Would you pay $23,698,655.93 to read about flies?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the extreme pricing of a book about flies listed at $23,698,655.93 on Amazon, exploring the implications of such pricing in the context of marketplace dynamics, resale value, and consumer behavior. Participants share thoughts on pricing strategies, comparisons to other high-value items, and the absurdity of the situation.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that high prices for books, even those still in print, are common on marketplace platforms, suggesting sellers may be waiting for a mistaken purchase.
  • There is humor in the absurdity of the book's price, with some participants joking about alternative purchases, such as an aircraft carrier.
  • One participant discusses the mechanics of a pricing war between sellers, indicating a competitive pricing strategy that leads to inflated prices.
  • Concerns are raised about shipping costs being disproportionately high compared to the book's price.
  • Some participants reflect on the resale value of the book, with one claiming to have sold their copy for an even higher price, attributing its value to the notoriety of the purchase.
  • A humorous suggestion is made about a special edition of the book featuring original flies as artwork, indicating a willingness to entertain absurdity in pricing.
  • One participant expresses a personal dislike for flies, suggesting a limit to their interest in the subject matter.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share a sense of disbelief regarding the book's price and engage in humor about the situation. However, there are varying opinions on the implications of such pricing strategies, and no consensus is reached on the motivations behind them.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various pricing strategies and market behaviors without resolving the underlying economic principles or assumptions about consumer behavior.

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That's a bit extreme, but I routinely see books that are still in print (and available brand new for the normal list price) being 'offered' by marketplace sellers at 10 times their list price or more. I can't help but think that these sellers are lying in wait for some idiot to buy it by mistake. (All it takes is one.)
 
Doc Al said:
That's a bit extreme, but I routinely see books that are still in print (and available brand new for the normal list price) being 'offered' by marketplace sellers at 10 times their list price or more. I can't help but think that these sellers are lying in wait for some idiot to buy it by mistake. (All it takes is one.)
You mean I could have got it for $2,369,865.59? I wish I had known that before I bought it.
 
Jimmy Snyder said:
You mean I could have got it for $2,369,865.59? I wish I had known that before I bought it.
Yeah, I know it sounds like a good deal. But then they stick you with shipping charges. Rip-off!
 
I guess that I'll wait for the movie.
 
Jimmy Snyder said:
You mean I could have got it for $2,369,865.59? I wish I had known that before I bought it.

You can get it for a mere $TEXAS.00 on eBay.
 
It looks like this is the result of a robot pricing war: http://www.michaeleisen.org/blog/?p=358

profnath sets its price to 99% of bordeebook's, and bordeebook sets its price to 127% profnath's. 1.27*0.99 > 1
 
ideasrule said:
profnath sets its price to 99% of bordeebook's, and bordeebook sets its price to 127% profnath's. 1.27*0.99 > 1

I saw that... it's odd to see such starkly different pricing schemes. They are obviously direct competitors. One seeks to undersell, and the other seeks to oversell.
 
I noticed something similar in physics books. I sorted by "price:high to low" and got hits well into the 5 digits.
 
  • #11
Wow, this is ridiculous.

You can have HMS Ark Royal (http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/surface-fleet/aircraft-carriers/hms-ark-royal/ ) for only £10,000,000 ($16,000,000).

Aircraft carrier plus change or book on flies - I know what I'm buying!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #12
Of course, with a boat, the cost of the boat itself is only the beginning. Then there's dock space rental, time and/or labor cost in keeping barnacles off the hull,...

Pretty soon you're up to the cost of a book about flies.
 
  • #13
jtbell said:
Of course, with a boat, the cost of the boat itself is only the beginning. Then there's dock space rental, time and/or labor cost in keeping barnacles off the hull,...

Pretty soon you're up to the cost of a book about flies.

Yeah, but I bet it holds it's resale value somewhat better.

Knock up some miles (both sea and air) with it, make sure there's no noticeable defects and flog it for a profit!

Not to mention the fact you're sailing around on an aircraft carrier (suppose you'd get ribbed for 'compensating for something').

Anyway, back on topic - why would they use such a system? Surely the key is to be the lowest price?
 
  • #14
That $3.99 shipping is outrageous!
 
  • #15
Don't you love Amazon's offer to buy the book back for $2.34 (at their Textbook Buyback Store)? That doesn't even pay for the shipping!
 
  • #16
JaredJames said:
Yeah, but I bet it holds it's resale value somewhat better
Actually, I just sold my copy for $47,397,311.86, not bad resale value. When word got out that I had foolishly bought the book, it gained a certain cache. Someone wanted to own the book that was bought by the world's biggest idiot and it seems to me that they got their money's worth and the title to boot. I charged $7.98 for shipping too ha ha.
 
  • #17
Jimmy Snyder said:
Actually, I just sold my copy for $47,397,311.86, not bad resale value. When word got out that I had foolishly bought the book, it gained a certain cache. Someone wanted to own the book that was bought by the world's biggest idiot and it seems to me that they got their money's worth and the title to boot. I charged $7.98 for shipping too ha ha.

:smile:

eBay may have cut down on people boosting prices with extortionate shipping costs, but it's clearly still alive here!
 
  • #18
Is there a special edition where you get the actual original flies turned into an artwork by Damien Hirst? That would probably be cheap at $100m.
 
  • #19
I don't like flies, that much.
 

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