Buyer, Beware Of Buying Counterfeit Books

Sales Lost

Earlier this month, a family member tipped me off to this story about an author published by a legitimate Christian bookseller who lost thousands of sales because a third-party seller on Amazon was selling counterfeit copies of her book. Though the issue of counterfeit books on Amazon was news to me, it has been covered before. And Amazon has addressed the issue, as well.

A few years ago, I suspected that there might be a counterfeit version of my Saving the Planet ebook circulating. Additionally, we have a textbook author in my husband's family tree, and textbooks are supposed to be particular targets for counterfeiters.  So I can imagine these victims' pain.

But as an Amazon customer, I also have concerns about making sure I'm not buying fakes and thus undermining other authors. I'm not sure how to do that, unless I make a point of avoiding all third-party sellers, the honest as well as the dishonest ones. Which I certainly can do.

UPDATE: I just stumbled upon Summer Reading Prime: How to Avoid Buying Counterfeit Books on Amazon from Nancy Mertzel, an attorney specializing in copyright and trademark litigation.