posted on July 21, 2001 11:30:19 AM
So far I've only used a reserve once, so I am not very experienced with it. What is your advice on this book?
It is a hardcover, BCE, very nice copy of "The Bachman Books" by Stephen King. The closed copies have ranged as high as the $70s but not all have gotten that. Some of the current listings are for paperbacks. Many listings mention that this collection contains "Rage" which King pulled from publication due to a connection to Columbine. Yikes.
Not even sure I should list, but if I did, how to price it..?
You have tons more experience in this category than I do, so I'll just relate my most recent experience.
I found a book and searching addall, abe, etc., and found two prices for it. I couldn't find it anywhere else. I put a reserve on it for $45 which was $5 lower than the lower abe price and my first bidder bid the reserve. I can't tell you how it finished, because it still has eight days to go.
So, I guess I would guess that if the book often goes for $70, but you're worried that summer will slow down the bidding, then put what you're happy with as a reserve.
ps: thanks for all the good book stuff I've learned from your posts.
posted on July 21, 2001 11:50:43 AM
Hi Keziak! I've used a reserve quite a few times, often finding it better just to list it at my minimum, unless I know it is something that will top out well (where I have no fear of a penny listing.)
If you can refer people to check the search engines for comparable copies at high value, that works well.
In addition, if you can afford to pick and choose between your books on which to run... better to wait until there is one the same running. Start it on the same day of the runner closing, in the same catagory. Losing bidders often will search for another to bid on-- you have a pretty good idea on what to start it at, based on what it has been up to thusfar...start it a few bucks lower.
This seems to work particularly well when a bidder gets sniped out in the last moments!
posted on July 21, 2001 01:49:16 PM
All I can tell you is that I have the same book and I'm waiting until the fall to list it. If I were to list it now I would definitely use a reserve. I think the amount of the reserve depends on how badly you want to sell it the first time around.
posted on July 21, 2001 08:14:23 PM
Keziak....mine didnt have a reserve, and I was shocked at the ending price of 52.00 (plus change) I am currently holding pb for fall....and looking for more! I bought the HC on a whim....looks like the instincts are kicking in!
posted on July 21, 2001 10:15:01 PM
I find the copies of this book that recently sold on eBay kind of confusing since some sellers didn't say if they had the trade paperback, bookclub, or trade hardback. It looks to me as though the books selling for $46 and $49 were bookclubs and the one for $61 was a first hardback. Someone has a VG/VG bookclub on ABE for $30. If it were me, I would start the thing at $30 with no reserve. And I would certainly clearly say it was the bookclub and tell the story of why RAGE won't ever come back into print.
posted on July 22, 2001 06:54:37 AM
keziak...yes, that was mine. I didn't know it was BCE until after I bought it (being new to bookselling) and the price was kinda high (according to someone in a group on Yahoo), because according to "them", fiction BCE generally doesn't do well...but I bought it anyway, due to "gut" instincts if you get my drift.... anyway, I listed it at $7.00 with no reserve, not knowing what I had, and never even mentioned why it was pulled from the shelves, cause I didnt even know it was! LOL! I was happy with the ending though. I will definitely research my books a little better from now on.
Just ran into a mother lode of Nora Roberts pb....cant wait to get started!
