What should I do if I have a hard back book to post to my bookshelf, but when I plug in the ISBN the listing shows that it is a paperback?  And when I enter the ISBN on the "Post a Single Book" page, I get an option for choosing a hardback version, but it shows a different ISBN altogether.  What am I supposed to do?   It doesn't seem fair that I should have to create a new listing (and be assigned a fake ISBN).  It also seems like if I do create a new listing (and others have as well) there could potentially be multiple copies of the same book, but all with different ISBNs. 

I guess I also wonder why it is the case that a paperback version of this book has the same ISBN.  Is that a mistake or do publishers use the same ISBN for paperbacks and hardbacks of the same title?

I had the same issue yesterday. I ended up setting it aside and doing nothing. I'll be watching your answer.

ISBN's are frequently reused by publishers. Sometimes for completely different books.  I have one where the ISBN brings up a whole different book by the same publisher. Since it brings up the same book on PBS, Amazon and Barnes & Noble I have to assume they reused the ISBN. 

Whatever binding makes it into PBS is the one they keep. All others have to be posted without an ISBN.  If there's a WL for the other binding than they can't just change the binding. Same if there's copies posted with that binding.

Post the book without an ISBN-and yes they do get ordered. If the other version is WL you can tag it with the ISBN # PBS gives you.  You can also advertise it in the Book Bazaar. 

Thank you, Mary.  I've never used the Tags, so that would never have occured to me.    This book is wish-listed making it extra frustrating, but I can hope those wishing for a different binding will get the notice that a similar book has been posted.

Some people turn that option off because they don't want the emails. 

But now they have on peoples WL that little button that shows other versions of the book.  Not sure if it works with the PBS generated ISBN"s though.

That is exactly what happens when the publishers use the same ISBN for paperback and hardback, whichever makes it to the system first gets the ISBN and the other binding will have short ISBNs assigned for every copy of the book posted because they will need to be posted as books without ISBNs. Messy, but usually people find the other versions when they are WLed.

For those that think it is too much trouble to manually enter the non-ISBN books, here's my trick:

Open two windows, one with an already posted book that has a description and if you're lucky the publisher too.

2nd box will be the "Post a non-ISBN book form"

Copy & paste or drag the info from the already posted book over to your non-ISBN form. Sometimes, I have to go to Amazon, Abe Books, Alibris, Biblio, Powells, or other site with the desc & info, but I rarely type, it's almost always copy and paste. Same way I get my images!

When you look at it from that angle, it really isn't that hard at all. The only real difficult part will be if you don't find the dimensions online, and have to use a ruler. Still not a biggie!!!

Yeah it only takes a minute or two to post them without an ISBN. 

you could also offer it in the book bazar instead of setting up a post without isbn. 

I'd suggest posting it first, then offering it in the Book Bazaar.  There's a monthly thread in there for wish list books with alternate ISBNs.