posted on November 10, 2000 10:57:51 AM new
Half.com allows you to set a higher price if the book is worth more( even more than the list price)---as in a collectible book----does Amazon Marketplace allow for this??
posted on November 10, 2000 12:29:06 PM new
VeryModern, I'd like to take a look at your books on Half.com and Amazon. I collect textile titles. could you send me your seller name on Half.com and Amazon? Only if you feel comfortable, or want my money My email is [email protected]. Thanks!
Kim
posted on November 10, 2000 01:36:14 PM new
VeryModern- start it high. You can always lower your price later. If you sell too low you'll never be able to raise your price thereafter, and it sounds like your book is really worth the money.
posted on November 10, 2000 01:50:23 PM new
VM- I definitely second that, list high at first. What have you got to lose, it's free until you sell.
The items that have sold for me on Marketplace so far have been 2 ex-library books and something like 4-5 new and fairly recent.
Just keep in mind the power of the Amazon database: people who are not searching for YOUR particular title will find it if they are doing a subject search and your item shows up. If the price looks good, they will probably buy.
In fact, I wish they'd have an icon on the very first search-result screen, so people can see at a glance which books are available. All of the OP stuff says "out of print" on that screen, so why would they even check to see if there is a Marketplace copy?
Also, yesterday I got a "You have a buyer" email that wasn't followed by a "sold, now ship!" email. Has that happened to anyone else yet? How long might it take to get it concluded?
posted on November 10, 2000 02:34:05 PM new
Keziak:
Although existing customers go through quickly, new customers can take up to 48 hours for the credit card to clear the Amazon system. If it has been longer than that, I usually call Amazon and sometimes email the customer to let them know the status.
posted on November 10, 2000 04:55:16 PM new
Question for those of you who have already recieved checks from amazon: what bank are they drawn on?
This might seem trivial, but since I don't have an account, it's kinda important to me. If the checks are drawn on a bank that has offices locally, I will probably go ahead & list some books on amazon's marketplace. I'm excited to have that opportunity; I have never been a half.com fan.
I found it by doing a search with the author's name, instead of the title and pulled that right up. Their database has both the hardcover and softcover listed.
posted on November 10, 2000 05:35:26 PM new
Yes, that is the book and that is the page I was also able to pull up, but I can find no copy for sale and so do not know how to value.
My concern is because I had another book that did not look special to me. Price on it is $25 or so and I was going to list it on half, for half but did an Addall search and found the book for sale for between $225 - $375! Then I searched ebay and found it selling for up to $200!
My fear is giving away a book like that. I cannot find the couture book for sale anywhere, so how to price??
posted on November 10, 2000 05:52:32 PM new
I found this, for anyone else who may not, for whatever reason, want amazon.com making direct deposits into their bank account:
f.Transfers to the Seller’s Account will generally be credited within five Business Days of the date we initiate the transfer. On occasion, we may send Seller a paper check instead of an electronic credit to Seller’s bank account. We will do so, for instance, if Seller’s bank will not accept an electronic credit to Seller’s account.
edited to add the URL where I found that:
http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/subst/help/terms-of-use.html/103-7380359-0763039
I would still be interested to know what bank amazon's checks are issued from, if anyone has that info available.
VeryModern- that is quite a dilemma! It is a problem I would love to have though. Is there any good reason NOT to start it in the $200 range? I think that if there are NO OTHER COPIES online for sale $200 doesn't seem outrageous, assuming the book is in excellent condition.
[ edited by CAgrrl on Nov 10, 2000 06:05 PM ]
posted on November 10, 2000 07:45:21 PM new
Hi VM - well, even on ebay it only costs, well, I don't know, must be under $1 to list, even if your opening bid is high [I've never listed with one above $9.95, myself]. So why not list it at $25 or $50 or whatever and give it a whirl? Include copies of some of the interesting photos you mentioned.
posted on November 11, 2000 12:15:50 AM new
I believe that's what I would do, too---put it on ebay...since no one seems to have a copy of it. Open at $24.99 or $49.99 without reserve (since it's out of print but not old enough to be "collectible" yet), put in good photos and description, and cross your fingers.
But you might wait until ebay gets site stability again.
posted on November 11, 2000 05:00:12 AM new
Oh... I loathe having to list ebay.
I have put up some 20-30 books these last couple of weeks and had some of them go unbelievably cheap. Between the bad search, the early bids kicking the listings out of search all together, the "seller's other auctions" feature down, it is like spitting into the wind. You almost have to be a masochist, honestly.
At best I am getting 1/2 of cover price for the most part, and that's not enough reward for all the picture taking, copy writing and RISK! Honestly, I don't think people are shopping ebay with any regularity anymore. Even a 10 day auction does not guarantee enough exposure. I would SO much prefer to determine a price and put it up and wait for someone to find it like a pearl.
An ebay auction may have been the way in the past to get the best buck, but I am sure that is no longer the case. Amazon charges a hefty fee, but if I can $50 or $80 more for the title, it's a steal. Especially when there are no fees unless there is a sale. I am just trying to gather the audacity to plop a $150 price tag on that pup, or wondering if someone could advise that if I wait a week, I would likely be able to pull up a copy on Addall, and have some more information.
posted on November 12, 2000 05:47:51 PM new
VeryModern,
I used the search engine below and chose the exact phrase. You can also find the listings by using google.com. By placing your search term in quotes, the search engine is forced to find the exact phrase.
http://www.alltheweb.com/
Couture Tips for Home Sewing
[ edited by Noshill on Nov 12, 2000 05:50 PM ]
posted on November 12, 2000 06:13:53 PM new
Ahhhhh..
That is the search engine I use routinely, so F-A-S-T, I just never thought to put a book title in there. I rarely sell books, it must be obvious. I read them, but I am a library sort.
Thanks for the great tip.
posted on November 12, 2000 07:13:06 PM new
Okay, I tried to list a small stack of books I've got here at home. For some of the ISBN numbers I put in, I get a message that the book is ineligible for the Amazon Marketplace selling. "Please consider listing at Auctions or ZShop." But my understanding is that you have to be a power seller on Amazon to do ZShop now--did it just change?? I'm not finding the procedure particularly easy, although 3 of my books have been accepted to list. Wish they had a "clear form" button, too.
Brighid: Let's say you have a given book to sell. Do you search for it first? And if they only have it on an audiobook and say it is out of print otherwise, where would you list? These are all relatively recent books--like from the last 10 years.
Edited to add: Originally I printed off all their instructions to sellers but can't find my questions answered there.
[ edited by roadsmith on Nov 12, 2000 07:14 PM ]
posted on November 13, 2000 07:26:07 AM new
I search for the book first, then use the "I have one to sell" button within the listing. for an audio book---hmm, are you sure there isn't another tab within that screen that says "Other versions of this book" or something? Typically audio books don't stand alone--they are adaptations/abridgements/full versions of regular books. If that regular book is out of print, but listed, list your book on that page (the one that says it's out of print). That's convenient for the person who is looking for the book and instead of finding it out of print they will say "Whoa, cool, a person selling it used" and hit the button, triggering YOUR sale.
Hope this answers your question. However, I've probably mucked it up. Keziak is the champion Amazon Marketplace seller here, though, maybe he/she knows the answer?
My email is 
Is there any good reason NOT to start it in the $200 range? I think that if there are NO OTHER COPIES online for sale $200 doesn't seem outrageous, assuming the book is in excellent condition.