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Comment by ssdsa | Hacker News Reader

While we clearly see that there is a huge market for used games (see GameStop), there isn't any comparable market for used books and used furniture, at least not here in Germany. Every avid reader I know likes to read new books and cannot stand to read used books coming from some unknown pre-owner, because you never know how dirty his hands were when he was reading the book. Ever tried to sell used books on eBay? Don't bother, even if you put them up for 1 EUR starting price, you end up having more work to do (communication, check payment, shipping) than you'll earn. And don't get me started on used furniture. While new furniture can be really expensive, when you try to sell your previously expensive furniture, nobody wants to buy it.

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I frequently buy used book from Amazon here in the UK. They are cheaper and it's good to recycle.

I have a large collection of electronics books which are often expensive and electronics is only a hobby for me so it's hard to justify the cost. Sometimes you have to buy second hand books, many of the definitive Z80 books are out of print.

I started buying second hand books as a child. I wanted books on philosophy and this was the only way I could own works about Descarte, Locke et al without begging my parents for tens of pounds (my income way about £1 a week back then). I've even come to like seeing other peoples notes in the margins. I often wonder "What are they thinking?" when they highlight different sections of the text.

In the UK at least there's a decent market for 2nd hand books via 2nd hand bookshops and charity shops (not on the scale of the used game market though I think).

We always try to buy furniture 2nd hand- for the price of a chipboard IKEA wardrobe you can normally get a big, solid wood, Victorian one which is quite likely to last a lot longer!

That certainly isn't the norm here in Australia, second hand books, clothing and even furniture are actually cool in certain circles.

I myself own more second hand books than new ones.

Book lending is big in Germany, though (between individuals, not only from libraries). But, yeah, there is no money made there.

Used books are very popular among students, though, but that is once again something different.

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