Bookbuyers/sellers - eBay or Amazon?

Subject: Bookbuyers/sellers - eBay or Amazon?
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 May 01 - 07:15 PM

My favourite used book site, Bibliofind.com has been bought out by Amazon.com. I always wanted to list as a seller with them, but never had a large enough inventory. In following their links to Amazon, I see that one can list books and collectibles on Amazon with no minimum number. Your items are listed for 30 days and if they don't sell you are not charged. There are some other particulars about pricing, etc.

I've sold stuff on eBay before and been pretty happy with them. Now, though, I have a few BOXES of books I'd like to sell and am not sure whether to use Amazon or eBay.

Have any of you sold on Amazon? Do you buy used books from there? Do you prefer it over eBay or vice versa?

I'd really like to hear from any of you who may have experienced selling on Amazon. It looks like an easier and faster way to list books, esp. when you have so many. On the other hand, tried and true has its attractions.

Thanks for any imput.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Bookbuyers/sellers - eBay or Amazon?
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 May 01 - 07:42 PM

I am an ebay regular. It is fast, convenient, user friendly, well-organized, and handles problems quickly and efficiently. I have never had a problem - 50+ buys.The sellers without exception have been friendly and cooperative. Dollar range of my purchases from $1 to $300+.
My one attempt at buying on Amazon resulted in a return of an antique ivory mah jong set ($200+) that turned out to be crappy jewelry findings. My posting of an unfavorable but honest and restrained review resulted in threatening emails from the seller. Had to get AOL and Amazon involved to make it stop.

Subject: RE: BS: Bookbuyers/sellers - eBay or Amazon?
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 09 May 01 - 09:42 PM

Kat, m'luv, I subscribe to several used book news lists, and since bibliofind was folded by Amazon and many of them are about to go with zshops, etc. on Amazon, almost all of them are complaining bitterly about the process of uploading their inventories and the difficulty of getting any help or advice from Amazonian staffers. Some say they will go to any other listing service (ABE, BookAvenue, etc.) before going to bolster Bezos' balderdash.

I look at eBay books almost every night, just in case one or another of my current wants might appear, but I always check the prices being asked by professional booksellers before I bid. I pop over to Bookfinder.com, check the prevailing price range, and then go back to eBay and bid only if it appears to be a truly competitive price. One must always be careful not to bid on remainders that some sellers pick up for a song and then turn around and fly on eBay with a slightly higher starting price than the remainder cost them. I look through the Hamilton Books listings in my areas of interest, and try to keep those listings in mind while I'm scanning eBay.

I've recently seen a web site where books for sale can be listed free. Can't find my bookmark for that one right now, but I'll hunt it up and let you know.

Sandy

Subject: RE: BS: Bookbuyers/sellers - eBay or Amazon?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 May 01 - 09:42 PM

Good info.

Subject: RE: BS: Bookbuyers/sellers - eBay or Amazon?
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 May 01 - 09:54 PM

Thanks, Sins and Sandy. Sandy, I'd love to have that addy, if you can find it. From just what you've both said, I think I'll stick with eBay. Did go ahead and load up one book on there, today and I have to say my experience as a seller and buyer on there have always been very positive.

I thought about just listing all the books here and giving Mudcatters first crack, with a portion to Max, but decided that wouldn't be a very good idea, there are so many, PLUS, as a seller I need a bigger "audience". I do have one or two I plan in donating to the auction here, though.

Susan, thanks, they do give good info, don't they? Can't beat Mudcatters.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Bookbuyers/sellers - eBay or Amazon?
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 09 May 01 - 11:21 PM

Here you go, Kat. Free book listings. Hope I remembered how to do that clickie thing. I'm gonna have to re-read the OFFERings to beginners up yonder. You might give that site a try for a short time, then tackle the eBay complexities.

Sandy

Subject: RE: BS: Bookbuyers/sellers - eBay or Amazon?
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 May 01 - 11:32 PM

Hey, Sandy, ya did good! Thanks a bunch, that looks like an interesting site. I am all set up at eBay, have actually done pretty well selling other stuff on there. I just was thinking for the books that it might be better to go with an all book site. So...I'll look that one over and see what i think.

Thanks, very muchly, darlin'...kat

Subject: RE: BS: Bookbuyers/sellers - eBay or Amazon?
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 09 May 01 - 11:45 PM

I bopped around a little on it just now, Kat, and it's pretty barren. Not much of interest to me at all. I assume very few potential buyers/sellers know of its existence, hence it has very few listings. To heck with it. I'm gonna go look at "history" on eBay.

Gramps

Subject: RE: BS: Bookbuyers/sellers - eBay or Amazon?
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 May 01 - 11:47 PM

There ya go! I really appreciate the imput, Grampus Maximus...**BG**

Subject: RE: BS: Bookbuyers/sellers - eBay or Amazon?
From: John P
Date: 10 May 01 - 08:25 AM

As an ex-bookseller who has watched many small bookshops go under, I always like to take the opportunity to encourage folks to use their local independant book store. Most towns have a few used bookshops that will find out-of-print books for you. They also buy your used books, and you don't need to hassle with shipping them. For me, there is something about being able to go into a book store and root around finding things you can actually hold in your hands and look at before you decide to buy it. Even the impersonal Barnes and Noble or Borders stores, intimidating and daunting as they are, are more fun to buy books in than Amazon or other net-based retailers. Sorry, I know this isn't what you were asking for. I'm afraid I can't help much with on-line resources . . .

John Peekstok

Subject: RE: BS: Bookbuyers/sellers - eBay or Amazon?
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 May 01 - 08:48 AM

JohnP, I agree. But I no longer have a "local" book store. Even after adding a section for comic books, they couldn't keep it going. Of course, Manhattan is filled with wonderful book stores. The Strand alone has literally miles of books. Shakespeare's still has a few stores open with great finds.

Subject: RE: BS: Bookbuyers/sellers - eBay or Amazon?
From: mousethief
Date: 10 May 01 - 02:15 PM

I never buy from Amazon. If it's a new book, I get the info and order it from my local brick-and-mortar independent bookseller, whom I hope remains in business and thriving for a long time (I hope to live in this town for a long time -- I hate moving!).

For hard-to-find used stuff, I generally will look first at half.com and bookfinder.com; if they don't have it I"ll try to get it through Ebay.

Alex

Subject: RE: Bookbuyers/sellers - eBay or Amazon?
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 May 01 - 02:58 PM

Good point, John, if available. I do go to the local, independent bookstores, here, but they often do not have what I am looking for. Also, they do not pay much for used books as they have to make a profit of some sort. So, if I want to make anything off the ones I am selling I have to look elswhere, otherwise I would just give them away.

Thanks, Alex, I've only bought from Amazon a couple of times. Thanks to all of you, I think I will stick with eBay. Sandy, if I find any history books in the lot, I will send them on.*bg*

kat