Selling Books Online?

[Diana]

(I tried for about 30 minutes to post this in the correct forum but it kept giving me an error page so if anyone wants to move it, be my guest!)


I use to sell used books on eBay. I have a ton, all different types of books.. most of them given to me by my aunt so I could sell them and make a little spending money on the side. eBay is a pain in the butt and most of the time I end up losing money instead of making it. I did make quite a bit when I first started selling but then it went downhill from there.

I remember awhile back someone (Tina, maybe?) mentioned another site that was better but at the time you needed a credit card to set up an account and if I remember correctly, you posted your book (or item) and then just left it until it sold. Every month the site would send you the money or deposit it into your account. I did not have a credit card then but I do now and I'm interested in checking it out.

Do any of you know what site sounds like this? Or do you have your own recommendations for a good place to try and sell all these books that are overtaking my office?

Thanks!

[Phoebe]

I think she sold books on Half.com. :dunno:

[Diana]

That sounds familiar, Amy.. I'm going to check it out. Thanks!

[emmajoan]

Half.com is owned by eBay, but it works the way you described. I sell my textbooks on Amazon.com Marketplace, but both are pretty much the same. (Be sure to check out the commissions you're paying though- it eats into your profit!)

[Lizz]

I use Amazon too.

[Diana]

I'll need to check out Amazon too then.

So I take it you all prefer Amazon for selling used books? Do you think they sell better there rather than half.com?

I know nothing about commissions.. /confused

[LittleRose]

I have always sold old books on Amazon and had great success. Just look it up by ISBN and post the quality. I sold almost everything I listed within a matter of weeks.

[Diana]

How old are the oldest books you've sold?

I'm just now admitting that I have a handful of books that probably shouldn't be sold.. they are pretty old, still readable but not the best quality. I also have a bunch of old textbooks that I doubt would ever sell.

Anyone know what I should do with those books? Just toss them? Or maybe give them away on Freecycle but I can't even imagine anyone wanting them for Free! :laugh:

[Natale]

I hear you on the textbooks. They are SO expensive and then a year or two later they are worth NOTHING. My mom I hauled a bunch of encyclopedias from the 1970's and old college textbooks up to Half Price Books thinking they were actually going to give her money. I TOLD her it wouldn't be worth her time but she wouldn't believe me.

[Mary Ann]

Half.com is owned by eBay, but it works the way you described. I sell my textbooks on Amazon.com Marketplace, but both are pretty much the same. (Be sure to check out the commissions you're paying though- it eats into your profit!)

That's where I sell my textbooks too.

[LittleRose]

How old are the oldest books you've sold?

I'm just now admitting that I have a handful of books that probably shouldn't be sold.. they are pretty old, still readable but not the best quality. I also have a bunch of old textbooks that I doubt would ever sell.

Anyone know what I should do with those books? Just toss them? Or maybe give them away on Freecycle but I can't even imagine anyone wanting them for Free! :laugh:

I've sold books that were 20+ years old. More obscure titles sell really well. I had a TON of obscure books in graduate school. Some were give-aways by professors who were cleaning out their offices and things like that. So I read them and sold them a few years later. I sold one book I picked up in the "freebie" bin for $140!

If they're common fiction like John Grisham you won't have as much luck. But it's worth a shot. When I finish unpacking I'll start getting rid of more books myself.

[Dar]

Do sellers on half.com accept returns? :indiff:

[Kate]

no idea.

was your book in bad shape?

I just took 2 totes of books to my local used bookstore. Made $68 :D

I could have made more on ebay but I am lazy

[Dar]

It was the wrong one. And apparently my fault.

[Alli]

Can't hurt to ask Dar. Maybe they'll take it back and you eat shipping.

[Dar]

I hope so. I'm waiting for a reply. If not, there's always ebay. But darnit, what a hassle.

[Mary Ann]

I've sold books that were 20+ years old. More obscure titles sell really well. I had a TON of obscure books in graduate school. Some were give-aways by professors who were cleaning out their offices and things like that. So I read them and sold them a few years later. I sold one book I picked up in the "freebie" bin for $140!




My mom gave me some of her seminary textbooks to sell on Amazon and they sold really well and I made some good money from them. I used to sell my textbooks on Amazon all the time, but I don't as much now simply because I'm at the point where a lot of my books have become valuable references for me.

[Dar]

So, he said he'd take it back, but not without being an asshole about it. I sent it Priorty Mail earlier this week, insured. I sent it Priority so it could get there faster and I could get my refund.

It arrived damaged. :getyou: