How do retailers sell New textbooks so cheap ?

[ArsPolitica]

I just bought a textbook from an Amazon Z-shop seller brand new for 60 bucks that normally foes for 120 on Amazon or in the school bookstore.

The businessman in me started thinking that I could make a pretty penny if I could get access to textbooks that far below retail. I already have experience at rolling your own e-Commerce solution. The question I have is how the heck do these people get thier books so cheap. Anyone ever looked into the idea or have any helpful hints?

-Cameron

 

[PsychoAndy]

I think its not so much its hard to get the textbooks cheap as it is to get the school to release the ISBN's so you can purchase books elsewhere.

-PAB

 

[ArsPolitica]

Believe me, I know how difficult it is to find ISBN numbers, but it can definitely be done with a little legwork. If nothing else, just go into your college bookstore and copy them down.

The thing is, whoever sold me the accounting textbook I bought, he probably got for around $50, if he was able to sell it for 60 including shipping and Amazon fees. If I could somehow get 40 books at that price, I have no doubt I could sell them for $70. That's turning $2000 into $2800 in the matter of a few weeks.

I know that it can be done, and that I wouldn't be without competition, I just think that by pounding the pavement I could get business to make it worth by troubles. The missing piece is how to get the books cheap, and that is an answer I haven't been able to find despite several hours of google searching. Any AnandTecher's able to come to the rescue?

-Cameron

 

[gopunk]

i really have no idea, but can't you buy them from the publisher?


i don't see what the big thing about isbn is either... i dunno, for my classes, they tell you the title, author, and edition. that's really all you need.... you can purchase the book anywhere with that info.

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

mass quantity discounts?