posted on April 9, 2001 05:26:42 AM new
GIRLSTUFF: I agree with your advice about looking in antique shops, especially when they’re clustered together in malls, in historic districts, etc. Not every antique dealer sells books, so it’s more efficient when you don’t have to drive and park and drive and park. Also, I’ve noticed that antique dealer’s tend to be less knowledgeable about book values (though certainly not always) and place more value on the appearance of a book on a shelf–that is, how it looks when it first catches your eye. Scroll work on the spine, some gilt lettering, you know, if you’ve got that whole Victorian scene going on, kaboom! Thirty bucks! The flip side of this, however, is that they sometimes undervalue things that don’t jump of the shelves. To answer your other question, I know there are lots of free sites for translating stuff, but I don’t have a URL at hand. I just go to a search engine and type in, e.g., “Italian dictionary,” and several choices always come up. Also, there’s a list of translators available (with email addresses) on eBay’s book chat area, I think in one of those Big Red or Big Blue posts.
DENISE: Here are three tips to get you started in those areas you asked about.
1. Travel–Japan and Hawaii do well, especially vintage stuff, and if you find something that was printed in Occupied Japan (1945-1952), you’ve hit pay dirt.
2. Cookbooks–vintage Betty Crocker is strong, also Black Americana.
3. Gardening–bonsai, especially if it’s older, and _especially_ if it’s printed in Japan.
posted on April 9, 2001 06:13:36 AM new
GREAT tips, people! My Hubby is starting to develope an interest in this, now, to the point of offering to let me use a house he just purchased the other week for a shop/work area/storage area. I've got books stacked everywhere at the moment like patient pups, just waiting to go to their new home. And more shopping on the horizon...
posted on April 9, 2001 07:32:28 AM new
keziak: thanks for bringing it up. When I did a site search I could only get one page of history which was all of the II discussion. Does anyone else get a next page button??? or do you only get to see one page of the search.
Great Topic. I have had some luck with hobby type books. But I know absolutely nothing about first edition anything so haven't tried that area.
posted on April 9, 2001 07:50:13 AM new
I've always included a picture of each book in my auctions, regardless of how many I'm selling. Now that may have been the stupid part, since I well remember how bad it can be with dial-up waiting for numerous pictures to load. However, I figure the buyers are entitled to a picture of each book, right?
Maybe not...
I've seen some auctions where the seller takes a picture of a large lot with a digital camera, just lists the titles and basic condition of the lot, and they're getting bidding wars while some of my lots go for one bid or sometimes I have to relist.
posted on April 9, 2001 08:42:06 AM new
Another great thread. Thanks, biblio
Okay, about used bookstores. Are you folks saying that they don't always know the value of their books? Or that ebay is just simply a different market? If so, can you say more about the differences between ebay and a regular used bookstore?
posted on April 9, 2001 08:44:59 AM new
I have another question. It's about taking photos. How do you guys do that? It's been a while since I browsed books, but the photos were great -- head on, as if you were looking at the book, rather than a picture of the book. Do you stand over it? If you prop it up somehow, what do you use? How do you keep it open to shoot inside matter? Etc. I'm feeling kinda dumb here (and no doubt sounding it as well), but I'd really love some tips on the very basics.
posted on April 9, 2001 08:50:15 AM new
Hi CleverGirl: I use a scanner (Epson Perfection 1200U). Best thing I ever bought. I scan inside pages very carefully so as not to crease binding. Works great and beautiful pictures
I haven't sold many books, but I took some good pictures with my Mavica. I take most of my photos on my couch, with appropriate cloth thrown over for a backdrop. If I'm taking a pic of the front cover, for instance, I just lean the book slightly against the back of the couch. Easier than standing over it...
I've never figured out a way to use my scanner for the inside pages of a hard cover book... Still, the Mavica takes fine close-ups of the inner pages.
posted on April 9, 2001 10:13:26 AM new
toke: I end up holding the part of the book that is not being scanned. Generally I am taking a picture of a picture that is in the book and they are centered on the page. So I don't lay the book completely down but hold it. I have a digital camera but have been too lazy to use it. I'll have to give it a try.
