Just out of curiousity, I received a book quite awhile ago that looked fine, but after I read it and went to repost, I've noticed that the ten digit ISBN number that is printed on the book actually corresponds to a completely different title. On the inside of the book, there is a different 10 digit number posted, that corresponds to the right title, but the hardcover version while this one is a trade paperback. I'm guessing this must render the book unpostable. Anyone know what might cause this?

Thanks!

Erin

So, your book is not unpostable ... you can follow the instructions for posting your book without an ISBN. Here is a link to the instructions. http://www.paperbackswap.com/help/help_item.php?id=68

Sometimes ISBNs are just misprinted. That could explain the completely wrong one. Sometimes publishers re-use ISBNs for different books. That could also explain the wrong one. Sometimes the ISBNs are reused for different bindings of the same book.

I have a few books that seem to be printed on the inside with all of the ISBNs that the book was published under. I had to figure out which one to use when I wanted to post it.

Could the book be an ARC because they sometimes ahve the wrong ISBN on the back (they change it).  And the inside cover ISBN would be a hardcover.

Does it say anywhere on the book the release date or uncorrected proof, Advance Reader Copy?

Sometimes they list the other versions available on the inside copyright page, does the fine print indicate anything like that on the ISBN there? Sounds like the paperback ISBN was recycled.

The Book Club Editions often have the ISBN for the wrong version.  The Paperback BCE can have the HB number, the HB BCE having the paperback number.

I'm curious which number it was posted under?  Or did you get it elsewhere?

Welcome to PBS Erin!   The book is postable (unless it's an ARC).  You will want to do some research to find the right ISBN/binding number, if the ISBN & bindings do not match -- the book needs to be posted with a short ISBN (per Sara's comment & link).

Thanks everyone! I actually received this book from here about a year ago and never got around to reading it. It had been posted under the hardcover ISBN. Frankly, I normally don't bother to check ISBN's when I receive a book and it was a wish list book, so I had both the paperback and hardcover WL'ed, so I didn't pay attention. Completely my fault that I didn't pick up on that. I don't believe it is an ARC because it seems to have all normal publisher info inside. Maybe it's just an honest misprint? Weird though. I've never encountered that before.

That is such a weird coincidence, because I just came across the exact same scenario a few hours ago.  The ISBN-10 on the back was for a completely different book.  At first I thought I'd just typed it wrong, but I checked and I had typed it correctly.  So I looked elsewhere, and the only other place with an ISBN was inside the front cover.  The ISBNs weren't even close.  They were completely way different.  Anyhow the 2nd one I found was for the hardback version too.  It is a children's book and not an ARC.  I thought that was such a fluke, then here you are describing my exact situation.  Weird.  My book was already unpostable, so I wasn't looking to post it, just checking for info to see if it was wishlisted and/or needed a description.  I was listing it in the bazaar as part of a deal.