Here's a reminder that the best customers are addicts .... or, rather, avid collectors who tend to get obsessed with gathering all their favorite stuff together. They get addicted to completing their collection.
If you are on the fence about whether or not there is money to be made selling used magazines online, here is a recent story of one man's quest to collect all things Sports Illustrated.
Although it appears from the article that he built his collection from the issues he received via subscription to SI, just think of all the similar collectors around the world who are missing this or that issue... and how YOU can help them complete their collection!
Here is the link to the story:
http://www.kare11.com/story/news/local/2014/08/20/ken-cooper-sports-illustrated-magazine-collection/14327211/
Will Textbooks All Go Digital? Yes. Here's How You Should Prepare For That Day
One day soon, downloadable digital textbooks will eclipse paperbound textbooks. It's simple arithmetic. It costs more to print, warehouse, ship and sell paper textbooks; digital copies will be instantly available from the publisher at lower price, they will never get outdated or go out of print, and there will be no recycling, no secondary market for us booksellers to profit from.
College students and homeschooled students will simply download to an e-reader, a tablet computer, perhaps a device that isn't even on the drawing boards yet, and we'll all have to say goodbye to secondhand college textbook sales. It was good while it lasted.
It's time to take action.
If you stock textbooks for sale (I still carry a few of them), be prepared for the day when they could be obsolete. I would make plans now to clear out old used college textbooks. Now is the time of summer they are selling. Discount them. Sell them just above cost. Free up your inventory bookshelves, and be ready to concentrate more on non-fiction titles that are rare or hard to find.
If you have progressed to selling your used books and other media on Fulfilled By Amazon (FBA), then it's time to start the clearance sale there as well. There will be fees to be paid on slow moving inventory you'll be taking up in their massive distribution centers. Get rid of those textbooks now while they still have some value.
Doing this now will save you the anger of having to throw away those textbooks in the trash in a couple years.
Here's a link to Google Play, offering up to 80% off textbook pricing: https://play.google.com/store/books/collection/promotion_1000568_txb_product
College students and homeschooled students will simply download to an e-reader, a tablet computer, perhaps a device that isn't even on the drawing boards yet, and we'll all have to say goodbye to secondhand college textbook sales. It was good while it lasted.
It's time to take action.
If you stock textbooks for sale (I still carry a few of them), be prepared for the day when they could be obsolete. I would make plans now to clear out old used college textbooks. Now is the time of summer they are selling. Discount them. Sell them just above cost. Free up your inventory bookshelves, and be ready to concentrate more on non-fiction titles that are rare or hard to find.
If you have progressed to selling your used books and other media on Fulfilled By Amazon (FBA), then it's time to start the clearance sale there as well. There will be fees to be paid on slow moving inventory you'll be taking up in their massive distribution centers. Get rid of those textbooks now while they still have some value.
Doing this now will save you the anger of having to throw away those textbooks in the trash in a couple years.
Here's a link to Google Play, offering up to 80% off textbook pricing: https://play.google.com/store/books/collection/promotion_1000568_txb_product
Follow The Rules Listing College Textbooks On Amazon
Good, unmarked, un-highlighted (un-read?) college textbooks can deliver fantastic profits.... if you mind your P's & Q's on Amazon. Here are the policies Amazon requires textbook sellers to follow. They've tightened up regarding books that come with CD's and/or online passcodes.
Here is a link to the policies page: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?&nodeId=200267740
Pay special attention to the prohibited textbook items at the bottom of the page.
Yes, I've often discovered good quality textbooks at yard sales and auctions that I've purchased for as little as 50 cents and resold quickly for $25-$50, sometimes even more. But I've also brought home textbooks that wind up being virtually worthless because I overlooked poor condition on inside text pages (underlining or highlighting) or I've become the proud owner of outdated editions.
Oh, well... live and learn. And, that's exactly who I am glad you're keeping up with my blog and researching the "Do's and Don'ts" before you run afoul of Amazon's rules.
Here is a link to the policies page: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?&nodeId=200267740
Pay special attention to the prohibited textbook items at the bottom of the page.
Yes, I've often discovered good quality textbooks at yard sales and auctions that I've purchased for as little as 50 cents and resold quickly for $25-$50, sometimes even more. But I've also brought home textbooks that wind up being virtually worthless because I overlooked poor condition on inside text pages (underlining or highlighting) or I've become the proud owner of outdated editions.
