Computer-generated prices is one thing, but this is what annoys me - when you look up Gaeilge gan Stró Beginners Level 2011 ISBN 978 0 9563614 4 8 at siopa.ie the price is 34.95 euros. It's still available, it isn't as if it were out of print or rare or anything like that. They are the publishers and distributors - so that is the retail price that they have set for it. When you look up the same book on Bookfinder, the starting price for a new edition, not including postage, is 38.23 euros. Why? As you scroll down the list, the price for the same book goes up to 245.45 euros. Why? When you look at the list of second-hand copies, it's even worse. The starting price is 101.97 euros to which they add 61 euros postage. At the end of the list, the price they're asking goes up to 403.16 euros plus 14.03 euros for postage. Why? - It's a rip off and it's extortionate and there's no excuse for it. Why is it happening?

Even if this is the result of an automated pricing system, you'd think it would be in booksellers' best interests to check these things and correct them before they get out of hand. Assuming they truly do have a used copy of Gaeilge Gan Stró and want to sell it, it would make sense for them to check the automated price and correct it...either that or wholesale it out to another seller who has a better chance of selling it. They're simply not going to be able to sell it at that price, even if they didn't care about extorting ridiculous amounts of money from gullible people. As you said, it's still in print and available for 34.95 Euro -- brand new, and in mint condition, and with the accompanying support materials -- from any shop that sells Irish books. All it takes is a quick Google search on the title to find it available at that price from the publisher, as well as from An Siopa Gaeilge and Litriocht. It never has been available in hardbound or in any kind of special edition that might make a particular used copy of a book more valuable.

Redwolf