How does a brand new book sell in a $5.00 bargain bin on Amazon?

[Kendi]

Hello fellow authors, maybe some of you can enlighten me. My second book just launched in paperback on Amazon in December (Year of the Cat: The Thirteenth Realm) . I've sold a dozen or so through Createspace, but I just went in and looked at my book today and noticed how all these online bargain book companies claim they have "new" copies of my book for sale for $5.00. How is that possible? Do I make any money from the bargain bin sales? How is an author suppose to make any $$ their books?

[Christina]

Moved to the author help folder.

[Ken]

Typically, they don't really have a copy of your book. Their business model is to lure people in with low prices, and they're willing to take a loss on some books to do that.

In the unlikely event that someone actually orders your book through them, they'll order it from Createspace and ship it to the customer.

[Joe]

Kendi,

If you click on the people selling it for $5, chances are they want $15+ for shipping. That's how a lot of sellers sell things on Amazon: they slash the price, but then charge 5x as much as they need to for shipping. Just like all the $19.99 + $50 S&H "deals" on TV.

[Ben]

I don't have any constructive input, but I kind of had an opposite experience. I stumbled upon a third party seller claiming they had a copy of my book for over $150. Not claiming signed or anything. just a normal copy of the book for an ridiculous amount of money.

[Kendi]

Ken wrote: "Typically, they don't really have a copy of your book. Their business model is to lure people in with low prices, and they're willing to take a loss on some books to do that.

In the unlikely event..."

That's a relief... I started to panic. Thanks!

[Kendi]

Joe wrote: "Kendi,

If you click on the people selling it for $5, chances are they want $15+ for shipping. That's how a lot of sellers sell things on Amazon: they slash the price, but then charge 5x as much as..."

Thank you for the insight!

[Justin]

I've seen something similar like this with one of my books on eBay. People get a copy then try to make money off it by either selling it for a cheaper price with high shipping fees or a ridiculous price.

[Kendi]

Justin wrote: "I've seen something similar like this with one of my books on eBay. People get a copy then try to make money off it by either selling it for a cheaper price with high shipping fees or a ridiculous ..."

Yes, I've noticed when I do a free giveaway that my book ends up on ebay or elsewhere. The idea of a giveaway is to help promote your book and get reviews. I believe some folks don't follow the implication they are suppose to actually read your book and give a review. They simply resell your book for their own profit.

[[deleted user]]

I saw paperbacks of my most recent novel for sale on ebay shortly after I published it, and long before any paperbacks were ever sold. In my opinion, they can sell all they want; they still have to go to Createspace or Lulu to buy them from me.