Inside a Book Black Market in India (New Releases $1.20!)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 มิ.ย. 2024
- Did you know Mumbai has a famous black market for books? I go inside to show you what's available, how much a counterfeit book costs, and how to spot pirated books.
00:00 Mumbai's book black market
00:33 How to identify pirated books
03:37 Buying a legit book
05:33 Quick street food tour (Vada Pao)
06:07 Counterfeit bookstore tour
08:03 Kitty cats
08:41 How much cheaper are pirated books?
09:43 Where do counterfeit books come from?
09:58 Intersection sellers
10:28 Can you return books?
Flora Fountain Book Market in Mumbai is a vibrant haven for book lovers and literary enthusiasts. Located near the iconic Flora Fountain, this bustling marketplace is a treasure trove of knowledge and literary delights.
The market showcases an eclectic range of books, spanning various genres and languages, catering to diverse tastes and interests. From classic literature to contemporary bestsellers, rare editions to pocket-friendly paperbacks, one can find a plethora of reading materials here.
The aroma of aged pages and the sound of rustling leaves fill the air as avid readers browse through the stalls, engrossed in their quest for literary gems.
With its lively atmosphere and rich literary heritage, Flora Fountain Book Market remains an enchanting destination for bibliophiles, fostering a love for books and fostering a sense of community among book enthusiasts in Mumbai.
Detecting counterfeit books can be challenging, but there are several signs that can indicate a book is counterfeit. Here are some main signs to look out for:
Poor print quality: Counterfeit books often have lower print quality compared to genuine ones. Look for uneven or blurry text, inconsistent font sizes, smudged ink, or faded colours.
Incorrect or missing ISBN: Every legitimate book has an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) printed on the back cover or the copyright page. Check if the ISBN matches the one provided by the publisher or author. If the ISBN is missing or doesn't match, it could be a counterfeit.
Poor binding or construction: Counterfeit books may have poorly glued or stitched bindings. Pages might be falling out, loose, or unevenly cut. Flimsy covers or irregular book sizes can also be indications of counterfeit copies.
Suspicious pricing: If a book is being sold at an unusually low price, especially when compared to the regular market price or discounts available elsewhere, it could be a sign of a counterfeit. Counterfeiters often try to lure buyers with attractive prices.
Missing or incorrect publisher information: Authentic books contain accurate and complete publisher information, including the publisher's name, logo, and location. Counterfeit books might have missing or incorrect information or use similar-sounding publisher names to deceive buyers.
Poor quality paper or materials: Genuine books typically use high-quality paper, while counterfeit copies might have thin or rough paper that feels cheap to the touch. Be suspicious if the book feels flimsy or if the materials seem inferior.
Inconsistent content or errors: Counterfeit books might contain spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, formatting issues, or missing content. These errors are less likely to be present in authentic copies, as publishers maintain strict quality control.
Lack of official markings: Genuine books often include official trademarks, holograms, embossing, or other unique markings. These features help identify the book as legitimate. Counterfeit copies may lack such markings or have poorly replicated versions.
Unreliable or unauthorized sellers: Be cautious when buying books from unfamiliar or unauthorized sellers, particularly online marketplaces or street vendors. Purchase from reputable retailers or directly from the publisher's or author's website whenever possible.
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#blackmarket #india #counterfeit #counterfeits #copycat #copyright #books #bookmarket #markettour #mumbai #maharashtra #blackmarkettour #pirate
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Have you read Shantaram too? Or been to this market?
If you like counterfeit tours, check out India's most notorious black market th-cam.com/video/NXnh4Obknvo/w-d-xo.html.
The location of the book market is Flora Fountain goo.gl/maps/Gnuc1yfet1PtuvKUA.
you are more indian than me 🤨 ngl it feels weird that I'm learning more about my country by your videos 😂😂😂
@@lordchrist01liar
Hi Karl. Don’t worry :p, the missing pages in Shantaram were probably those bloody boring,endless aphorism drenched conversations between Lin & Carla. 😂 I recently visited Mumbai after many times entering India via Delhi. Man, I loved it so much from Irani chai, to the food and incredible people.
Hi Karl, i didn't watch your channel. Long time, your comment from linus last video reminds me you
I don't know what happened, but youtube doesn't show me your notifications anymore.
