posted on August 25, 2001 09:37:52 AM new
This has probably been discussed before, but what is the best venue for occasionally selling books? I don't actively buy and sell books, but pick up them up at garage sales if they are cheap enough and look interesting. So, I might have say..5-10 to put out a week. What is the best choice: Ebay, Amazon, or other? I've done fairly well on Ebay, but what are the advantages of Amazon or something else?
Thanks, Pam
posted on August 25, 2001 10:36:57 AM new
Pam - In my opinion there is no one best place, unless you have certain expectations. If you want to unload them and will start with low bids, ebay may sell them most quickly.
If you don't mind maintaining an inventory and paying premium commissions, Amazon is easy and often very successful. I don't find half.com that great these days, but some people do. Also, they are low-risk due to no listing fees, unless you get an Amazon Pro merchant account, which would not be a great idea if you list only a few books a week.
Don't forget Yahoo either - only 20 cents to list and depending on the book and what you want to get for it, possibly a good option.
posted on August 25, 2001 10:24:50 PM new
I like eBay and Half. Half is very low risk (no listing fees) and is getting lots of book buyers. eBay gets lots of fees and deadbeats. Only if the book is a guaranteed seller should it be on eBay. I've had books go two and three rounds on eBay with no nibbles and sell on Half at higher prices.
posted on August 26, 2001 05:04:52 AM new
HI mballai - Is there some reason you don't like Amazon, or do you just prefer half.com? I got really disappointed in my half.com sales. I cross-listed on half and Amazon and they always sold on Amazon, so I phased out listing on half. I've recently started doing more...had one sale immediately. But it's still far below the "good old days" of about 6 months ago.
posted on August 26, 2001 06:52:39 AM new
If they are paperbacks, half.com may not be the best place unless you have a book that there are not already 1,000 just like it listed!
Textbooks (college) do really really well on half.com!
That is the majority of what I have sold. The better the condition of other type books, the better it will sell there. Then again, you can peruse the eBay listings and see books with bids that are for sale on half.com at 1/3 of the cost.
It is a gamble, no matter how you do it. I prefer half.com, because you don't pay anything until the book sells. Kind of like consignment.
posted on August 26, 2001 07:42:24 PM new
keziak
I don't list on Amazon because of the fees and because some crackpot seller trashed my neophyte feedback rating--I see no sense in having one foot in the grave and pay fees for it. People don't buy if you have a poor rating and they aren't likely to decipher why. I am doing fairly well on half and as long as I continue that's fine. I try and keep my overhead down so I can offer good books at a price people can afford with great service and make a decent profit at the same time. So far it's working.
posted on August 26, 2001 07:44:09 PM new
marketplace is very easy to list on Amazon and it gives you an idea of what the book will sell for ie if 10 are selling for $ 1.50 ~ it is not a high seller. Ebay I like to sell my higher end collectibles like nancy drew ( oh oh I don't want to sell those until I am desperate!) or just a nice selling book which I look up under completed auctions. I think Abe is for the more serious minded seller ie there is a fee to list and it is a wait until the item sells but can be a high seller. However, abe is certainly getting nice reviews on the amazon sellers board.
Yahoo might hold some promise in the future as their market is still very low ( ie no listing ) and there are still some buyers there. For my low sellers I am trying to flog on amazon auctions so I can bring up and keep up my feedback. Marketplace ( amazon ) is very hard to even get feedback much less good feedback. Hope this helps.
Summary: amazon marketplace for a quick turnover ~ ie easy to list no imaging etc . Ebay if is a seller and you can get bids. Or sometimes an unusual book
Yahoo for 20 cents as might be a seller and no closing fees.
( from a person who is learning and changing styles every week so next week I will be quoting something else!)
Suzanne
