I was just looking for a book I want to read and found one that is considerably cheaper than the others.  It is listed as a "trade" paperback not a "mass market paperback".  So I'm wondering what is the difference between the two and why would one be less expensive than the other.  The price difference was considerable.

BTW, if you are looking to buy a used book, try addall.com.  It searches many store databases for the book you are looking for.  I found a book there that was over $7.00 everywhere else and only $4.00 at one of the stores that subscribes to this service.

Trades are larger than mass markets and typically more expensive.  My guess is that it's cheaper because it's a remainder, so you are getting it at a considerable discount.

The tradepaper books also have higher quality covers and paper.

I think I know what a Trade paperback is now.  I have a few in my collection.  I like them because, even though the type isn't larger than the type in a regular paperback, the spacing is larger and I find them easier to read than a regular paperback.  Not quite a large type, but close.

So, I'm confused as to why the trade paperback I bought was $4.00 and the regular paperback was $9.00.  I guess I got a deal there!  Looking forward to reading it and posting it here since it is a heavily wish-listed book.

As someone else said, the trade paperback is probably a remainder.  The publisher released the mass market paperback version, and bookstores are getting rid of the trade paperback at a discount.

Sometimes you can find hardcovers cheaper than the paperback when the paperback is released, for the same reason.

Mass Market Paperback = the traditional 'pocketbook' size

Tradesize = the larger format, such as used by Aphrodisia, Samhain, Ellora's Cave, etc. publishers (many of the romantica publishers use this size)