Have a prince harry new book Spare lost January in England
The 50% return value acts like a library. It's a blessing for people especially students who can't afford to pay high prices.
When I was a student I didn't have a lot of place to store my books so I would keep on returning the books for years 😅. It's what kept me into reading.
Previlaged New Zealander cannot understand the piracy of book, this first world crooks cannot share there wealth looted on the name of visa as gate for stop to non western world and than loot resources of their on name of business.
As an avid reader and broke teenager I used to love going to the secondhand bookshops and the Churchgate street shops in Mumbai -- it's where so many of my books came from. It's also a wonderful feeling to be able to pass on the books to others after reading. Books should not cost the earth, and knowledge should not be gatekept from people who truly desire to learn. It's lovely to see these are still around by the way.
yes I went there when I visited India. It's fantastic.
Tbh for books that expand someones knowledge and aims to teach them something new i totally agree but i would not want a creative project to be resold for basically nothing so I’d rather not have these exist, especially with all the knowledge you can get from the internet. Theres free courses for everything basically if you know where to look, but i dont think its worth having someones creative endeavors dragged through the mud by not only not paying them but also stealing that persons work and making a profit off it. Knowledge is already extremely accessible but most of the books i see being sold arent there to help students or anyone get smarter. 99% of these books are the result of someones creative mind and not the will to spread knowledge or wisdom. These books are about the journey they take you through and most of the time they try to make you think and leave more questions than answers.
So while some of these shops do something i am totally for and that is provide knowledge to people for basically free (would be even better if it was), 99% of what they actually do is steal someones creative work and make a profit off it
They really help students. I remember buying from these as some of the foreign editions - like irodov's physics - were expensive. But never bought after I started earning. You'll be surprised in a few places like Hyderabad, some of the competitive exams books are really cheap and help students a lot. Not all books are found here though. It's okay to have such places !
many of the so called scams in India help the economy and those who are poor.
yep students find cheap books and that helps all kids to get an education. Long live great India.
Counterfeit spectrum book for some 50 rs less better than original print
koti's famous book market .. best price for competitive exam books
Actually, this market could be beneficial for those who can't afford expensive books and don't much care about the quality, to those who just wanna read a good book.
Yeah I've seen markets similar to this. But I don't think I ever got a fake from one. One time I even got a real copy of a Christmas Carol from 1994 in crisp quality like the book was never opened, it had some sort of cutting damage over the top and the pages were VERY yellow but the binding and print quality was good.
This was in Madurai btw
To me it doesnt matter anyway fake or not as long as the pages aren't fucked up and the binding is good. Because it's still the same story.
@@AbsolutelyRadSHOC yep, exactly!
Sometimes we need this kind of market
@@MaryAnnSweetAngel I mean, who cares as long as it's in budget and you get the content of the book?
Yes but is it considered pirated? Is it illegal doing so? For me it’s still not good buying counterfeit books for whatever reason
One of the reasons for the publishers to sell lower cost "Indian Subcontinent" copies of their books is to compete with the counterfeiters. By lowering the price, they manage to sell sufficient books to be profitable in the Indian market. So, indirectly the counterfeiters have helped make the original copies more affordable too!
Too bad about the missing pages and the low quality printing. It's still good to see international books make it to Indian readers this way, so everyone can read whatever they like.
That's y people check the book before buying it
These are literally 90% of the books people buy.
Even amazon sells counterfeit books in India! 😂
A few years ago, a publisher company filed a case in an Indian court asking to take action on counterfeit and illegal publishing of books and online websites. The court ruled out the case stating that it is not correct to charge money on books that are meant for education. That is why you see there are a lot of books that are cheap and pdfs available on websites. However it is not applicable to these kinds of books.
Karl - I’m from the States my friend. It always blows me away how inexpensive everything is in India! Buying a fried potato w/ curry spice for 15¢ is insane
I'm from Australia, for PPP they are more reacher over there
Wait until you see my 7-Eleven India review next week!!! The prices are insane.
@@KarlRock I bet & can not wait Karl. Have not made it to India yet but visiting other countries like Thailand & even Japan I see a lot of things way cheaper like even Coke / Pepsi, Pringles & candy bars
Everything is cheap. But you pay extra for better quality😂.
