It creates a bubble that they’re hoping to exploit. The books end up on the internet where we all know there are not only very aggressive prices, and competitive auctions, but also, prices that are outrageous (1000s of % over) and designed to take advantage of glitches, oversights and market anomalies. This benefits Jeff Bezos space rides and the basic sucking upwards of all wealth. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/26 "2021-10-01T13:55:06Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > I’m fully in support of book resellers. Used book stores are great for one thing: When I have no clear idea of what I want and I discover an interesting book in a moment of serendipity. Used book stores are absolutely terrible when I have a particular used book in mind that I would like to acquire, for that I turn to the internet. That’s a fair point. At least these folks are offering something of value. If they discover a rare book in Cincinnati and post it online then it’s accessible to someone from Arkansas. I wouldn’t mind paying a few extra bucks for the book if it saved me time by not having to search for it myself. I’ll contrast this with scalpers who offer nothing of value. Remember when Popeye’s chicken sandwiches were all the rage? There were scalpers who went into the restaurants buying as many sandwiches as they could to resell them at exorbitant prices. Not only did these people offer nothing of value, they made it more difficult for the rest of us to get our hands on a chicken sandwich if that’s what we wanted. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/27 "2021-10-01T13:55:44Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Collectors always tend to price hobbyists out of the market for collectable items, no matter what the field. Collectable means precisely that some people are willing to pay a premium to own it, more than a hobbyist will be willing to pay to own it and use it. I’m really talking about used books donated to thrift shops. And people arbitraging it in an obnoxious exploitative way. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/28 "2021-10-01T13:58:23Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > This is a function and advantage of a capitalist system in efficiency and ruthlessness of distributing goods. There are products for sale, and people wanting to buy them, but there is also a need to connect these 2 together. There is no need for someone to scoop a book out from a thrift store and put in on the net so I pay $20 instead of $2. I was in the store too, waiting for that jerk to finish putting his grubby illiterate exploitative paws all over the books, during a pandemic. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/29 "2021-10-01T14:04:06Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > And as an estate sale customer, I’ve seen people with antique apps for toys, china, figurines, and other potentially valuable items. OMG- The ‘Estate Sale Thugs’! Each ‘group’ has a specific specialty, whether it’s colored Depression glass or sports memorabilia or autographed celebrity memorabilia or what have you. At the start time, as soon as the person running the sale opens the door, they will have the biggest ape who can hold a thought, barrel through the door, knock anyone out of his way, and grab anything that looks remotely like their specialty, and then run it to a corner of one room. There, the person with actual knowledge waits and appraises what is worth buying vs what is not. The first ape will literally grab things out of your hands to get the next full arm load to the appraiser in the corner ( until they say “That’s enough, Igor. Down, Igor! Down!”). Sometimes a second ape guards the appraiser (who may have as many as 30+ things in front of him/her, none of which have been bought yet) from others who may want to look at and buy some of them… or even just 1-2 of those things. Once the appraiser has gone through the grouping, they’ll cherry-pick what they are buying and just leave the rest in a piled on top of each other in the corner. Then it’s off the the car with their purchases. “Come, Igor-1…! Come Igor-2…! There is another estate sale on Main Street…!” (Before I just stopped going I used to wish that Estate Sales had Bouncers.) ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/30 "2021-10-01T14:08:22Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > When I click buy on a $2.99 book from the 1970s I just lost an auction for a 1970 book Sold for $20, plus 5 shipping. > [@Shalmanese](#): > > The resellers are good for the bookstores Not for readers of books found in thrifts and churches though. Your post is so speculative about motivations, and applies to bookstores which is a while other thing. They have buyers and expertise. I don’t go there to find things that are donated by estates, by accident, or folks who are just tired of stuff. That is where you find some bit of treasure in the world. And it is becoming rarer. That’s my hobby. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/31 "2021-10-01T14:19:43Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > I have never seen one open a book. I saw a couple doing it as a team today. Just loitering with no literate intent. There’s nothing wrong here. Resellers actually help authors by elevating the market price for their works. A thrift store (one that isn’t a charity) exists to make money by selling used goods. It’s not a lottery system, there’s no rule stating it’s supposed to be like a big CrackerJack box with a guaranteed prize inside each one. Why do you feel so entitled to screw authors out of their hard-earned royalties, Mr. Ethical Literary Consumer? If you want to do something virtuous, go to a mom-and-pop store and have them order the title. Or have your library system reserve it for you. Then maybe the authors and publishers can get a little something for their trouble, instead of getting lowballed because lazy thrift store owners won’t pony up for a $90 bluetooth gizmo to help price their shit correctly. ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/32 "2021-10-01T14:23:15Z")
This is the lamest pitting ever. My brother does this as a side hustle and as a hobby. The thrift stores, most of whom benefit charities, love these kinds of buyers. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/33 "2021-10-01T14:29:23Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > especially for the reseller piranhas who grab stuff from other customers or push people (customers and employees) aside This is the only part of it that bothers me. If I’ve got my hands on the book first, that’s too bad for the re-seller. He wants it, he’s got to hustle and get there first. Physically assaulting people to get the book is already illegal, anyways. They should be tossed out of the store for this alone. Even if they weren’t making a profit, they should be tossed for this behavior. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/34 "2021-10-01T14:34:57Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Why do you feel so entitled to screw authors out of their hard-earned royalties, Mr. Ethical Literary Consumer? Can you explain this? It makes no sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/35 "2021-10-01T14:35:26Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > A thrift store (one that isn’t a charity) exists to make money by selling used goods. The thrift stores I go to and define as such are charity stores. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/36 "2021-10-01T14:35:59Z")
> [@ataraxy22](#): > > his is the lamest pitting ever. My brother does this as a side hustle and as a hobby. Good to know you are objective. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/37 "2021-10-01T14:38:17Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > They should be tossed out of the store for this alone. For me, during a pandemic anyway, there is an argument for tossing them out of the store. There have been a lot of pandemic rules in all stores, especially thrift stores. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/38 "2021-10-01T14:38:39Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Physically assaulting people to get the book is already illegal, anyways. They should be tossed out of the store for this alone. To be frank, the OP scans as a whiny bitch with an enormous chip on his shoulder, so I suspect the details of the altercation are exaggerated (and likely instigated by him). ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/39 "2021-10-01T14:40:19Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Thrift stores are charity stores. So then the resellers are helping the thrift store by buying their stuff at the listed price. And further helping them by demonstrating that the advertised price _could_ be even higher if they’d bother to buy the bluetooth gizmo. You’re the guy screwing the thrift store by hoping to find items they didn’t price correctly. Honestly this pitting is all about your sense of entitlement toward getting something for nothing (or less than it should be). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692/40 "2021-10-01T14:40:24Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > He caught me with a little wardrobe problem I still don’t get this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-used-book-sharks/951692.md?page=3)