That's something I hadn't thought of. Do you lay a piece of fabric over the top? I have to admit, I hardly ever use my scanner...it intimidates me a little...
posted on April 9, 2001 11:04:14 AM new
toke. I had a good laugh because I have been intimidated by my camera!!.
I do lay a piece of felt or this soft spongy material from craft stores over the top.
I started another thread on which is faster camera or scanner and so far I think the camera are winning, so I am going to have to lose my fears. Someone laid their scanner on its side and held up the item. Never thought of that. I'd be afraid of the light coming loose, but it's worked for them.
posted on April 9, 2001 11:08:07 AM new
Just wanted to add my thanks for all the information being so generously provided here! I've had some fantastic luck in the past with old books - I don't bother with the "contemporary" best sellers or paperbacks - and now I have a better idea of what to watch for
One thing I'd like to mention... I've sold a couple of "regional" type books, i.e. books about various small towns. They were all old books, 1955 or earlier, and I got a lot of interest. Apparently many people like to do searches on their home towns, particularly small towns which might not have a lot of memorabilia available.
This wouldn't work well for a city such as New York or Chicago, which would be difficult to do a search on without getting a ton of unrelated auctions (you'd end up with listings for Chicago Bears stuff, etc.)
edited to fix spelling
[ edited by joanne on Apr 9, 2001 11:08 AM ]
posted on April 9, 2001 11:34:11 AM new
Pay especially close attention to Joanne's post above. This is a prime example of how books which sell slowly (and are usually priced reasonably) in used book stores command strong prices when listed on eBay.
posted on April 9, 2001 11:43:25 AM new
I've used both a scanner and a digital camera (Mavica) for taking pictures of books, and I can say without reservation that the camera is so much faster, perhaps by a factor of ten or more, that I wonder sometimes how I ever did without it. Also, I've tried listing books without pictures, with only one picture, and with multiple pictures. By a clear margin the listings with multiple pictures do better. It may be true that those with slower computers are frustrated by this kind of listing presentation, but you can't argue with the results.
posted on April 9, 2001 11:44:25 AM new
About regional books: the same is true for some of the "Junior League"-style cookbooks. I mean the kind that usually is comb-bound, and Aunt Mildred contributed her recipes. People apparently do collect these. I found a whole batch in my used bookstore's Freebie bin and they all sold, for up to $15 I believe.
Wow, a whole house to store books? OK, I won't feel so overwhelmed by my stacks and bookshelves now. I have a comfort zone, though, that is being exceeded. I'm not interested in long-term storage, would rather have quick turnover. OTOH, I just sold a "dog" on half.com for over $8 that I was about to toss, so you never know.
half.com and Amazon have been good lately. There are times I am tempted to just list there, but can't help it, I need my auction fix. ; - )
keziak
P.S. I personally do the "standover" thing with my camera, but then, my photos are nothing to write home about. I got an inexpensive digital and it shows. A good contrasting background helps.
posted on April 9, 2001 10:07:42 PM new
On taking pics, I use an easel.
But the best advice I can give with many books is to have a high opening bid. Usually the person that really wants a book really wants it and will pay for it.
I just sold a book on the second relist. An identical one sold the first week I listed it on one bid for about $6.00. Mine was listed for $13. On the second relist it sold at the $17 BIN price.
posted on April 9, 2001 10:45:18 PM new
Approximately what price is shipping for an average book within the US. I am thinking of selling books, but I am wondering whether postage from Australia, which is where I am, might be a critical issue. The average hardback would be about US$4/5 from here.
posted on April 9, 2001 11:13:45 PM new
Hi, lorikeet - We can mail a book for 1.30 (up to one pound), or 1.75 up to two pounds. Those are the cheaper Media Mail rates. If sent by Priority Mail, those would be 3.50 and 3.95. Many use ONLY the Priority rates, as they are considered faster and perhaps safer.
posted on April 10, 2001 08:33:19 AM new
When I look at the list of book auctions ending I see a large number not getting any bids, a large number getting bids in the $2-$3 dollar range and very few books getting bids for a reasonable price ($10 plus). Could someone recommend some seller IDs of booksellers to look at who sell a variety of subjects and get reasonable prices for books?
posted on April 10, 2001 10:40:16 AM new
QUESTION FOR THE GROUP:
I have a book that WAS in great condition and worth about $50 until my baby tore off the front cover. (the same day I got it...I cried!) Anyway, I finally decided to list it and see if I could get a couple of bucks for it. I put it up for $3.00 and now the price is $15.50 with several days left to go.