@@banksterkid5930 yes but the content is same if anybody wants knowledge they can get it if you just wanna show off then you also gotta earn it not everybody is born with the silver spoon 😏
They do have habit of reading in India, good that they have places with lots of books. Here in Brazil we dont even have black market of books because theres no demand, no ones read it and the ones who read pay full price
Yaa a black market of book is cool though 😅
nice to see back doing what you love Karl, i really love you r videos as i learn so much from you fella. much respect to you from England
Thanks mate!
@@KarlRock How did you get unbanned from India?
There are books LPE - low price editions only for India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. I love those books. It’s really blessings for all students.
yall cant even read
@SPG8989 Bless your heart!! Yes you’re absolutely right!
This was a great comparison video. I will make sure to have a book budget if I ever go to India. Will definitely buy the authentic version, which is still almost 3 books for the price of 1 in the west. Great video Karl as always, 10/10!
Karl i love your video since watching you since past 3 yrs ...and i know you love India very much ....keep exploring...also show the good part of mumbai 😊
Love when you do these kind of vids karl
Thanks for this video Karl. Book shopping is one of my weaknesses when I visit India. I never knew you could sell them back to the stalls .
Have a book bazar near my home too. I usually pick up a dozen or so every month for my nices and nephews and return them to get new ones. I've even completed my engineering degree with books that were brought in this fashion 😅😂. It was seriously a life saver because one book had cost like ₹4.5k on amazon that we'd just be using it for 3 or so months....local book sellers were selling it for ₹900...got it xeroxed for about ₹120 😂
When I used to buy books, $12-15 was pretty common for books in the US. Just depends on what you are buying. Now if we are talking college text books...shoot that adds up fast. A college text book in US will at least run you $100+. Trust me...its horrible and that's "usually" used.
I remember paying upwards of $300 each for uni textbooks. That was just a couple of years ago.
@@nerd_alert927 I don't exactly recall what I paid when I got to Uni. I remember community college one of my math books was like $135 and in a binder and because it was a binder book you couldn't resell it back to the campus. I can believe that college books went up. I graduated in 2017-2019...I believe it was 2019. XD So not too long ago.
Please Karl! Never go to the clickbait path other great youtubers have fallen into. Your videos are amazing as they are! Greetings from Mexico🇲🇽🇮🇳🇵🇰
Counterfeit books are black market. No money goes to the publisher.
Surprised they haven't branched out into the e book market. Most e book files are under 2Mb so it would be easy to transfer the file. I've stopped buying physical books simply due to storage. A good e reader is a must for many travellers
Hey Karl , ever visit College Street Kolkata- biggest book market in city. They sell different kinds of books - old books, used books & counterfeit etc. Books on various subjects_ Literature, Science, novels ,?autobiography etc…
Karl thanks for bringing us great videos!
Karl love your videos bro they always lift my spirit up when I'm feeling down
Seeing Mein Kampf hit me as a German 😂
Another great vlog Karl 👌👌👌
As Indian not-so-rich kids, we all know, these 'counterfeit' books are the ones who shaped our future. These are not counterfeit books, these are lifesavers.
Good info' you share with us always Karl Ji, and the tips of how to spot a counterfeit and also checking the quality of the books. 😊And the VadaPao, the potato burger?Looks SCRUMPTIOUS!👍😋
Excellent video and very interesting topic! Out of curiosity, what phone are you filming on (visible in the mirror at 10:05?)
I'd watch this but karl... It's midnight here in australia... I'll watch it in the morning. Love the vids btw! ❤
I keep watching your vlogs karl really like you such a nice person you are ❤
I go to this place regularly. I went there last month and guess what. I took the Alchemist too for 100 bucks from the store you bought it from. It's called Dilip store and had vadapaos from the adjacent stall. Also also, if you return the book you get 50 bucks back
Bookstores like these helped me immensely during my school and college days when I hardly had any money. I could spend 500-600 rupees a month on books and would be occupied with reading almost the entire month. Would often just sell it back or sell it to someone in college and often made almost 70% of the money back. It might seem wrong to some people but this is actually the backbone which has helped so many like me persue their passion for knowledge without hurdles. I went to US and was so surpriesed when a blank notebook was costing around 8-10$ more than what I paid for books here. So yeah, in a way this is subsidized education in India
Loving the new India series, Karl! Keep them coming. ❤
Thanks!
