posted on October 21, 2004 11:26:34 PM new
I sell mostly books on Ebay, but in buying books, I do seem to accumulate a lot of books that will not sell on Ebay.
My question - I would like another option, like Half.com, that allows you to list and only takes a commission. I don't want to pay a monthly fee for books just to set there.
Is there another option, other than Half.com, and if so, how does it compare to in fees, sales, etc.
I haven't listed on Half in a couple of years, but don't the books have to have a ISBN number to be listed?
posted on October 22, 2004 07:37:39 AM new
I know nothing about selling books but someone told me about this site for selling books:
http://www.abebooks.com/
Maybe this will work for you.
posted on October 22, 2004 08:44:24 AM new
Books are VERY iffy! Yes, you need an ISBN number for Half.com, although sometimes I've worked around it. Let's say there's a certain recent book. I'll find it offered on Half.com, list my 1st edition or older right there, specifying the year (let's say 1945) and of course the condition. Sometimes those sell.
A friend lists her books only through Amazon and loves it. There are other sites, too, but I haven't dabbled in them yet.
posted on October 22, 2004 10:37:59 AM new
AMZN is The place to sell books-abe.com,biblio, e r hamilton,strands bookstore of New York,and what is that outfit in Oregon and zillion of used bookstores,individual book sellers ,weekend warriors ,they all sell on amzn.
To sell on Amzn marketplace without a pro merchant account,the commish is 15% and transaction fee is 99 cents per book,the books are listed for x number of weeks and then you have to relist,which can be a big pain if you have a lot of books.
Your books need to have an ISBN to list on marketplace.
However,
if you have a promerchant account(40 dollars per month),you dont have to pay that 99 cents transaction fee,your books stay on amzn marketplace forever and you get to open a z shop to sell non book,non dvd,non vhs items as well as books with no ISBN .
Unfortunately ,zshop is kind of dead,you mat get some traffic around xmas,just enough to pay that 40 dollars shop fee.
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
posted on October 22, 2004 11:01:22 AM new
Amazon is nowhere near 27% - With a pro seller account, it is $39.95 per month and 15% - Otherwise it is 99 cents and 15%. I guess if you are selling $3 books it would be that high. There is no comparison between amazon and half from my perspective for books, Amazon is where the traffic is. Half is good, but Amazon is much better.
Friends don't let Friends say stupid things like Friends don't let friends vote Republican!
posted on October 22, 2004 11:34:32 AM new
ajbooks,
thanks,thats it -Powell books.
Amzn marketplace used to be a good place for individual sellers until Amzn invites Powell,ER Hamilton,Strands which sell discount books and the abe.com,biblio.com of the world to join.
If books dont sell,donate them or just trash them.
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
posted on October 22, 2004 12:40:16 PM new
stopwhining, you said it!
When I noticed that halfpricebooks (AKA TexasBookman -- one of perhaps only two reputable remainder houses in the US) started selling on abe and amazon (through both amazon and abe's listings that appear there), I decided amazon was hopeless. Unless, of course, I wanted to spend 10-15 minutes boxing up a $2.00 book that I paid $2.95 for.
Trashing books (those from large printing runs), creates the slightest possibility that someday the remaining copies will be worth more. As Rizzo the Rat said in A Muppet Christmas Carol ---"I'm creating scarcity, it drives the prizes up."
posted on October 22, 2004 01:05:12 PM new
Thanks, everyone.
I was just looking for a place to sorta 'park' so books for a longer period of time. There are books that might sell, but just not in a 7-10 day period. Those are the kind I mean. People do still buy John Grisham newer books - but for me, they don't even get a look on Ebay.
posted on October 22, 2004 01:11:21 PM new
true,some books would not be reprinted and they will become scarce,but in the mean time,they just keep on coming.
On amzn,the wholesalers/distributors are selling as well,they just dont tell you they are wholesalers.
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
posted on October 22, 2004 02:25:39 PM new
half does not necessarily have the same market as amazon...and with books, it really all depends what you are selling. It used to be you could buy a hardcover bestseller, read it, and sell it for a decent amount. Those days are long over, the prices go down to almost nothing in weeks. The booksellers now have to battle the secondary market on amazon and ebay, so things get remaindered even faster...It all really makes for a difficult market for someone to sell books. You really need to know what you are doing. Books are a very small part of my online business, but after working in academic libraries for 15 years, I have acquired a decent knowledge and do well with what I sell. There are times I purchase a box lot of books in an auction cheap, and most go to goodwill - just not worth dealing with a book that is under a few dollars online in my opinion.
Friends don't let Friends say stupid things like Friends don't let friends vote Republican!
posted on October 22, 2004 08:31:14 PM new
So Amazon is good ( I am going to check that out)- and I am somewhat familiar with Half.com - not lately, however.
Now, if we are talking $5 books, can anyone give me advice about Half.com vs. Ebay Stores. I am trying to decide which one would sell more of the run-of-mill type books.
posted on October 22, 2004 09:43:14 PM new
ASIN = AMAZON STANDARD INDEX NUMBER - At least that is what I assume it is, that is an amazon only identification.
ISBN = INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BOOK NUMBER - This IS a universal identification assigned by the publisher, and is a universal identification number used when cataloging a book for a collection. Another number that can be used that doesn't seem to be online is LC number, or Library of Congress Number.
An ISBN is SUPPOSED to be unique, though I have seen instances where more than one book has been assigned the same ISBN.
Friends don't let Friends say stupid things like Friends don't let friends vote Republican!
posted on October 23, 2004 12:01:41 PM newAs a book BUYER not seller I normally go first to Half.com, to see if they have the book/books I desire - if not I go to Amazon.
For fiction, or "light non-fiction," I "almost" always find what I am seeking on Half.com - Outside of fiction, and "light non-fiction," I seldom find the specialty books I am seeking, on Half.com, and have to go to Amazon where they are normally available.
I also use "Books-a-Million," since I have a membership, and they have a vast array of unique books to choose from.
~"It does not matter what I think, it does not matter what you think. The only thing which matters is: What is the TRUTH!"~
