Nothing gets my goat more than purchasing a book after seeing a wonderful cover and reading the back cover blurb, then getting it home and realizing I already own this book.
I feel like I’ve been swindled. It’s an author I’m familiar with and it’s a new cover and a new back cover blurb, but the book itself was published ten years ago. And of course, when I bought it way back then, it didn’t cost what it does now. Why won’t publishers be clear on the cover of a book that it’s a reissue? For those of us who make this mistake, all it does is get our panties into a very tight knot. I could have spent that money on another book–a new book! Now I’m forced to check the copyright dates on many of the books that I purchase.
And even if we readers hadn’t already purchased the book went it came out a decade ago, there still might be tough time ahead because it’s the author’s earlier work. The author (who usually has made a name for her/himself at this point) wrote this book probably years before they became a recognized name and the book might not stand up well beside their current books.
Has this every happened to you? Were you able to return the book? Did you even bother?
I’m laughing at this rant because I’ve had this happen a lot. Most recently it was when an author I loved switched publishing houses, and I was so thrilled to see a new book by her out that I didn’t check it as closely as I should have..of course it was a re-issue. I was so mad at myself. When this happens, I just sigh and don’t attempt to return the book.
I think the major stores will accept a return (if it looks unread). I know B&N has for me. Good luck. Yes, it’s worth returning 🙂
Worse. I have actually bought the SAME EXACT BOOK! Cover and blurb were identical. Doh! I eventually gave it away to charity because I could not return it to the used bookstore. LOL! 😀
I swear, every time it happens I want to kick myself for not checking the copyright date. And I know that stores are so iffy about accepting returns…I usually count it as a loss.
I’m happy to say it hasn’t happened to me in the last 7 or 8 months but I came pretty close the other day… This also happens to my sister with Carly Phillips.
LMAO!!! Danielle, that is HYSTERICAL. I bet you must have been kicking yourself silly. LMAO
This used to happen to me all the time! I definitely returned the books because who needs two of the same book? Now I check copyright dates and, if I’m still not sure whether I own it or not, I don’t buy.
I like how Nora Roberts puts her “seal” on the new releases so you can tell the difference. IMO, all authors should be required to distinguish new versus re-release. It really does get confusing.
LOL yes, it’s happened to me, too. Most recently with a non-fiction travel guide about Canada! And I’d only bought it a few weeks previously. Argh! Now have to sell the ‘new’ one as it wasn’t altogether cheap.
Usually, I hover over my fav authors’ books whenever I’m in a bookstore – but have begun to stop myself from reaching out. If I can’t quite remember whether I have one, I take a note and go home to check. Mind you, by the time I get to that bookstore again, I’ve long lost the note… 🙂
That has happened to me and i have returned the book. I’ve even returned books that i’ve read a little bit into, but didn’t like it. Just as long as it looked brand new. I have a limited income and not about to waste money on things i already have. Nowadays i buy most of my books on amazon and luckily it shows old covers there. ^^
This has only happened to me once.
But I have bought the same books on purpose (a straight paranormal series by an author that also writes paranormal romance) because the original covers were SOOOOO BAD it really bothered me and I was glad to see covers more deserving of the content.
Seriously, I read them because it was recommended to me by someone that had them recommend to them. But I can’t imagine what in the world made anyone pick them up at the bookstore in the first place with such ridiculous covers.
It’s happened to me, too. You shouldn’t have any problem exchanging the book. 🙂
My grand total for this sort of thing is six, with Susan Wiggs’ historical, Briar Rose. When these things happen, I figure it’s a chance to pass the extra copy along to a friend who might like it.
This has happened to me so many times! And like you, Beverley, has this taught me to check the copyright date before I buy? NO! I usually don’t discover I’ve read the book until I start reading it.
A simple little seal that says reissue would be so nice.
I have only done this once before, but it was on purpose. I had long since given away my well-used copy of “Rebellion” by Nora Roberts, so when I saw a copy in a used bookstore – with the original cover as I don’t like the reissue cover as well – I bought it. Now I can’t find it (natch) but I know it’s somewhere in this house.
Unless I loaned it to someone…
The easiest way I’ve found to avoid duplicating titles is to take a notebook containing a list of books you own (or have read). I saw dozens of women with such notebooks when I worked at a bookstore. My memory used to be good enough that I didn’t need one. Now I’ve just got to find an empty one to use.
Danielle – my father-in-law does that all the time. More than once, I’ve looked through a box of books set aside to be taken to Goodwill and found two of the same book. The most recent time it was “The Front” by Patricia Cornwall. One copy came home with me. I ‘inherit’ books from my in-laws quite often. They always have a box or two set aside for charity, and I always go through said box(es) when I visit. ^_^ My father-in-law reads a lot of both romance and suspense – two of my favorite genres.