Oh goodness, I literally paused the video and started reading the description given on the back of the book!😅 Perhaps just a side effect of being a bookworm! Btw luv ur videos Karl❤️
Used book stores like these are integral part of whole india. Even in kerala where i am from, we have these but quickly disappearing because of the lack of reading culture anymore. Even myself i used to read a lot during highschool and not anymore because of TH-cam. I think i need to start reading.
I’m in bookshops at least once a week in the UK, so great to see this video, thanks.
I love your videos man! Simply can't get enough. Also, your Hindi has improved so much. It's bloody awesome seeing you having conversations with the locals. Even though I can't understand a single word :P But thankfully you always put subtitles. Have a great rest of your day. Peace and blessings to you and the wife :)
Thanks for the support!
Disgraceful
I so love your travels and your tips on savings as you go - I love second hand books and India - I love the seven eleven.
I've grown up scrounging around fountain, not only do they have copies but also a lot of old collectibles. Built a beautiful collection from the streets of Bombay.
Nice video!
thanks for the video, really enlightening. sometimes you really really want to read a book but you can't afford it because the money you have is just enough for your food and daily expenses and while pirated books like this are illegal sometimes they are your only way to read something especially if your country does not have adequate library and reading facilities
9:21 That spider on JK Rowling belongs in chamber of secrets, not the casual vacancy lol
Omg😳Brilliant observation
I remember getting some lonely planet guides in thailand that were counterfeit, oh and also a book 1984 which half way through the pages are backwards or upside down, made it very hard to understand what was going on with all the newspeak .. haha
Got a question for ya.. thinking about heading from nz to India in June/July to do some filming/vlogging. What ya reckon about the monsoon? Was thinking to hit the bigger cities, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi etc do you think I could get away with it? Or would it just be a wash out? Any places in India good that time of year?
Karl make a video on the use of online payments in india local shops....it would be informative to foreigners....coming to india.
It is cheap and available all over India
I recall seeing a similar situation in Venezela 20 years ago, but with CDs, DVDs, and console games. Sidewalk sellers with anything you wanted for pennies, right in front of a Blockbuster store. I imagine the owner of that store regretted his investment. keep up the great videos, sir!
Yeah same in India too about 15 years ago... We can get copy of CDs, DVDs, and games at a very cheap price
Wow, I only realised half way through they are all in English. I didn’t realise English was so common in India.
It was a British colony and part of the British empire, before India broke away with Ghandi in 1940s 🤔 , it's much more English influenced than a place like China or Thailand
Nice informative video.
Nice to see you back at the scam videos love em keep them coming please 🙏
I enjoy finding and trying old and new scifi writers, just in case someone good pop's up. I AM A FAN of second hand books, so I might try counterfeit copies if they were readily available.
I bought Dongri To Dubai from one of these book sellers in Mumbai. I then returned home to Hong Kong (where I was then living) and began reading it. Half way through, as I’m beginning to get quite engaged in the story after the less interesting set up and character background, it starts to have the odd page missing. I would sometimes manage to find the next in other parts of the book. But hunting for the next page became such a chore that I had to give up.
You became Indian by heart. Happy to learn from you actually. Most of the foreigners will say 1250/- for a book is okay but i got the genuine reaction 😂😅. Love it.
If it’s readable, I will read it. I absolutely love that the
Market makes books affordable for more people. It’s sad to see mouldy books though. I tend to look around the charity shops for books. I got the whole goosebumps series for my kids for a job lot price of £15. They originally wanted 99p each. So it’s possible to bargain.
Around 9:30 you film the front of some of the game shops, on the signs it says "prefered partner", what does that mean?
Good Video from fort and Hoot Atma Chock/fountain
Hi Karl I can't find your book anywhere, amazon haven't got it, its not on e-bay, can you help any idea's where I can get a copy
Love u Karl ❤️ u r the best
By the way Karl, how's the blazing heat of India? Now it's May & it's blazing heat & humidity in South India 🌞 once come n experience it
That snack you had looked pretty tasty and an amazing price
i can't get pass the vendors not wearing gloves, handling food and money with the same hands
4:52 synchronised head nods :DDD
Always bold and beautiful. I admire your honesty and resilience. If I may, please could you do a video on keeping india clean? This beautiful country is literally littered with garbage, filth and dust. A message from you will make a huge difference. Many thanks for your kind consideration.
