fattysbooks
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posted on November 9, 2000 04:55:19 PM
I just aquired an extensive collection of military books. According to those in the know they are quite the find. Hardback and magazine style, all in near mint condition. I have never sold or shipped much in the book line. I am looking for some advice from seasoned book sellers.
1. Whats the best way to ship bookrate or priority(these are all fairly heavy hardbacks ranging from regular size to coffee table size)
2. If going book rate how should i pack them, do padded envelopes do well?
3.Is ebay the best spot, or would amazon or another be better.
4. Anyone know of a site that covers military book, info, prices etc.......
Thanks in advance for any help....Fatty
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VeryModern
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posted on November 9, 2000 06:32:35 PM
Hi Fatty -
Here is a good place to start:
http://www.addall.com/used/
Search your books and see who is selling them and for how much. Keep in mind, the prices reflect books for sale as opposed to sold.
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birdwatcher-07
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posted on November 9, 2000 07:26:21 PM
Most people will expect you to ship Book Rate, as it is much cheaper than Priority. I always box my books, but heavy books especially require more than a padded bag. My experience selling books has been much better on eBay than on Amazon. For some good general book help, go to the Books discussion / chat area on eBay and look for the Big Blue and Big Red posts.
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Zazzie
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posted on November 9, 2000 07:46:38 PM
Heavy books---lots and lots of bubble wrap--padding and a BOX. Bubble envelope won't be enough
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josiecats
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posted on November 9, 2000 08:56:36 PM
I agree with all advice so far! Magazine type support them with heavy cardboard and if thin enough bubble envelopes. Otherwise wrap well and box at bookrate (If that's what you charge by).
Just one humble thought!
Josiecats 
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abacaxi
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posted on November 10, 2000 04:04:20 AM
Books are actually fragile. The book should NEVER be the hardest part of the package. If you can feel the corners, they can get bashed in transit.
1. Wrap book in plastic and tape shut for moisture protection. Plastic bag from the supermarket is OK as long as it's clean and sealed SNUGLY around the pages.
2. Pad the book with several layers of bubblewrap or corrugated cardboard ... again snugly taping around the book to prevent the pages from being able to move and break away from the spine and covers.
Make sure the corners of the cover are protected against bumps that can smash them under. A strip cut from a supermarket box and folded around the book is adequate, if it is wider than the book and the book can't slip out. (wedge it in with wads of paper)
BIG HEAVY books need extra support for the pages, because a bump from the wrong angle can separate the pages from the cover at the crease on the inside, and that's a serious flaw. You need to place a roll of material (paper or single-face cardboard works well) on the pages inside the edges of the cover and tape it all into one SOLID block opf book (over the plastic, please).
3. Tape an "inside address" to the packet. If anything happens to the outer one, this can save the book from being lost.
4. Put it into the box or envelope and put the outside address on it.
If you use a box, make sure the book can't rattle around in the box by stuffing foam peanuts, more bubblewrap, or even crumpled newspaper around it. Paper mashes down easily, so shake the box HARD before you seal it and if you hear the book moving around, add more paper.
http://www92.pair.com/soufla/packingtips.htm explains a cheap, sturdy packing method that eliminates the need for the box or envelope for most books. It is worth looking into if you sell many books.
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zian
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posted on November 10, 2000 04:09:24 AM
Hello fatty and congrats on a good find.
I think you are off to a great start by just asking for help/advise.
I sell allot of books but not any real high doller collectable ones. But in shipping most any book I use book rate (saves customer money) used free cardboard (dumpster near you?) and plenty of clear shipping tape ($$).
In some cases mail gets wet so a palstic sleep would be good to protect the book from moister and the cardboard itself.
With book rate the PO says you are not supposed to put ANY invioce or notes in with the book. This leaves me just writting a big thank you on the outer package. Bookrate also takes longer (some bidders know that).
I would also never use just a padded envelope for book rate items. It seems most any book rate items is being shippied in the same container as heavy heavy items and it would take no time at all for a padded envelope to be punctured or ripped.
For selling...I have no experiance with any site other then eBay but i would think your books would move well here. Might want to do plenty of re/searches and see whats going.
Another thread just came up concerning half.com vs amazon, you might want to check that out.
Addall.com is also a great search engine for books in general. the eBay bookboard is great for finding info and chatting about books (great links there).
Good luck.
Ian
PS.......One of the only Neg Feedbacks i ever got was from NOT packing a book well enough. The cardbaord was much to thin and the book was damaged. I learned from that and only get the card baord from heavy duty dumpsters now.
PS........Watch for the grease stains in the cardboard 
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/zian/
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kerryann
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posted on November 10, 2000 05:24:36 AM
Why not let the customer decide if they want book rate?
You can quote a price in your TOS for book rate and then indicate that you will ship by whatever method the customer wants at their expense.
I have had no luck with book rate in NYC. It takes a minimum of 30 days to arrive here and that's being generous.
Not Kerryann on eBay
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mapledr1216
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posted on November 10, 2000 08:09:39 AM
I agree with KerryAnn, I quote both Priority and Book Rate and let the customer decide.
Most do choose Book, but it's surprising the number who pick Priority even for an inexpensive children's book.
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mballai
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posted on November 10, 2000 08:23:07 AM
I never quote more than one rate;it makes for more work and confuses bidders. I'm perfectly happy to provide alternative shipment options upon request. Book rate works very well 99.99% of the time.
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capotasto
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posted on November 10, 2000 08:31:33 AM
I always quote both book rate and first class, and say that BR may be s..l..o..w
Then if the buyer pays for BR and 3 wks later asks whare his book is, I remind hiim he requested BR.
"With book rate the PO says you are not supposed to put ANY invioce or notes in with the book."
Where do they say this? I always include a receipt even with BR. And I recall reading some time ago in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) that including "incidental first class matter" (such as an invoice) is permissible with BR. Perhaps someone could check this for us.
Vinnie
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CAgrrl
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posted on November 10, 2000 05:01:52 PM
It is more work to give customers a choice, but I really think giving them a choice is the way to go. On one hand if you ship book rate exclusively, you will lose out on bids from people who want your book for a rush gift (or from people who are just impatient.) On the other hand, if you only ship priority you will lose out on bids from people who think your shipping is too expensive. It is more of a win-win situation if you offer a choice.
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Zazzie
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posted on November 10, 2000 05:07:36 PM
I've been having great luck with Book Rate.
Next Day delivery within Washington State
2 day delivery Washington State to Oregon
6 day delivery Washington to Ohio
7 day delivery Washington to Virginia
That ain't bad--in my opinion
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CAgrrl
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posted on November 10, 2000 05:37:05 PM
zazzie- how in the world are you getting 7 day delivery between WA & VA???????
Here in SoCal it takes about 2 weeks to move anything the whole way across to the other coast...
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Zazzie
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posted on November 10, 2000 05:42:08 PM
I am beginning to think it is the Post Office I mail from. Point Roberts, WA is a little place---it's not even attached to Washington State---you have to drive through Canada to get to the rest of the state.
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jonig
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posted on November 11, 2000 09:17:00 AM
The extremely helpful people at my Post Office helped me out on this. For larger lots of books (I often ship 70 pounders) have the postal employee compare book rate and parcel post. On more than one occassion parcel post was cheaper and arrived in a much shorter time.
Another thing that I experience last year was that book rate stinks during the Christmas rush. I had a few take six weeks and some never did make it. To protect yourself try either "delivery confirmation" or insure them.
joni.g
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