Why do people throw useable textbooks in the trash?

[pstokely]

I just listed some I found in the trash on half.com, they've been wet but they're still readable. They're bargains compared to new overpriced textbooks.

[ghostsofgiants]

1. The answer to most "Why do people..." questions is almost universally, "They're idiots."

[pstokely]

3. Obliviously, they're unfamiliar with half.com

[Connonym]

2. one man's junk is another man's treasure

I will admit that in the final push in packing and moving I threw away a bunch of stuff that was perfectly good. I'm not proud of that but it sure makes me a lot more mindful now when I think about buying stuff.

[pstokely]

4. Somone may have sold the stuff you threw away on Ebay

[Connonym]

11. I'd prefer that to it filling a landfill

[JVS]

5. So they won't be littering!

[Oeditpus Rex]

6. Either they're ignorant assbuckets

or, since we're talking textbooks, trashing them could be a way of celebrating finishing the class, not unlike smashing champagne glasses in a fireplace.

Still, pretty damned foolish.

[Reverend_Smitty]

7. I wanted to burn my chemistry book in after I finished that class

as a mild form of protest/celebration, but I came to my senses and sold it for beer money instead :)

[Oeditpus Rex]

9. I admire people who have their priorities in order

:thumbsup:

[Reverend_Smitty]

10. lol...it was senior week and my wallet was running on empty

so really it was a no brainer :P

[Rambis]

18. yeah but...

It is brutal when you go to sell 300+$ worth of books and they hand you a 20.

[pstokely]

8. I'm guessing were in the trash because the bookstore wasn't buying them back

I checked the website

[pitohui]

23. correct, no ethical bookstore will buy back a book that has been damp

neither should you be selling a book that has been wet

it's unethical, because book mold is contagious, you aren't just selling a few books that have been damp, you are potentially exposing the buyer's entire library to the books

if someone sells me a book that has been damp (never happened yet) i would report it to the site

[pstokely]

25. I don't think the book has mold

and I'm selling it really cheap

[realisticphish]

12. if they're goddamn morons

sell that shit, fool

(unless its obselete and the book store won't buy it)

[Left Is Write]

13. Throwing out perfectly good books is an abomination.

[RetroLounge]

14. Yes! I Agree!

I just made a deal to pick up 1000 books from a church book sale that is over. They were going to toss them, or donate them. They called me and asked if I could pick them up.

Why, yes, I certainly can. :D

RL

[Left Is Write]

15. Awesome! I'd love to visit your brick-and-mortar store.

Used bookstores always smell so good.

[RetroLounge]

16. Don't they?

One-of-a-kind scent, used books.

Maybe I should bottle it and make perfume for book geeks :D

RL

[Left Is Write]

17. Sounds like a splendid idea.

[realisticphish]

19. that used book smell may be nice NOW...

I work in the Rare Books and Manuscripts department at the Ohio State University, and let me tell you, old books are DISGUSTING. Let 'em sit a few hundred years, and see if you still like it :D

[pitohui]

22. books that have been wet are not perfectly good, they may carry a contagious book mold

i can't believe this thread is so long on a site of supposedly educated people and people aren't "getting" it

the poster should not be selling books that have been wet

it's unethical and it can contaminate all of the books in the buyer's library since books can catch the mold from other books

sheesh, people!!!! this is not a little known concept!

[guitar man]

20. because they're republicans?

:shrug:

they don't have any use for none of that fancy book learnin' stuff anyway :silly:

[pitohui]

21. it's quite unethical to sell books that have been wet

they may carry a contagious mold that infects other books in the buyer's library

if you did list these, i hope you at least disclosed that the books had been exposed to damp

personally i think it's just wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong to sell a book that has been wet, i thought it was considered unethical, it ain't allowed on that paperbackswap place, i know that much

[LaraMN]

24. I save all of mine.

Particularly since I'm working on classes for my major and one never knows when info. from a previous course might come in handy.

[Kerrytravelers]

26. I am a lover of books.

My BA and MA is in the writing disciplines (journalism and professional writing.) When I was a classroom teacher, I began collecting children's books. I still have them, there are over 600. My own person book collection is nearing 1,000. We have them organized by topic and we take great care in how they are handled and kept dust-free (as much as possible.) Many of my books are hand-me downs, but they are still loved.

So, no, I can't imagine throwing a book away.