posted on August 9, 2001 10:23:37 PM
I am considering listing on half.com but I wonder if it really pays. I am not a book dealer and only have around 100 personal books and CDs to sell. It looks like half.com will take 15% of sales totaling $50. Does this mean that they will get a percentage of the insurance and shipping fee? How can one make a profit after paying the post office a fee, then pay half.com 15% of that, then also 15% of the sale price? How can they charge a percentage of the insurance? I thought it would be easier to sell at half.com so I don't have to scan the books and CDs for auctions. Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks.
posted on August 9, 2001 11:31:33 PM
You need to read the terms. While the amount that Half takes is hefty, they do provide a shipping allowance (meager, but you just adjust your price accordingly). It's probably good for just clearing some books and I also find it better than eBay for many books. Right now I am doing more biz on Half than eBay. Since you aren't out upfront fees for listing, it's a pretty good place to sell.
There are problems with Half, but they aren't insurmontable.
posted on August 9, 2001 11:31:46 PM
Whether it will pay to sell on Half.com depends entirely on what you're selling. If you have some eclectic stuff that isn't in great supply, then you'll do well. If you have a bunch of former bestsellers, then don't even bother. (Try not to be one of those knuckleheads who come on this board and complain about low prices on Half.com. Do your research and pay attention to what the market is telling you.)
The commission is taken only on the sale price. In addition, you'll get $1.78 to ship a paperback or CD, and $2.23 to ship a hardback. This is usually just enough to cover postage. Try to scrounge up some free packaging material, or you'll lose money on shipping. Insurance is not offered to buyers.
posted on August 10, 2001 12:05:00 AM
You should check your book titles on half before listing them so you can determine if it will be worth it to you. There is intense cut-throat competition. If you've got titles that nobody else is offering you're in luck. Also be aware that half MASSIVELY discounts your shipping allowance if somebody orders multiple items from you on the same order. They do this even though the buyer gets no discount on shipping whatsoever. Do not count on the shipping allowance to contribute to your profit margin.
posted on August 10, 2001 01:19:38 AM
Is it worthwhile to list once on ebay before dumping it on Half.com? Or should you dump it on Half with a high price and then lower the price on an attempt on ebay? This is for books not commonly offer.
posted on August 10, 2001 04:49:12 AM
Half is a great place for completing a good sell-through. To explain-when I make a bulk buy on videos, (say 500 for $250) I take the ones that are rare (on both half and ebay) and sell them on Ebay. The remaining ones I put on Half (in most cases...I still toggle between the two sites because sometimes half.com is a better first choice). Ebay is a lot better profit-wise on most items and I get my money (much)quicker.
But half is great for the more common items if you can offer them at the lowest price which is what I do.
Keep in mind that Half.com is the prototype that Ebay came up with when it got tired of dealing with individual sellers and wanted a way to deal with the immense amount of cash that was heretofore being shuttled around without them getting their grubby hands on it. Don't try to tell me a bunch of granola-crunching Oregonians came up with this-what a ruse. Half.com is a brilliant business model when you consider just these facts not to mention their incredibly-exorbitant fees. If you're a small-ticket seller try tacking on the s+h cut they get + the 15% commission and expressing it as a percentage, wow!. Now imagine the amount of interest they are making while they hold onto your $ (sometimes up to 21 days!!!) as you come up with s+h out of pocket while they charge you for the privelege!! I could see if they paid you more than they collect on s+h since you are fronting that amount but they are charging you!!! (brilliant...)
They have managed to remove the seller (and all the inherent problems that go with that) from the equation almost totally-a brilliant Orwellian stroke. You can't contact buyers (even after the sale). Buyers can leave any feedback without the seller having an opportunity of any sort to respond to them. Also forget trying to contact Half ever. If you're lucky, you may get an email response a week later no matter the nature of your query. They're way to busy spending the copious amounts of money they're making (I'm sure in totally politically-correct ways-better protest-poster supplies, deluxe tree stands for tree huggers, etc.) to respond to your lowly a**.
That said, it's a great place for the reasons I mentioned at the start of my rant.
posted on August 10, 2001 09:23:16 AM
Thanks for all the response. I guess I'm headed in the right direction. I have already sold some of the better stuff on eBay but the rest I don't want to scan, so half.com sounds ideal.
About the insurance: I thought I read on half.com that they recommend the seller insure the item. Costly.
posted on August 10, 2001 09:30:20 AM
I am getting hungry, it must be time for my granola-
Signed,
A life long Oregonian
Really though, Half.com has been successful for me, you do need to keep in mind the shipping costs before setting a price, you should do well, especially if you just have some personal things to clear out, it is a lot less work than eBay.
