Just looked at “ Meditations in Green “ ( about Vietnam) ,an ordinary pb.The usual people are competing about the £3.00 mark with FP and the usual people UK +US are selling it for £60+ ,with few in between.The middle is being Squeezed again ( I would guess that £2.50+£2.80pp might give me .50p on it)Some might say ,well, they offer a cheap book,they have overheads,and it’s the marketplace - what’s not to like.Well, this is what’s not to like:-

1. They are ripping off charities,libraries and the general public by offering pennies.( I tested it by a book one of the big boys had on for £23.00 - I was offered 23pence).
2. They do not describe the book professionally - not even if it’s an ex-lib.Consequently their ratings are low - but hey - if you pay little for the book why complain.
3. They list the same book multiple times( possibly the same book) to give band width ,either disguising with a different description or as an associated concern.
   So why am I complaining.I am not greatly affected because I sell few books anyway.The reason is that I feel sorry for any professional bookseller and the trade in general when cowboys come in on a so called monitored platform and get away with it year after year.
   The only answer is for Amazon to kick off the culprits or monitor properly and for customers to complain when they get shoddy goods.
   Am I whistling in the dark? Probably,but at least I have vented my spleen and hopefully have made a few more people aware.Would be nice if one of the big boys replied to tell us how they make a profit for a below postage cost sale ,and their ethical stance ( especially those who claim to contribute in a big way to charity.