An Underground Book Marketing Economy?

At the writer-type sites I favor there has been a lot of talk about the poor state of publishing, mainly because books aren't being sold, advances aren't being earned, thus meaning that writers aren't able to sell subsequent books.

However, second hand bookstores are supposed to be doing well. And what's more, there are so many ways to buy second hand books. Bookstores are selling them on Amazon as well as on ebay where private citizens are also selling books they no longer want. And what about library book sales which are primarily used books? A library near here makes nearly twenty thousand dollars twice a year at its sales.

The point I am making, here, is that people are buying books, they just aren't buying new ones, which many people are finding too pricie. As far as the publishing world is concerned, though, used books don't register because writers and publishers don't make anything on them. We only make money on books once, the first time they're sold.

I'm not complaining. I just find this interesting.