who's owned them before you

[Saneta]

http://www.english-test.net/toeic/listening/do_you_think_anyone_can_make_a_living_out_of_simply_writing_books.html

Do you like going to second-hand bookshops?
Not really. You never know who's owned them before you.

if them = means= books, shouldn't it be:
Not really. You never know who owned them before you. because at the present moment the books are in the second-hand bookshop and not in the possession of the previous owner/owners? or 'who's owned' can also relate to the second-hand bookshop?

Thanks.

[Ozzy For President]

Hello Saneta,

"Them" refers to the books as the tone of the written is formal.

I think they chose the present perfect here because you can use the present perfect for actions that happened before the moment of speaking, which is the case here.

"Them" referring to bookshops, only as a joke.

Regards,

Ozzy
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