posted on May 29, 2008 01:51:44 PM new
I looked into selling on Amazon years ago but opted to use eBay exclusively. However, I've recently acquired a number of antique books. I'm wondering if I should re-explore listing them on Amazon. Any comments/thoughts/suggestions (especially from those who do list on Amazon) would be appreciated. Thanks!
posted on May 29, 2008 03:38:29 PM new
Blueeyes: In the last couple of years, I've gotten into the habit of listing books first on Amazon; if they don't sell in a year, I decide if there's a niche for them on eBay. If so, I try them there; if not, they are donated to the thrift shop.
It's a real guessing game as to which venue will attract the looks. My general experience is that old books don't do well on Amazon, probably because Amazon buyers aren't browsing, they're just looking for a specific book, and how would they know there's a great old book in the area they'd want?
Older books, if they have a specific niche, may sell from the browsing eBay buyers do. I think you can learn this by trial and error; no easy way.
Of course, if a book's status is 1.5 million or more, forget it on Amazon.
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posted on May 29, 2008 04:10:01 PM new
Thanks, roadsmith...I may try a "trial run" on Amazon and see what happens. One of the books was listed but with the comment that "unavailable at this time and don't know when one would be available"...or words to that effect. Thanks for the thoughts...
posted on May 29, 2008 04:22:05 PM new
There are buyers who look for certain books and once the book is available,he will get an email from AMZN .
I sold a set of books on Mythology of the World by J Campbell on AMZN for a few hundred dollars,hard to find a complete set and some one was just looking for a set.
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Google does not hire stupid people.
posted on May 29, 2008 05:08:28 PM new
One problem you might run into with antique books is that unless the book is already in their system, you will not be able to create a listing page unless you are a Amazon Pro Merchant.
I think a Pro Merchant account is $40 a month.
Edited to add ..... yes it is $40 but you don't have to pay the .99 per book listing fee so if you plan on listing 40 or more books a month, it's a wash.
[ edited by zippy2dah on May 29, 2008 05:14 PM ]
posted on May 29, 2008 05:35:19 PM new
Blueyes: You do know that you can list by clicking on "sell this book" even if the "unavailable" message comes up? Click on the link on the page, then click on "sell. . .", then list if you wish.
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posted on May 29, 2008 05:37:08 PM new
Zippy: I've toyed with the idea of a pro merchant account. When you say "list 40 books a month and it's a wash," do you mean newly listed books or total books? (I have a couple hundred listed on Amazon right now; wondering if I can count them in that "40" number you mentioned.)
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posted on May 29, 2008 06:03:02 PM new
Doh! Head slap.
What I should have typed is, if you SELL 40 books a month, you will be charged 40 x .99 for the transaction fee (plus commission, of course) so if you think you can SELL that many books a month, a PM account would be a wash.
Sorry!
I do believe that any seller can create a new product page on Alibris.
posted on May 29, 2008 07:28:38 PM new
I used to have a pro merchant account with AMZN,and I add my non book items to my zshop.
But there is hardly any traffic ,Amzn assigns very low visibility to zshop and the layout is really meant for books,you can only have one picture per item and there is a restriction on size of your picture.
I get a few orders at the end of the year,by then I have already sold those items on Ebay!
see ,if you list a book on AMZN marketplace,AMZN gets 15% so why should they encourage anyone to visit the zshops?
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Google does not hire stupid people.
posted on May 29, 2008 09:12:11 PM new
I wish I could sell 40 books a month, regularly, on Amazon! I guess I'll stick with my old high-fee deal with them.
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