Should I continue selling Ebooks (College Textbooks in PDF Format) on eBay?

[tros]

On eBay I saw listings where sellers sold college textbooks in PDF format and emailed it to their buyers. So I downloaded bunch of textbooks and listed them on eBay. But eBay started to take them down one by one and eventually took my selling privileges away. I don't know if I should continue doing this or just concentrate in getting a finance degree. I made a couple thousands of dollars in several weeks and I am pretty sure I could make a decent living from doing this. I don't know what to do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Ebayorbust]

What you are doing is illegal and you'll get into a lot of trouble if caught.

[JamesNorth101]

Originally Posted by tros

I don't know if I should continue doing this or just concentrate in getting a finance degree. I made a couple thousands of dollars in several weeks and I am pretty sure I could make a decent living from doing this. I don't know what to do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

While finishing your Finance degree ask a Law student which laws your breaking

[tros]

Originally Posted by JamesNorth101

While finishing your Finance degree ask a Law student which laws your breaking

I am breaking copyright laws, but there are other sellers doing the same thing.

[tros]

Originally Posted by Ebayorbust

What you are doing is illegal and you'll get into a lot of trouble if caught.

The thing is there are other sellers selling college textbooks in PDF format and making a lot of money.

[JamesNorth101]

If you get caught speeding on the road and a police officer pulls you over you turning around and saying 'loads of other people also do it' doesnt really work as a defence

[tros]

Originally Posted by JamesNorth101

If you get caught speeding on the road and a police officer pulls you over you turning around and saying 'loads of other people also do it' doesnt really work as a defence

I know its illegal but I am in college and need money. Every job out there pays minimum wage and treats you like s**t. Any advice. I am tired of being broke.

[vettefever17]

Only sell physically bought books that are legit. Then there is no way they can go against you. I started business in used college books, as they were bought off the college campus. They cannot dictate an after market price.

[tros]

Originally Posted by vettefever17

Only sell physically bought books that are legit. Then there is no way they can go against you. I started business in used college books, as they were bought off the college campus. They cannot dictate an after market price.

SO you buy cheap textbooks and resell them.

[slokor]

Originally Posted by tros

I know its illegal but I am in college and need money. Every job out there pays minimum wage and treats you like s**t. Any advice. I am tired of being broke.

Are you friggin kidding me?!
Just read this whole thread and your reasoning is absurd and outright retarded.
Heres my absurd and retarded advice to you: Other people sell drugs - so go ahead and do it too - cause youre sick of being broke.

[ouako]

Tros,

I would recommend re-thinking your perspective on this. You should NOT be selling these ebooks. If you see people already selling them, there is a chance that they have permission to do so, or they are also breaking the law. If you keep this practices up, you could get a legal letter, and potentially be summoned to court over this. College textbook companies are VERY serious about copywrite. I had a friend receive a letter because he had purchased an illegal copy, and they threatened him for having possession of stolen property.

I know being broke in college sucks. I am in my 2nd year, and had the same issue. You need to find something that you can purchase at whole-sale pricing, and sell for a profit. Hell, even purchasing things at yard-sales can make you a substantial profit. I have purchased Amazon return pallets before and turned $250 into $1400. You just need to do things the correct way.

Sure, you may not make as much money as you would by selling these textbooks, but the legal trouble you avoid is worth the less profit. I currently have a warehouse filled with product I have purchased. I am 20, and making more than I will when I finish college, however I do it all legally, and have no reason to worry about my accounts getting suspended because I broke TOS.

Just think about your question. You are asking if you should continue to break the law. The answer is always no.

-Ouako

[rsot]

Originally Posted by tros

The thing is there are other sellers selling college textbooks in PDF format and making a lot of money.

Other sellers does not necessarily make it legit - they also might have a lot of trial-and-error experience with this

[iamlmfao]

sell them, but stop after 3 day suspension.

[Ebayorbust]

Originally Posted by iamlmfao

sell them, but stop after 3 day suspension.

It's not really anything to do with getting ebay suspensions. It's got more to do with the fact that it's illegal.

[iamlmfao]

Originally Posted by Ebayorbust

It's not really anything to do with getting ebay suspensions. It's got more to do with the fact that it's illegal.

Yeah well its stealth isnt it? so who cares....

[Ebayorbust]

Originally Posted by iamlmfao

Yeah well its stealth isnt it? so who cares....

If the authorities want to come after you, a f@ke name and address isn't going to stop them.

[Play]

Originally Posted by tros

I am pretty sure I could make a decent living from doing this. I don't know what to do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Ethics and legalities aside, OP is actually contemplating giving up his future prospects in the finance industry, to flog copyright material.

My two cents - go and seek advice from the careers adviser at your college.

P.S. stealth guide is all about how to run multiple ebay/paypal accounts without them linking together. It doesn't make you anonymous, nor invincible.

[JamesNorth101]

Originally Posted by iamlmfao

Yeah well its stealth isnt it? so who cares....

Doesn’t work like that.....

You can sell drugs with a different name but that won’t stop the police finding you if they want to

[slokor]

Why is thread even being entertained and responded to?

[vettefever17]

Originally Posted by tros

SO you buy cheap textbooks and resell them.

You are not breaking the law if you buy a USED and REAL textbooks. You are not copying anything. You are buying a real copyrighted copy that is depreciating every single day. This is no different than buying any other object that is copyrighted. It's called arbitrage.

[dallis]

Shortcuts generally get you burned.

Go legit or don't go at all.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by slokor

Why is thread even being entertained and responded to?

slokor knows...