Oh, well... live and learn. And, that's exactly who I am glad you're keeping up with my blog and researching the "Do's and Don'ts" before you run afoul of Amazon's rules.
Old Article Still Delivers New Insights Into Selling Books Online
Very good advice from an ebay helpful article published way, way back in 2006, titled: "The Truth About Selling Books on eBay. I like what the author (Seller name lcpratt455) said in the introduction:
You can read the article here:
http://www.ebay.com/gds/The-Truth-About-Selling-Books-on-eBay-/10000000001879091/g.html
Although the used book business has changed since this article was first published, it is still wise to follow this commonsense advice.
I've expanded my own booklot sales to eBay (even though I've recently had reservations about their focus on promising money-back satisfaction guarantees without getting input from sellers), and have been able to move old inventory of good used books this way. I don't make as much since I only get sales when I offer free shipping (and with books tipping the scales as overweight most times), but that seems to be the only way to attract bids these days. I'll continue to report on my success in future posts.
"But, there are certain mistakes you can make that will definitely doom your bookselling efforts early. Avoid these pitfalls and you'll give yourself a much better chance to succeed."
You can read the article here:
http://www.ebay.com/gds/The-Truth-About-Selling-Books-on-eBay-/10000000001879091/g.html
Although the used book business has changed since this article was first published, it is still wise to follow this commonsense advice.
I've expanded my own booklot sales to eBay (even though I've recently had reservations about their focus on promising money-back satisfaction guarantees without getting input from sellers), and have been able to move old inventory of good used books this way. I don't make as much since I only get sales when I offer free shipping (and with books tipping the scales as overweight most times), but that seems to be the only way to attract bids these days. I'll continue to report on my success in future posts.
USPS Tracking Currently Free?
I've always been a big proponent of using the USPS Tracking when shipping books via Media Mail through the post office; but lately, I've noticed that my book packages are getting USPS Tracking free. The curious thing is that the postal workers will ask me if I want tracking, and if I say 'Yes' they will charge me $1.05 for it. If I say 'No' on the other hand, they apply the USPS Tracking on the package at no charge.
Hmmmm?
Something about this doesn't seem right.
Many months ago, a postal worker confided to me that the U.S. Post Office computer system had a bug in it that caused workers a boatload of problems. From what I remember of that conversation, the workers were instructed to keep charging for those services.
I went ahead and kept ordering and paying the Tracking service. Many of my listings on the Amazon Sellers Marketplace included wording that we provide this service free to ensure accurate, timely and trackable delivery to the buyer. But now, the Post Office is offering it free.
Hmmmm?
Something about this doesn't seem right.
Many months ago, a postal worker confided to me that the U.S. Post Office computer system had a bug in it that caused workers a boatload of problems. From what I remember of that conversation, the workers were instructed to keep charging for those services.
I went ahead and kept ordering and paying the Tracking service. Many of my listings on the Amazon Sellers Marketplace included wording that we provide this service free to ensure accurate, timely and trackable delivery to the buyer. But now, the Post Office is offering it free.
Ebay Offers Money-Back Guarantee and Opens Can of Worms in Process
This morning I noticed something new on Ebay: money-back guarantees backed up by Ebay, on practically all items. On the surface this is a good thing. But I'll point out why this could ruin the business of many small business online sellers.
First, here's the take by Ebay on the question of:
"What if the seller doesn’t offer returns?"
Ebay's response:
Again, on the surface this looks great. But re-read the final paragraph. "If you changed for mind" we won't give you your money back.
So, any enterprising Ebay buyer will now just say: "The seller didn't describe this correctly." And they get a refund. For the item. And for the original shipping. And the packing, handling, delivery to UPS or the USPS, and the administrative chores.
So the seller (and I've been one frequently in the past) who shipped heavy media items and didn't want to have the customer read the book and request a refund, now has to contend with buyers who have an out: they don't have to tell the truth that they changed their mind; they can just criticize the ways I've described old books or magazines which I sell in book lots.
"This wasn't what I thought it would be," will be the complaint. Not, "I've read it and want my money back." And, Ebay apparently will do just that.
As to why Ebay has stepped in to offer such a generous return policy, I can only speculate that Amazon has eaten their lunch, and Amazon's 'no-questions-asked' policy on product returns appears to be a policy Ebay would like to replicate so as to bolster customer satisfaction.
