I think you're right, it's not exactly rare to have these kinds of problems on Amazon. Here's an interesting example: Stroustrup's "A Tour of C++". A purchase

I think you're right, it's not exactly rare to have these kinds of problems on Amazon. Here's an interesting example: Stroustrup's "A Tour of C++". A purchaser warns: "Buyer beware: Amazon is selling counterfiets": https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R26ANHFODF42VE/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0321958314 https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R26ANHFODF42VE/re... Notice the top comment on the review is from Stroustrup: "Thanks for warning others about this appalling fake. I'm shocked. After seeing your explanation, I have contacted Addison Wesley." I'm not sure if the books were really outright fakes or just a "print on demand" of very poor quality. I wouldn't be very happy either way though as a customer.