In the description I wrote: "POOR condition due to cover being torn off along spine. Markings on front page where former owner checked off the books she had. The text of the book is in good condition, so it will make a good reading copy. Also good for someone who can repair the cover."
Even though I disclosed the condition, I worry that the winning bidder might pitch a fit when they see the cover is torn. Those "buyers don't read" threads are in the back of my mind. My question is: should I add to my description and reiterate that the cover is torn off? Or, should I leave it alone? What, in your opinion, is the right thing to do? Thanks, all!
posted on April 10, 2001 12:04:49 PM new
I think you have done enough.
The worst thing that can happen is that you end up refunding the money and trying again.
Since this book seems to be part of a set, there are many people who want to READ them all rather than COLLECT them all. For such a bidder $15 is a great price to pay for a book that otherwise might be $50
posted on April 10, 2001 12:08:24 PM new
In my [admittedly limited] experience, when I've belabored the worn quality of a book, I've ended up with email or FB that said "was in better shape than I expected!".
OTOH, my only Neutral is from a guy who left it after getting his book with pages loose. I emailed and pointed out nicely that the auction SAID the pages were loose, and he fell all over himself to apologize. Not that this changed the FB, of course.
keziak
P.S. to grobe: feel free to check me out, I'm keziak everywhere, but unless you want to see a sea of no bids, check my closed auctions! ; - ) My bidders are being coy these days.
posted on April 10, 2001 12:39:41 PM new
There are several problems with your request for (successful) bookseller's ids, grobe. One, I believe it's against AuctionWatch policy to post eBay user ids without getting permission from the user; and two, as a personal matter, I don't think it's ethical. Some would view this as an invasion of privacy. Even though the information is publicly available, there are untold numbers of users, so many, in fact, that a discrete user can in effect remain more or less anonymous indefinitely--for whatever reason he may have.
That said, I do keep a list of eBay's star booksellers myself, and I've put it together primarily by running searches on completed auctions and specifying high dollar items to come up. From there you can look at individual auctions and in turn the individual seller's other auctions. If you come across somebody who looks hot, write their id down. It doesn't take long to get a substantial list, and you can use it not only for investigating books that do well but for improving your listing presentations and strategy as well.
I agree that there are a horrendous number of books that go begging for bids, but as soon as you begin to do some deliberate research, you'll understand why. Good luck!
Craig
[ edited by bibliophile on Apr 10, 2001 12:57 PM ]
posted on April 10, 2001 12:53:10 PM new
Well, after all this talk about advocating going to used bookstores for items to resell on eBay, it was probably inevitable. It's time for me to eat some crow. Today I FINALLY walked into a used bookstore that was so generally and obscenely overpriced that I couldn't find a single title that I felt certain I could resell for a profit. It was a shame too because the shelves were packed with interesting items. The only explanation I can conceive for this (assuming that the store owner was selling enough to pay his rent and hadn't just opened the place or something) is that the store was not only located in a recently restored historic district of the town but also was near the campus of somewhat hoity toity university. Oh, well, as they say, without at least one exception, there's no rule--in other words, the exception proves the rule.
posted on April 10, 2001 01:03:01 PM new
Craig - still, it's good to hear that the overpriced store is the exception not the rule.
For myself, I was in a shop I frequent rarely [I had store credit, though] and found a lot of middling stuff. Meaning, it will sell with any luck, but not for exciting prices. They even had a selection of cichlid books. Not the RIGHT cichlid books, however. ; - )
posted on April 10, 2001 01:08:28 PM new
KEZIAK: That sea of no-bids must have something to do with all those high opening bids you've put in place. Who the hell told you to do that? <G> Actually, I think you're doing fine. Most of the items that are closing soon have bids. It may be that the higher opening bids are suppressing the bidding activity somewhat during the course of your auctions, but as long as buyers come in at the end, you're still in great shape--and I STILL believe you'll make more money in the long run by keeping them at higher levels.
Still, the Mavica takes fine close-ups of the inner pages. 