Selling Your Stuff on Amazon Part 12 - Advice for newbies in first two posts

tiff

When selling books on Amazon, do you always choose to sell at the lowest price? I've been listing some books today, on one of them there were 2 very low ridiculous prices then the next lowest price was £5 so I decided to list at that. How do you work out your prices?

soolin

I have a soolin method of listing, which I barely understand myself let alone feel able to explain to anyone else!

Basically though I look at the sales ranking, I prefer books in the thousands, a million or more starts making me nervous and unless it was a very good book I wouldn't even bother with those over a million where there are many other copies listed. Then I look at the other sellers, their feedback and the condition of their book.

I would price match anyone with 97% or above where the book is in the same condition but list for more if seller has 97% or less or the book condition is materially worse than mine.

I also factor in Amazon price for newer books, I am always surpised to see selelrs selling for more than Amazon prices when you add the £2.75 postage. I was listing yesterday, high selling paperback books where Amazon had them brand new in stock at £5.99 but where other sellers were selling good and very good ones at £4 which would actually cost the buyer £6.75. I look at the Amazon price (asusming item is in stock) deduct £2.75 and that's my base price and I'll reduce that even further if my condition is worse than very good.

I prefer a quick turnover of books, so will rarely list at more than the cheapest two or three unless their feedback is rubbish or they are US mega listers.

Confused yet, I am!

soolin

Just to add, if I can't match lowest price based on the criteria above without making a loss then I dump the book.

tiff

Thanks Soolin, that all makes sense. I hadnt noticed the sales ranking until you mentioned it.

I have a charity shop near me that is independent and they sell everything in there at a really cheap price. I bought 6 text books in there today for £1.50 and there are lots more that I've since looked up and seem to fetch a good price so I will be back. Is it worth picking up paperbacks and mills and boon or would they be a waste of time?

soolin

Mills and Boon are a market in themselves, the fact they are thin and light often mean you can turn a quick profit on them, but they either have to be very recent, the last few months, or by a popular author. They are worth investigating on Greenmetropolis as well, although I often have to reduce the list price to £2 to get a sale.

helsbells

soolin wrote: »

I have a soolin method of listing, which I barely understand myself let alone feel able to explain to anyone else!

Basically though I look at the sales ranking, I prefer books in the thousands, a million or more starts making me nervous and unless it was a very good book I wouldn't even bother with those over a million where there are many other copies listed. Then I look at the other sellers, their feedback and the condition of their book.

I would price match anyone with 97% or above where the book is in the same condition but list for more if seller has 97% or less or the book condition is materially worse than mine.

I also factor in Amazon price for newer books, I am always surpised to see selelrs selling for more than Amazon prices when you add the £2.75 postage. I was listing yesterday, high selling paperback books where Amazon had them brand new in stock at £5.99 but where other sellers were selling good and very good ones at £4 which would actually cost the buyer £6.75. I look at the Amazon price (asusming item is in stock) deduct £2.75 and that's my base price and I'll reduce that even further if my condition is worse than very good.

I prefer a quick turnover of books, so will rarely list at more than the cheapest two or three unless their feedback is rubbish or they are US mega listers.

Confused yet, I am!

I understand you perfectly - I think it's just you do all that without actually thinking about it you've listed so many times:D

soolin

Thank you helsbells you are very kind, even I don't understand my explanation. As you say though I just 'know' whether to bother listing a book or not. I have access to more stock that I can store so have the great advantage that I can afford to be a bit choosy with what I list.

helsbells

soolin wrote: »

Thank you helsbells you are very kind, even I don't understand my explanation. As you say though I just 'know' whether to bother listing a book or not. I have access to more stock that I can store so have the great advantage that I can afford to be a bit choosy with what I list.

I think with increasing costs it makes sense anyway TBH. When I listed all the books I would sell a few at a time so trips to the Post Office where ok. As post has increased & time have passed and things have drastically thinned out I can't be bothered to make a trip for 80p proffit. If i am going to sell less anyway to be worth the storage room and effort makes sense for at least a couple of quid plus. I think you said somewhere the idea is to make it a productive, enjoyable but small part of your life. Of course for pro sellers trying to make a living its a different matter.

helsbells

Oh no it was saying on the news today there is a new machine in a major bookshop which can instantly print and sell out of print books for the cover price :eek: I know it won't affect collectors editions but its the recently out of print ones that make the best money. It has about a million titles stored so I suppose there might be many more not stored. The writing is on the wall for my empire but at one book a fortnight I don't think any one will notice:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

smartcat04

No sales at all this month until thursday and I've sold 3 books in 2 days. Not complaining at all. Think the selling fairy may have made a fleeting visit.