But why would they interfere with MY return policy?
I know many will say, "Because it's their sandbox and they make the rules."
Yet, me playing in their sandbox -- with millions of small business sellers playing in their sandbox -- is exactly who helps Ebay generate hefty fees. They earn money on listings, extra listing features, on final value fees, on PayPal fees. And, to top it off, they make money on the cost of shipping. Yes, they earn about 10% on what I charge for shipping. So now I have to hike the price of an item to cover these ever-increasing fees.
Without a level playing field for the sellers, is it time to reconsider even selling on Ebay any longer?
There is an argument for changing my policy, doing a 180-degree turn, and now offer a money-back guarantee. Offer to bow down and bend over to any buyer who is notionable and flaky and prone to abuse honest sellers. See, I've made mistakes and overlooked defects in items I've sold. I've done this plenty of times, and I always step up to refund money if this is pointed out to me. It's only fair. But to have the All Powerful Ebay -- with their magic PayPal wand at the ready to extract funds from or freeze payments in my PayPal account -- gladly stepping in to sooth the fears of potential new buyers, maybe now is the time for existing old sellers like me to step out.
Could this affect my ability to sell book lots on Ebay?
Yes, it could.
Will it crush my online business?
No, it won't.
I'm afraid Ebay has forgotten who their real customers are -- the customers that need some service and satisfaction to remain in the game. Ebay's customers are the independent sellers. Ebay needs to rethink this policy before they lose more customers and give up more ground to Amazon.
First, here's the take by Ebay on the question of:
"What if the seller doesn’t offer returns?"
Ebay's response:
If you receive an item that is not as described, or didn’t receive an item at all, you’re always covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee—even if the seller doesn’t offer returns.
However, if you received an item that was as described, but you changed your mind and just don’t want it anymore, the eBay Money Back Guarantee doesn’t apply.
Again, on the surface this looks great. But re-read the final paragraph. "If you changed for mind" we won't give you your money back.
So, any enterprising Ebay buyer will now just say: "The seller didn't describe this correctly." And they get a refund. For the item. And for the original shipping. And the packing, handling, delivery to UPS or the USPS, and the administrative chores.
So the seller (and I've been one frequently in the past) who shipped heavy media items and didn't want to have the customer read the book and request a refund, now has to contend with buyers who have an out: they don't have to tell the truth that they changed their mind; they can just criticize the ways I've described old books or magazines which I sell in book lots.
"This wasn't what I thought it would be," will be the complaint. Not, "I've read it and want my money back." And, Ebay apparently will do just that.
As to why Ebay has stepped in to offer such a generous return policy, I can only speculate that Amazon has eaten their lunch, and Amazon's 'no-questions-asked' policy on product returns appears to be a policy Ebay would like to replicate so as to bolster customer satisfaction.
But why would they interfere with MY return policy?
I know many will say, "Because it's their sandbox and they make the rules."
Yet, me playing in their sandbox -- with millions of small business sellers playing in their sandbox -- is exactly who helps Ebay generate hefty fees. They earn money on listings, extra listing features, on final value fees, on PayPal fees. And, to top it off, they make money on the cost of shipping. Yes, they earn about 10% on what I charge for shipping. So now I have to hike the price of an item to cover these ever-increasing fees.
Without a level playing field for the sellers, is it time to reconsider even selling on Ebay any longer?
There is an argument for changing my policy, doing a 180-degree turn, and now offer a money-back guarantee. Offer to bow down and bend over to any buyer who is notionable and flaky and prone to abuse honest sellers. See, I've made mistakes and overlooked defects in items I've sold. I've done this plenty of times, and I always step up to refund money if this is pointed out to me. It's only fair. But to have the All Powerful Ebay -- with their magic PayPal wand at the ready to extract funds from or freeze payments in my PayPal account -- gladly stepping in to sooth the fears of potential new buyers, maybe now is the time for existing old sellers like me to step out.
Could this affect my ability to sell book lots on Ebay?
Yes, it could.
Will it crush my online business?
No, it won't.
I'm afraid Ebay has forgotten who their real customers are -- the customers that need some service and satisfaction to remain in the game. Ebay's customers are the independent sellers. Ebay needs to rethink this policy before they lose more customers and give up more ground to Amazon.
