I could really use some advice from all you experienced Amazon sellers.
I am a full-time online bookseller. We don't have a bricks-and-mortar shop but sell only on the internet. Currently we list our books on ABE, Bibliofind, Bookopoly, and occasionally on eBay. Since it looks like Bibliofind may be going away (or at least going into decline) I've been looking for some alternatives.
I'm a little confused about the options at Amazon. Not quite sure what the difference between Marketplace and Z-Shops is and which would be better. We have several thousand books in our inventory.
Do you all get a lot of orders from these programs? I've been doing pretty well with ABE & Bibliofind (get about an equal no. of orders from each) and wonder if signing up with Z-Shops or Marketplace would be worthwhile.
posted on March 18, 2001 10:52:08 AM new
I registered and listed 2 books in French today that had not sold at eBay which does not even have a category for foreign language books.
After reading about a a half hour and following links in circles I am still not sure of the difference between the auctions/zMarket and Marketplace.
Will my book show anywhere but the auctions?
I have no idea.
Can't people express themselves briefly and simply?
I have no desire at this time to open a $40/month zShop, but if I did I am sure they would make me search hard to find the link to do it.
posted on March 18, 2001 01:56:15 PM new
Important thing to consider is that on Marketplace the listings are for 30 days. Then they come off and you have to relist [there might be an easy way, but I normally put them on ebay or something so I don't know].
One thing I notice is that most Zshops books seem pricey compared to Marketplace books. I wonder how much activity Zshops gets? I am very small scale but move books via Marketplace pretty steadily.
posted on March 19, 2001 05:20:08 PM new
I've been very happy with the Marketplace option. I don't have to pay the $40/mo. z-shops fee, and the books are moving. I just factor the 99 cents + 15% fee into my prices. The joy of Marketplace is that the buyer gets to stare at Amazon's retail price, and that makes our discounted Marketplace prices look *really* good.
posted on March 27, 2001 01:46:12 AM new
Thanks to you all for your input. I think I will hold off on listing on Amazon. It seems pretty confusing, and I'm not convinced it would increase my sales significantly.
posted on March 27, 2001 08:34:39 AM new
I have been on Amazon for a while. They do have problems, but it is still the site to sell books. My suggestion to you to to take a test run. List some books on the Marketplace. Pay the 99 cent commission. If you are happy with the results, then go for the $40.00 monthly fee. Don't rule out a potential site because of technical problems they have. There would not be so many Amazon sellers if they were not making $$$. By the way, I sell on Marketplace, Z shops and on Amazon auctions.
posted on March 27, 2001 11:39:30 AM new
I agree they could and SHOULD streamline the Marketplace/zShops/auctions. I am working within the present layout and I can tell you how it is working for me.
I have a little over 2,000 books listed, I sell from 5-10 a day, 7 days a week. 1 sale in 10 will be auction (maybe a bit less), 2 or 3 zShops, and usually 4 to 8 Marketplace sales per day. I groan at the fees charged on Marketplace, an $18.00 sale it's $2.70, a $28.00 sale it's $4.20. Plus I have the cost of $39 a month.
Here is a big difference; I get paid .
When I was selling only on auction I had to maintain a list of those I'd sent a 'friendly reminder' then monitor until their 60 days was nearly up and give them an appropriate feedback. I had about 80+ % auctions EVER paid for. On Marketplace it is 99.99+ %, probably. I send no 'reminder', if they are not paid in 72 hours I relist as if it never happened.
Many, many times;
#1, they click + pay,
#2 I mail 'cause I saw it in my transactions before Amazon sends me the notice,
#3, I rec' the notice & thank them.
All done in same day.
My books cover an incredible range of subjects, it varies according to what I can pick up CHEAP, I have an 800% rule, items need to be listed at least 800% over what I had paid for them on either auctions or Marketplace. I definately find the more unusual the subject the quicker it sells and for a higher price. It is really fun to see a book worthless in my eyes sell for $28.00, like (making this up folks) "The Raising, Training and Breeding of Widgets In Newfoundland in the 1930's". I have had a few (scarce) comments... such as "my uncle wrote that book!",(whole family tree as inspirational?) "we raise pureblooded Widgets!" (oh, really? try purebred next time), "I am professor of Widgets at UCLA and needed this for my course!" (uh, yer mom would be proud).
I aim to have a limit of lowest price item at $10.00, and EVERY SINGLE TIME I HAVE A CRAZED BUYER (wheresmybook?wheresmybook?wheresmybook!) it has been in the $2.00 to $20.00 range.
I have told others who ask, and a few who didn't ask....... that you will likely not see much activity until you have 300+ items listed, and 1,000 is virtualy a necessity, just my opinion.
Now, wash your hands, don't run with sharp sticks, and eat your oatmeal. Mom