I’m glad I’m not the only one it’s happened to. But the publishers should make it clearer that they are re-issues. Esp if there has been a title change.
This is why I shop with a list… I have a catalogue of every book I have read and highlight when I buy then checkmark when I read. Comes in handy when you have 1000+ romance books… I have this list organized by author with a list of all her books (if I read that author not every author in this genre) and that’s how I do it. And yes, it was a pain to start but it’s great now…
I know, I am borderline OCD!
Danielle, are you saying that you actually have this 1000+ list when you go book shopping? But I do so dig how organized you are. One day when I get a bookshelf, I will organize mine thus. 😀
I’m with you Bev, I check out the copyright date before I buy. This has happened to me at least 3 or 4 times. I’ve learned my lesson because I don’t like to return books.
This hasn’t happened to me, mainly because I have a pretty good memory when it comes to what I’ve read. And I tend to know when my favorite authors have books reissued. I think it should be clearly defined that it is a reissue though. I like the idea of reissues just because there are a few books that I’d love to get my hands on that are no longer in print.
Renee, that’s what I love about ebooks. It now makes it so much easier to get some of those “must-have” books readers have somehow missed. Harlequin is doing a lot of this, getting a good portion of their backlist in electronic format.
This has definitely happened to me because I’ve been reading romance for so long. I used to just check copyright dates, but when an author switches houses, sometimes the reprints bury the original date. I have a system but it still doesn’t stop me 100% of the time. I have a spreadsheet with all the books I own, including those in my TBR pile. I mark an X once I’ve read a book. I started it in 2006 and I’m pretty good about using it. I don’t take it to the store with me, but I do print out the pages from Borders or Amazon or BN that show the new releases I want. I compare those with my spreadsheet and take the new title printouts to the store. I found that my TBR pile is so large that I have to do this because if I haven’t read the book based on the blurb, it doesn’t mean I don’t already own it.
Of course, my list doesn’t work when I impulse buy at the grocery store. 😉 lol. When impulse has taken over, I’ve actually bought the same book three times. The other problem I have is buying the re-releases I’ve read but don’t own. These I keep, but I don’t always re-read them. This problem frustrates me the most because I was excited about a NEW book from one of my auto-buy authors and I’m let down because I don’t get to read a new story.
I’ve only ever returned books I’ve received as gifts if I already have a copy. The others I donate to our library. I figure it’s my mistake maybe the library can benefit from it.
I’ve had this happen several times. If I purchased the book at WalMart I am able to return it.
Yup I’m in this club too. I even have multiple books on my shelves now. I was totally annoyed when I saw them too. I like when I purchase books online or for my kindle because then I know what I got. The reason how I end up purchasing the same book with the same cover was because I have to have the next book in a series. So I go out and get the book and then won’t read it right away. When the next book or so comes out, I forgot about the book on the shelf and get that along with the others. Then I’m stuck because sometimes the gap is too long.
I’m with you on this one… I hate it when publishers do this, but what I hate even more is when they feel it is also necessary to update not only the cover, and blurb, but also the title! I’ve seen this happen a few times…and when that happens I really feel swindled because usually there is no clue that this is a reissued book unless you visit the authors website and they state it there. GRRRR
Yes, it’s happened to me too! Usually at the UBS, I’m looking for anything and find a title that ‘sounds good’ so I get it only to get home and find out I’ve already got it…no wonder it sounded good! Geez! I’ve learned my lesson….now, when I go book shopping (new or used), I go with a list of titles I’m looking for and I don’t buy anything that’s not on that list. If I find something not on the list, I make notes to myself and check on it when I get home. About 75% of the time, I’ve got the title. I have a TBR library of about 900 books. Thank goodness for Excel spreadsheets. LOL
But my biggest pet peeve is the reissue of a book under a different title and there is nothing on the author website to indicate that it is a re-issue with a title change. That really gets me boiling!
This used to happen to me a lot. I have learned that when I peruse a book before I purchase it, I always look in the front to see when it was published. That gives me a hint. I have purchased a book and read half of it and know exactly how it will end. I keep a list of the books I have read and look to see if I have already read that one. Sometimes I have.
It should be stamped on the cover that it is a re-issue.
I have found that Barnes and Nobel will take it back but one needs to return it soon after purchase.
I buy books way before I’ll get a chance to read them and forget I have them. Recently I got to unpack several boxes of books and straighten my shelves. I found 3 copies of two different books.
Most authors let it be known they are reissuing certain titles. I guess we just need to be more careful and consider that we are supporting the author. It does hurt when book dollars are scarce.
Yes, this has happened to me before. Can’t remember if I returned the book – but I have returned books when I realized I’ve a duplicate [as in the exact same one not a repub] – but what I think is even worse… is when the re-release is given a new copyright date. O_o *That* drives me insane.