Them dudes must be so stressed out when it rains bro
There are many many very popular books which are like non profit or non-copy-right mean no royalty has been given to author or their family so anyone can print and sell at any price, Think & Grow rich is an example, and in that case there is nothing wrong buying them, you can buy them from any where
They used to have counterfeit books like this on blankets in New York City. I think the "book man" went the way of the "cd man" and neither are around that much anymore.
Hey karl, that's true these are pirated copy books. But if used correctly & concisely then it can help people gain knowledge.
When are you returning to Delhi?
Have you left it for good?
bro added music like it's a vice documentary
Unbelievable discounts in India.... ❤️ it
Added to my Mumbai list.
I andheriumbai I had a local book vendor who ran a book rental (totally illegal again). You could buy these fake books at printed prices with a 70,% money back if you returned the book unscathed.
Its insane to me that he just knows what books are where
India has deep love for books. If you visit Kolkata and especially College Street area you'd realise the true craze for books even in this digital age
I disagree, the only demand is for textbooks. Most people do not read books after college.
I'd be interested to see what textbooks for university and school cost. However, I'm not sure it's good to promote the illegitimate/pirated copies without also mentioning how it affects the authors and publishers. Yes, some authors and publishers are well off enough that they won't care and might even like that people pirate their work, but for others they might rightly not appreciate it (especially when the pirated copies are such bad physical quality).
Everytime I see/buy a book from Whitcoulls in NZ they are $39.95 about $30 US. We really get ripped off here. Kindle copies are alot cheaper
6:46 Norwegian Woods cover stands out.
Big fan
Me too😃
Nyc 😊
I have always been there just to curiously check different books i love to read
for the last part i think pirating has been extinct after the playstation 2 so most of the time you'll end up with jailbreak
6:15 LMFAOOOOO BRO I WAS LIKE WHY THE SPOOKY MUSIC
Awesome for those who read books. I barely have the attention span to read my 'Learn Bangla' book, never mind anything else 😂😂
what happens to the books outside when it rains?
"Karl Rock, your video on the black market for books in India shed light on a fascinating and often overlooked aspect of the country's literary culture. It's amazing how passionate people are about obtaining books in any way possible. While the subject is serious, your storytelling skills and insightful commentary kept me engaged throughout. Thank you for bringing awareness to this unique aspect of India's book scene!"
They're all over Mumbai, even in this day when people don't read as much. I used to love them. Now that I'm in the US, I miss them, but there's a good amount of used book stores and of course, Thrift books, which costs me the same as it did in India.
Nice
Seems like they'd be screwed if and when it rains.
They've got tarps to cover it all. But yeah, a lot of old second-hand books are damp and water damaged during monsoon. The new books sell quickly, so they're not affected.
Nice video 📸📸📸
Reminds me of Petticoat lane market in London. Bought a couple of pairs of tights there. When we unpacked them at home they each had 3 legs 😂
Come to college street here in Kolkata bro, you will be amazed 😮😮
08:12 to look after the mouse? so that they do not ruin the books.
I bought the sapiens book for 150rs. from this location, the print looks original
8:20 that one cat is sleeping 😅
8:06 it looks like savannah cat, costs 1000s of dollars in my country 😂
Love the familiar "small world " experiences in a country with over a Billion people.
Sometimes with the popular counterfit books, the original such as Bhagavad Gita As It Is, has all the same pictures with the authors name changed and a few txts changed, along with the poorer quality, I discovered this phenomina regularly in a book market in Kolkatta, someone wants to become famous by stealing the authorship of a popular book. Only in India
Even these kinds of products are available in Flipkart Amazon also
Which one is more eco friendly though?
I am not really fussed about the fact that its fake as long as its somewhat readable lol.
I am a wee bit worried about the mold though
Karl has just shown the fantasy/story books in this video. There are also markets where you gets graduation/post graduation books for engineering and science and mathematics at around the same price. Those who really want to learn, India is a great place.