Thrifting Books? The Hidden Cost of Buying Secondhand

Samantha Hooker

Many readers see buying secondhand books as a way to resist waste, share the love of reading, and get the best bang for their buck. I get it. I, too, have found specialty editions of books I’ve been needing for cheap at Half Price Books and it feels akin to winning the lottery. Wrapped up in so much excitement or interest about a book, the first item of business is to purchase the book—not think about the author. I know I’ve never considered how my purchase at Thriftbooks.com or Half Price Books might indirectly hurt an author financially, yet readers might be surprised to learn that they’ve been neglecting their favorite authors. The uncomfortable truth of buying secondhand is that the author doesn’t earn a cent.

Buying books secondhand can be beneficial for readers who cannot afford to otherwise purchase the book. However, buying books secondhand also creates an issue for authors: lost royalties, lowering a book's perceived value, and the negative impact on their future career. Writers deserve to be compensated and that support may increase confidence and the ability to create more. While there are many benefits to buying secondhand, especially for a reader trying to save a dime like myself, readers should consider wisely before purchasing secondhand.

One benefit of buying secondhand for the author is building a new audience. Despite not receiving their cut for the book, some might argue that making the author a household name is still more important. Secondhand books may introduce readers to a new author. That buyer may then go on to purchase new books by the author and therefore support them in the long run. Better late than never, right? Additionally, new readers may recommend their book to others and word-of-mouth can lead to more sales. But the promotion of literature in all shapes and forms is always beneficial for writers, not to mention society at large. An educated society leads to growth in all areas.

The best way to support an author is to buy new, if possible. When a book is not purchased new, the author loses the royalties they would’ve received for the sale. This can lead to an author being dismissed from future contracts or discredited for their work, even if the reading population at large really enjoys their work. A book’s sales are really important for publishers to determine if that author creates content that will make the publisher and themselves money. One might consider pre-ordering books, especially from a favorite author. Pre-ordering books helps publishers estimate the demand for a book, which leads to more copies, which in turn leads to a bigger check. However, with used book sales, the author and publisher cannot track how often their book is purchased, nor do they receive a dime directly from the purchase.

If buying straight from the source is not at all feasible, buying secondhand and encouraging others to check out an author still indirectly helps them. Another way to support an author is to attend events like meet-and-greets, following the author on social media, or purchasing their other works. While buying secondhand is sometimes a necessity in the book community and is still ethical, it’s important to be a mindful consumer. So, if you want to see your favorite authors succeed, be a thoughtful consumer and consider buying new. The goal is to recognize the balance: we can value sustainability and accessibility while also remembering that authors are workers, too. The stories that move us exist because someone labored over every word—and choosing how to spend our money thoughtfully can help ensure those voices keep writing.