Just Published: 'How To Make Easy Cash With Old Magazines' -- Kindle Book and Paperback Versions Now On Sale
At long last we've finished final edits and published our latest book to help book sellers make more money finding, buying and listing old, vintage magazines online for top profits. Old magazines offer a high return on investment if you approach it right. It can truly offer easy cash profits for part-time work, or it can become a nightmarish gateway to a cluttered home if you're not careful. This book helps you know what to look for and what to stay away from.
Announcing....
How To Make Easy Cash With Old Magazines: Make Money Finding, Listing & Selling Used and Vintage Magazines In Your Spare Time! [Kindle Edition]
Here's what you get: 83 page e-book with real page numbers. Step-by-step, real world advice, complete with pictures to help bring you up to speed faster. Just published June 2014. Intro pricing only $2.99 for instant download to your Kindle e-reader, or to your Kindle app device. (Click here to read a free 'Look Inside' sample)
Also available as a 110-page trade paperback. $9.99 plus s&h.
Here is what you get in our new e-book for about the price of a gallon of gas next time you fill up your car:
Announcing....
Here's what you get: 83 page e-book with real page numbers. Step-by-step, real world advice, complete with pictures to help bring you up to speed faster. Just published June 2014. Intro pricing only $2.99 for instant download to your Kindle e-reader, or to your Kindle app device. (Click here to read a free 'Look Inside' sample)
Also available as a 110-page trade paperback. $9.99 plus s&h.
Here is what you get in our new e-book for about the price of a gallon of gas next time you fill up your car:
Yes it's true! You cank make easy money working from home, finding, listing and selling old magazines (1980s and older) online and offline.All it takes is some spunk, some storage space, some motivation and some know-how on getting started. This book helps you do just that. It gives you a head-start on how you can cash in on easy money with old magazine covers, magazine back issues, vintage magazines, old magazine advertisements and magazine illustrations.This book helps you save time, save money, helps you know what to buy and what not to buy, helps cut the clutter, and helps you avoid newbie mistakes.Why is this so lucrative? Many reasons: Old magazine covers make great wall art. Out-of-print magazine articles and fiction is like gold to hobbyists and historians. Vintage magazine ads are prized by collectors of specific periodicals and of certain product lines.Take a look at the table of contents to see what you get:
- Why You Need To Get This Book Now!
- Chapter 1: How Old Magazines Can Make You Money
- Chapter 2: Picking the Right Kinds of Magazines to Buy & Resell
- Chapter 3: Thrift Store Finds – How a friend bought an old stack of magazines for less than $5, then sold them for $10-30 each online!
- Best Places to Look For Old Magazines
- Chapter 4: Cut Clutter to Reclaim Your Home and Make Extra Cash at the Same Time
- Chapter 5: How to Know What Your Old Magazines Are Really Worth and How To Price Them For Max Profits
- Chapter 6: How to Grade Old Magazines For Accurate Listings and To Minimize Negative Feedback
- Chapter 7: How To List, Store and Track Inventory
- Best way to list magazines for sale on Amazon
- Best way to list magazines for sale on Amazon
- Best way to list magazines for sale on EBay
- Best way to list magazine lots
- Other places to advertise magazines for sale
- Chapter 8: Best Ways To Pack and Ship Magazines and Vintage Magazine Ads
- Chapter 9: Framing Vintage Magazine Ads For Added-Value Sales
- Chapter 10: Selling Content from Old Magazines Legally
- Chapter 12: Resource Directory
- Message From The Author
Why You Need To Get This Book Now!If you want to make money buying and selling old, vintage magazines, this book can help you make more money faster, and avoid getting stuck with trash.Magazine back issues and vintage magazines deliver an aura of nostalgia – and can help you pocket a pretty profit – when you know what to look for whenever you are out and about sourcing product.How to sell old magazines is only one part of this book. Magazine collectors can use this guide as a resource to value their collection and learn how to get maximum value when they swap with other collectors.Selling current magazines or magazine back issues can be an easy way to add extra profits for very little work, low investment, and low risk.Selling magazines is a lucrative way to supplement your income, working only a few hours a week, and never really doing any selling at all. All you need to do is find old copies of Life Magazine to vintage car magazines, post them for free online, ship them as soon as the orders are e-mailed to you, and automatically collect your profits. So simple, yet so profitable! This is the easy way how you can make money in this niche market.You might already have a stash of old magazines to sell. Perhaps you've inherited old magazines, or you discovered a large box of forgotten magazines in your attic, or you purchased a box full of used magazines at an estate sale. Either way, you can get top dollar by following the advice in this eBook.But that ain't the only way to make money in this business! If you're like me, you love prowling yard sales and auctions. Along the way you're bound to run across old magazines. Sometimes you get lucky and you'll find a true diamond in the rough. Maybe you find a seller who just wants to get rid of them all and puts a $1 asking price on the whole box. Or you get them for 25-50 cents each.In any case, there is money to be made. This e-book is your investment in locating the diamonds in the rough and leaving the dirt behind. Better yet, you’ll find some new ideas and tips on many different ways to profit from old magazines.Don't delay. Order your copy delay and get started making easy cash with old magazines!
