Anyone use Green Metropolis?

Ames

Hi all,

I've got some books to sell, don't want to use eBay as a protest against their new rules, can't use Amazon because I don't have a credit card, so I've settled on Green Metropolis.

I'm finding that their condition ratings are quite harsh though. 'Like New' and 'Excellent' are virtually the same, then 'good' seems to be what I'd class as Excellent, and 'Acceptable' is good. I'm used to the RISI ratings.

I'm just wondering if many people buy 'acceptable' books - ie ones with a heavily creased spine, or a couple of creases on the cover. That's about as damaged as mine get, but I'm finding I'm listing most of them as acceptable. Or maybe I'm reading the ratings wrong? The way I'm reading them, you could have a mint condition book with no creasing, but if it had a charity shop price in pencil on the first page, it'd only be acceptable. Surely that's not right?

Also, because I'm as bothered about creating space as I am making money, I've been discounting books, sometimes quite heavily (up to £2 off). Will these come up in clearance searches, or does it still only search the first 20 listed, ie, if there were 30 at full price and then mine with £1 off, if people searched for books with £1 off would mine show?

Also, if I sell something, how should I package it? With RISI I used to either put it in an inside out special delivery bag (waterproof and snug), or inside a freezer bag in a strong envelope, but it seems that people are complaining about the latter, even though it's how GM recommend they should be sent.

Sorry to be so confused, I just don't want to do anything wrong! It all seems a lot stricter than places I've used before!

cyberbob

You don't need a credit card for amazon. Mines registered with my debit card.

Ames

It's got to be a visa debit card though, and mine's maestro. I am looking into opening an account with a visa but it'll take a while, and GM prices and fees seem a lot better, at least for the mean time.

knightstyle

Have bought from Greenmetropolis several times and been very satisfied, most people package with a padded envelope, occasionally with an additional plastic bag inside. Condition is important as I for one will not but spine damaged books.
Never sold but why not put your questions to them?

Ames

Really? Wow, I'm in trouble then, nearly all my books have a creased spine.

Oh well, if they don't sell in a few months I can always try other places. I'm putting very detailed descriptions in on all of my books, so hopefully people will know what they're getting.

I don't really want to ask them as I don't want to be seen as a newbie troublemaker, if I post in the forum there it might put people off buying from me.

JCS1

Green Metropolis sales are very slow compared to Amazon. I have about 70 listed on both sites and get approx 2-3 sales a year on GM compared to 2-3 a month on Amazon.

Ames

I've just had my first sale on GM, which was quicker than I expected. Hopefully it'll go smoothly. Once I can open an account with a visa electron I'll probably list some on Amazon and some on GM.

VanyaHargreeves

I use Green Metropolis sometimes. I'd buy books creased at the spine, though I prefer that they aren't, but at such a low price I can't really complain....However, I really don't like books that have folds on the covers. I'm really nitpicky about the condition of my books, though, so...

makeup

Hi

I've got a few books listed on GM. I've only sold one but I don't have a lot listed (just selling off books from my own stash that I no longer want).

It was listed as acceptable and was a bit battered as it had been on holiday and back with me! (and am sure the spine had creases!)

I was a bit worried about it - you know how it would be regarded by the buyer but he gave me top marks on feedback.

I can't remember how I packaged it, maybe in a thick brown envelope or possibly a jiffy bag ... I've never thought about the waterproof-ness of my packaging before though

HTH a bit

Ames

JCS1, do you mean you have books listed on both sites at the same time? Is that allowed? If it is I'd like to try that.

Thanks everyone for your advice, it's much appreciated.

trrk

I've been using Greenmetropolis for several years but hardly ever sell anything. One of the problems is £3.75 is quite expensive for a used book when you look at the prices in charity shops, Ebay and Amazon. I find I can only sell books on Greenmetropolis that are hard to get secondhand and not yet being sold for £3.99 new on Amazon. Generally I've had the most success selling book son Ebay but this will now end as well with the new inclusive postage rules. Never sold anything on Amazon because it's too hard to compete with people who list books for 1p.

You can have books on as many sites as you want but if you do this you have to keep a very close eye on sales and delete them quickly off the other sites once they sell to avoid bad feedback.