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Topic: ISBN doesn't match the correct book

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Subject: ISBN doesn't match the correct book
Date Posted: 2/5/2013 9:23 PM ET
Member Since: 3/3/2010
Posts: 24
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I have a copy of Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts and I would like to Post it. The ISBN is 9780965381710 or 0965381714. These numbers are coming up as some other book on PBS. What should I do? Thanks for anyone's help :)
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Date Posted: 2/5/2013 10:20 PM ET
Member Since: 6/30/2007
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You'll need to use "post a book without an ISBN". It will ask for basic information about the book and you can also upload a picture (you can copy the cover from another version of the book). This will create a unique listing of the book for your shelf. If its a WL book, you can also make a tag for the other versions saying the book is also available with the new ISBN.
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Subject: Thank you
Date Posted: 2/5/2013 10:30 PM ET
Member Since: 3/3/2010
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Ok thank you. I just did that. Not sure if I tagged it right. It is a WL book so I would like for someone else to enjoy it :)
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Date Posted: 2/6/2013 1:41 AM ET
Member Since: 12/28/2006
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Yes, unfortunately that ISBN is coming up something else at both PBS and Amazon.  Must be a printing error at the publisher.

Patouie avatar
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Date Posted: 2/6/2013 4:47 AM ET
Member Since: 8/26/2006
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Worldcat lists both titles as having the same ISBN. The Absentee Landlord's Survival Guide was first, published in 1997 by Mellwood Pub.  St. Martin's Press used the same ISBN in 2004 to publish Shantaram.

I can't find info on whether St. Martin's bought out Mellwood or not, but often in cases like this, the earlier book is out of print, so the publisher decides to save some $ and reuse the ISBN.  The solution is to do what you did and post your book without an ISBN.

If there were no copies of Absentee Landord posted, and nobody on the wishlist, it might be possible to get the okay to change the title to the newer title, but since currently someone is on the wish list for Absentee Landlord, and since it's a valid listing, they won't change it.

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Subject: Thanks
Date Posted: 2/6/2013 7:11 AM ET
Member Since: 3/3/2010
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That makes sense. I was really confused on how that could happen! Now it makes sense. Thank you for the explanation :)
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Date Posted: 2/6/2013 8:54 AM ET
Member Since: 8/23/2007
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Publishers pay for ISBN #'s so it's not uncommon for them to be reused.