Bye-Bye Storefront, Hello Seller Profile
Last week Amazon announced that they will discontinue the storefront feature on all Amazon Marketplace Sellers.
The clunky-looking Storefronts will be gone by mid-June, 2014. Here is the message:
I really don't think many buyers on Amazon use the storefront or even the buyer profile, to be honest with you. At one time, I was convinced otherwise, and actually linked to my storefront from one website I maintain. I wish they would because every click on one of the Seller Profile thumbnail book covers whisks the potential buyer direct to that book's sales page... with MY used book offer up in the upper right "Buy Button" spot. The advantage to me would be to practically eliminate references to my competition.
Below you'll see my current storefront, followed by my current seller profile. As you can see, the profile page shows more books I have listed for sale, as well as all-important customer feedback along the righthand column.
I think this is a good decision on Amazon's part. I'd like to see Amazon allow a Merchant-Fulfilled (MF) Seller like me have more access to updating a seller profile. Maybe this will be in the cards. It will be interesting to see if this has any effect at all on sales.
The clunky-looking Storefronts will be gone by mid-June, 2014. Here is the message:
Upcoming Change: Storefront links will soon take customers directly to your Seller Profile (May 21, 2014)
To improve the customer experience, we will be streamlining the process for directing customers to your Seller Profile. To do this, in two weeks the Storefront feature for Marketplace sellers will be discontinued. Amazon customers will continue to go directly to your Seller Profile page when they click your seller name on product listings, but there will no longer be an option to see a separate storefront page. The Seller Profile has all the functionality of the older storefront and also includes additional information: your listings, a listing search, information about your business, your feedback ratings and comments, policies, and links to further information.
Please note that when seller storefront pages are discontinued, links on the Amazon.com website directing to them will redirect to the Seller Profile, or be removed in cases where Seller Profile links already exist. In addition, because the seller storefront pages will have been discontinued, you will no longer have Seller Central settings to support storefronts.
If you use links to your storefront on other websites, the URLs will be redirected to your Seller Profile page on Amazon.com. No action is needed on your part.
I really don't think many buyers on Amazon use the storefront or even the buyer profile, to be honest with you. At one time, I was convinced otherwise, and actually linked to my storefront from one website I maintain. I wish they would because every click on one of the Seller Profile thumbnail book covers whisks the potential buyer direct to that book's sales page... with MY used book offer up in the upper right "Buy Button" spot. The advantage to me would be to practically eliminate references to my competition.
Below you'll see my current storefront, followed by my current seller profile. As you can see, the profile page shows more books I have listed for sale, as well as all-important customer feedback along the righthand column.
I think this is a good decision on Amazon's part. I'd like to see Amazon allow a Merchant-Fulfilled (MF) Seller like me have more access to updating a seller profile. Maybe this will be in the cards. It will be interesting to see if this has any effect at all on sales.
Free MP3: Tips To Source Good Used Books In A Weekend
I've recorded an audio detailing about how I find good quality secondhand books, CDs and DVDs on weekends, and you get to listen free.
http://sellmorekindlebooks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Audio-Lesson-Sourcing-Used-Books.mp3 (opens in new window)
Enjoy! Let me know which types of audio recordings will help you grow your home-based book selling business. Thanks!
Catch-22 Over Condition Notes; Seller Describes Difficulty Listing Item For Sale Online
Taking the time to write an accurate, complete item description when selling used books online is an important way booksellers stand out from the crowd. But you've got to be careful. Although the video below describes an electronic item, the process of having to navigate confusing policies and guidelines applies to used book sellers too:
Her advice: Keep your sellers account protected by watching what words you use. Watch the video, and let us know your thoughts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)