posted on November 22, 2000 03:59:31 AM new
HI all - I am still trying to resolve some questions with Amazon sales reps about Marketplace. I have 2 books for which I have not received the "ship" email, and it's been about a week. One sales rep emailed me to say that if I didn't get the "ship" email in a few days, to email the buyers directly. I am reluctant to do that without knowing what they expect me to say.
Has anyone here negotiated a payment method with one of their Marketplace buyers? Are we expected to wait on checks or money orders?
I emailed back with these questions and asked when I can consider the transactions void and list again.
Just FYI - the rest of my transactions have been smooth, but this could come up again at any time, I imagine.
posted on November 22, 2000 05:22:15 AM new
Hi Keziak!
so far this hasn't come up for me on a Marketplace sale, but if it does my plan is to email the buyer, and ask them if they still want the book and to send a check or money order if they still want it. I will ask them to respond to the email within a certain time (48 hours) or the sale will be cancelled.
If you hear back, great, it's like an Ebay sale where you're waiting for payment. If you dont' hear back, relist the book.
Again there seems to be more flexibility than the Half.com system.
BTW has anyone sold any CD's yet through Marketplace? I have CD's and books listed, but have sold only books.
Keziak, have you noticed any difference between the type of book that sells quickly on Amazon and the type of book that sells well on Half.com? Any differences for you?
posted on November 22, 2000 06:24:25 AM new
enchanted - thanks for your feedback! I guess I just feel that Amazon has set up Marketplace with them as intermediary, and it's not clear to me that the seller is supposed to get "into it" with the buyer. It might come down to that, though.
I'm thinking about your question about Amazon vs half.com. I would hazzard to say that most of my Amazon sales have been for newer items. I have several listings on their OP records, but I wonder if people even look at those when it says "out of print" on the title list page. There is no way to tell there is a copy available until you click on the individual record.
I don't know how people use Amazon, but if they are like me, they do a subject search, then sort by publication date so the newer stuff comes up first. In that case it would be advantageous to have newer titles.
I have a large number of books listed on Amazon and half.com at the same time. When it sells one place, I immediately take it off the other. Mostly these have sold on Amazon, but some on half.com also.
I also don't list on half.com if there are more than a few other copies. There is less competition of this sort on Amazon right now.
posted on November 22, 2000 06:50:32 AM new
thanks for your comments. I agree with everything you just said, and would add the following:
Amazon's search engine is superior to Half.com's search engine for finding books and together with all the cross linking Amazon does, I think some books have a better chance of being seen on Amazon to a browsing buyer. Also your listing will come up in a Z-shop search for that book, I think.
also I did sell an out of print book already, a sci-fi one. It was something that had been on Half.com for a while and sold in 3 days on Amazon in the Marketplace.
About on third my listings on Amazon are out of print, so will be very werry interesting to see what thappens.
oh, BTW, yes I agree with you Amazon is the intermediary with the buyer,just like Half.com, but in those unusual circumstances where a credit card doesn't process properly it sounds like Amazon doesn't mind if you work something out with the buyer,at least that's the way I read Amazon's comments to you.
posted on November 22, 2000 04:39:15 PM new
I have another related question--the money is showing in my account but I have not received the Sold Ship email? IS is safe to ship?
posted on November 22, 2000 07:47:17 PM new
I don't know.. that hasn't happened to me yet so can't advise you. I would think the credit card cleared and the charge went through or the money wouldn't be in your account, but I'm not sure.
Perhaps this has happened to someone else here and they will see your question.
posted on November 23, 2000 03:29:24 PM new
In case anyone is on the edge of their chairs trying to find out how my 2 unconsummated sales went, I just got this email from Amazon:
"I apologize for the confusion regarding your Amazon.com Marketplace
listings. Please note that you are correct in that Amazon.com Payments is
the only accepted payment method for Marketplace listings. I am sorry that
these transactions have not been completed, and I invite you to relist
these items at your convenience. "
posted on November 23, 2000 07:16:01 PM new
Me, me! I'm on the edge of my chair ! LOL!
seriously how long was the entire process in days, from the time you got the first email to the time you got the last email telling you to relist the books?
5 days, 7 days? seems like you had to keep these items in limbo for a long time
