Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Reunion: Coda—my latest novel—was being listed on eBay for $43.15. That’s $17 more than its actual price for a paperback edition on Amazon. According to the seller, Grand Eagle Retail, they allegedly have three copies in stock. Do they? I have my doubts.
Let’s set the record straight: the official MSRP for Reunion: Coda is $30 for the hardcover, $26 for the paperback, and $5.99 for the Kindle edition. These are the fair prices, reflecting the effort that went into the book while keeping it accessible to readers.
Now, here’s why that $43.15 listing is especially frustrating: as the author, I only receive a fraction of each sale in royalties. When publishing through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon takes its share for production, printing, and distribution—meaning I don’t pocket anywhere near the full price of the book.
Here’s how it breaks down:
- Paperback & Hardcover: KDP authors receive 60% of the list price, but printing costs are deducted first. That means my earnings per book are significantly lower than what a buyer pays.
- Kindle Edition: Amazon offers 35% or 70% royalty options. Since Reunion: Coda is priced at $5.99, it likely qualifies for the 70% royalty, but delivery fees and taxes still get deducted.
Meanwhile, third-party resellers like Grand Eagle Retail don’t face these constraints. If they manage to sell a copy at their inflated price, they pocket 100% of that markup—none of it benefits the author. That’s why these resellers prey on uncertain buyers, especially in an economy where people hesitate to spend on books.
If Grand Eagle Retail truly has three copies of Reunion: Coda, they must be storing them alongside the Ark of the Covenant. But more likely, they’re just betting that someone will bite at the inflated price.
To readers considering Reunion: Coda, please buy from trusted sources. The correct prices are listed on Amazon, and any significantly higher price from a reseller is not in the best interest of readers or authors.
Writing is already an uphill battle—let’s not let price gougers make it steeper.
A Certain Point of View, Too 
Comments
5 responses to “When eBay Markups Cross the Line: A Shocking Discovery About Reunion: Coda”
That sucks. The paperback version of my Leonberger dog book is set to two dollars below official price on amazon because somebody somewhere is selling it for less. It’s perpectually on 10% rebate. Well, I can accept that. However, selling a book for $17 more and the author gets none of that is definitely unfair.
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And that’s just one reseller on eBay. Others (especially in Australia) want more for it. Plus, I know no one has three copies in stock. My sales reports do not reflect that at all.
Resellers…some of them aren’t that bad, but ones that either lower the price or raise it unnecessarily….they suck.
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When I buy a copy (and, I will, Alex), I will go through Amazon (though I hate them too) and get J a paperback copy. I can’t explain why someone, somewhere (like these retailers) have to taint everything, Continued success to you, Alex.
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Sadly, Amazon was the easiest and best way to get self-published, so that’s why my books are mostly available through them. C’est la vie.
I hope that when you do buy the book, you’ll like it as much as you did “Reunion: A Story.” (I’m also looking forward to your review!)
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Hey, Alex. Nothing to be sad about. Unfortunately, Amazon OWNS everything. Keep up the good work. If it’s anything like the first one, I know I’ll love it and, you can count on a review.
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