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I actually didn't know, so thanks for that information. Although that's technically true, Abe has a reseller agreement with Amazon. They are still separate entities with similar sales models. The used books are sold by multiple independent booksellers, and the customer decides which bookseller he/she wants to purchase the book from on the website. The listing service (Amazon or Abe) gets a percentage of the sale. Besides, it doesn't change the fact that Abe Books is almost always cheaper than Amazon for the exact same book, even with the same bookseller on the different sites. I know this because I buy from the same booksellers repeatedly and price compare. I don't understand why there is this price difference on identical books.
In some cases it could be because the book being bought is used. The publisher sets an initial retail price for a book, then it's up to a reseller to decide his or her price. Maybe that's what you are seeing.
I used to walk to my local Barnes and Noble, pick out a nice book, and purchase it right there on the spot. Sadly, it closed; I buy my books online now.
I mostly buy most of the books from http://mustreadbooklist.com. There you can find best reading book list and directly buy them from Amazon at affordable prices.
Nothing wrong about Amazon; I use them frequently.
There are items, however, for one's consideration.
On Thursday, I ordered 4 CD's for my weight workout (1 Samantha Fox, 3 Sheena Eastons). It was easy and quick and not too costly, think it was around $32 (base cost + S&H +any taxes).
On Friday, I went to my 1/2 Books, bought 13 (among others) weight workout CD's (4 Sheryl Crow, 1 HEART, 1 Bangles, 1 Roxette, 1 Abdul, 1 Streisand, 1 Benatar, 3 Cher) for a total of $37 before taxes and 10% educator's discount.
Selection, in either case, is a crap shoot. Since I am going with decades old music, there is really no guarantee that what I want will be there. Amazon will tend to be specific and to the point and will tell me what I ask for but a search at 1/2 Price will point out the other artists I had forgotten about (totally forgot about Benatar till Friday) under the personal category of "weight workout music".
On the up side to Amazon, in a blink of an eye, they can tell me what is out there and what it will cost me. At 1/2 Price, I probably spent an hour going through the clearance.
On the up side to 1/2, I win on cost and my money is rather staying in the State. I like that Amazon is now charging some tax (and that is part of my selection process to lean toward a seller with a Store in state such as Hastings) but it's no where near the amount of on site buying tax. The other thing is that my return process is probably easier for what might it cost me in time to post it, I can just as easily go back to the store.
There is at least one final item. I am, with either seller, dealing with physical medium. I want my CD's and books in my hot little hand. If I were, however, dealing with electronic medium (and reducing my footprint), then odds are Amazon would win hands down.
Six ways one direction, half dozen another..........................
I also have started using paperbackswap website lately. I just paid for my unlimited swapping membership few days ago and sent out 12 books Saturday and requested 8 same day.
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