selling your stuff on Amazon - part 9 - advice for newbies in the first 2 posts

funkyfunkymonkey

Mishka

This is supposed to make you feel better, my sales are based on a stock of nearly 4000 (rarely price checked and getting older by the day - not much time to go book hunting at the moment)

Sep 116
Oct 92
Nov 130
Dec 112
Jan 103
Feb 76
Mar to date 47

So, you can see that Feb and March have been somewhat slower.

I don't think the 2/5 should affect your sales too much, I've just had a look at your response and if I was buying a book would not avoid you - your response and the rest of your feedback makes you sound like a very reasonable seller.

1p books tend to move slower because there are more of them for the buyers to chose from, so if yours are not 'like new' or 'very good' you are less like to sell them anyway. If a high proportion of your stock is made up of these, they become harder to sell.

If you've got these listed on GM you will just have to 'wait your turn' - eventually you get to the front of the queue.

I don't know how book sales go on tazbar, but it is free to list and you only pay 10p FVF if they sell (http://www.tazbar.com/Help/Fees.aspx)
If I see the SF I'll point her in your direction. I've just begun listing a few things to see if anything sells - can't say yet 'cos I've only listed 5 items.

Anyway, fingers crossed for more sales for you.

FFM

funkyfunkymonkey

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

i still cant get my head around what people list thier books for on amazon....

i picked up a box of books today that i won in the auction on saturday for £3...

one of the books is

the book is called the puffin book of sewing by jackie andrews..
isbn 0140311165

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Puffin-Book-Sewing-Books/dp/0140311165/ref=sr_11_1/202-8827532-0323032?ie=UTF8&qid=1174505793&sr=11-1

so now again i am in the dimema of what to list it for.....

If I was you I would price match a c robson - he used to post quite a bit on the Amazon discussion boards (not sure if he still does), and was quite well thought of.

FFM

rare_stuff

funkyfunkymonkey wrote: »

If I was you I would price match a c robson - he used to post quite a bit on the Amazon discussion boards (not sure if he still does), and was quite well thought of.

FFM

I'd come to the same conclusion, but based on them being the only UK seller, them having a good feedback record and describing the book in detail. Although if you felt the condition of your book was better, it may be worth going a little higher then them.

Magenta

Hi all,

I have just started listing my books to sell on Amazon and have some of them where it says that are not listed in the Amazon catologue so cannot sell them, and to look at auction site or zbooks. What does this all mean?!!!
I would be grateful for any help, thanks.

boston_uk

Hi Magenta - welcome

The only way you can list books that aren't already in the Amazon catalogue is to be a Pro seller.

If you go to the first couple of posts in this thread you will find that answer to this and many many more questions already answered for you - and loads of good tips as well!

sarahb

I received an e-mail from Amazon this morning announcing they'd closed my account because someone had placed a fraudulent order for a camera from it using my stored credit card details. Now I'm pleased Amazon discovered the fraud so quickly and cancelled the order, but absolutely fuming that they closed my account and with it went all my Marketplace listings. I am also a little concerned as to whether the fraudsters also have my bank account details etc - I am unable to check how much information was visible to them as my account no longer exists.

Amazon say I must have fallen victim to a phishing scam or keylogger - I am certain it was neither of these and believe the problem must lie with Amazon and their security. I would strongly advise everyone to delete any card details they have stored with Amazon and to keep a backup list of Marketplace listings just in case your account disappears while you're tucked up in bed as mine did !

boston_uk

sorry to hear all that sarahb - devastating! And rather worrying, though keyloggers are sneaky little blighters that come from places other than Amazon and then log all your keystrokes whatever site you're on. I'd check your computer for viruses, trojans and malware PDQ if I were you. Loads of free tools to do that with. And I'd suggest you check your firewall settings too ..

sarahb

boston_uk wrote: »

..keyloggers are sneaky little blighters that come from places other than Amazon and then log all your keystrokes whatever site you're on. I'd check your computer for viruses, trojans and malware PDQ if I were you. Loads of free tools to do that with. And I'd suggest you check your firewall settings too ..

My other half manages firewall and internet security for a major plc and sorts out everything at home too which is why I'm pretty certain it's not anything on any of our PCs but I will definitely get him to check everything when he arrives home tonight. (I'll be in big trouble if I've messed anything up while he's been working away for a couple of days !!)

rufus_t

Hi to all and thanks for the great advice here.

I'm a newbie who has recently turned on the lightbulb.

Being desperately in need of cash, I've spent the last few days trawling various MSE forums and threads and am going to take up a few of the money making/saving ideas - including having a bash at Amazon selling.

So, despite the wealth and depth of great info already offered, I still have a few questions if the experienced amongst you could offer some help:

Those of you are averaging sales of 1+ a day - how many hours a week do you spend doing this?

Do you have a good spreadsheet/system for record keeping and is there a template anywhere?

What sort of % of returns/problem customers do you get where you know they are just taking the Michael and you have to swallow it to keep up your reputation?

What is the number 1 mistake a newbie is most likely to make?

And finally.......what is the number 1 ongoing frustration/difficulty for you experienced sellers?


Cor blimey, don't want much do I

Thanks again for all I've already learned - and in advance for answers to these questions.

apprentice_tycoon

rufus_t wrote: »

Hi to all and thanks for the great advice here.

I'm a newbie who has recently turned on the lightbulb.

Being desperately in need of cash, I've spent the last few days trawling various MSE forums and threads and am going to take up a few of the money making/saving ideas - including having a bash at Amazon selling.

So, despite the wealth and depth of great info already offered, I still have a few questions if the experienced amongst you could offer some help:

Those of you are averaging sales of 1+ a day - how many hours a week do you spend doing this? The listing is the time consuming part, but even then it can be as little as I minute per book if it's a straight forward title that doesn't need any research etc. The packing is quick if you are just using jiffys, it will take longer if you're doing some wrapping, then there's the trip to the PO of course!

Do you have a good spreadsheet/system for record keeping and is there a template anywhere? I don't but others will have and will come and tell you no doubt

What sort of % of returns/problem customers do you get where you know they are just taking the Michael and you have to swallow it to keep up your reputation? I get maybe 1 or 2 per year and that's selling quite a few books (I have 900 listed) books attract less naughty people :rolleyes:

What is the number 1 mistake a newbie is most likely to make? under estimating the postage costs, particularly overseas - get into the habit of checking the weight of your books before deciding on a price, if that makes you dearer than a few others then so be it, they'll all sell and then it's your turn, at least you won't live to regret selling too cheaply

And finally.......what is the number 1 ongoing frustration/difficulty for you experienced sellers? the fact that amazon don't have counters on the pages and you can't see completed prices like you can on ebay - if I could have a hybrid of both sites I'd be delighted


Cor blimey, don't want much do I that's OK, we were all new once!

Thanks again for all I've already learned - and in advance for answers to these questions.

Come back and tell us how you've get on, when I've had a quiet few days with no sales I feed off newbies excitement of their first sale, it restores faith!