Selling your Stuff on Amazon Part 10 - Discussion Thread

Yorkielass

Oh a new thread! Well my selling fairy wish on the last one last week worked - I sold 2 things over the weekend, 1 given to me by inlaws other by parents. Didn't make a lot but at least it's some sales. please fairy visit me again soon :A

mishkanorman

Well ive managed to relist 70 out of 640+ but am too bored and tired to do the rest

Ive also just signed up to the pro-seller subscription again, last month i covered the required amount of books for a saving so thought i would go for it ! wish me luck

mishka

crazy_guy

I've listed some books for a mere 1p plus the 2.75 p&p leaving me with £1.41 but it seems that postage costs for paperback books are quite high and i am being charged just over a pound so its getting pointless in selling books for this low price - dissapointing stuff Any hints and tips

tsharp

I sold two books recently. One that was given to me by my dad to get rid of, the other bought for 50p from a charity shop, so a pretty good return on both considering. Although I hardly ever make £10 a month, but it all helps. I plan to ship the next incoming £9 something to either my credit card bill or my wedding saving plan. Both are in need of feeding.

funkyfunkymonkey

mishkanorman wrote: »

Well ive managed to relist 70 out of 640+ but am too bored and tired to do the rest

Ive also just signed up to the pro-seller subscription again, last month i covered the required amount of books for a saving so thought i would go for it ! wish me luck

mishka

GOOD LUCK

FFM

funkyfunkymonkey

crazy_guy wrote: »

I've listed some books for a mere 1p plus the 2.75 p&p leaving me with £1.41 but it seems that postage costs for paperback books are quite high and i am being charged just over a pound so its getting pointless in selling books for this low price - dissapointing stuff Any hints and tips

This is a real tip, don't list them at 1p, my new minimum price to list at is 95p and I still sell even when there are 10's of 1p books available. Alot of buyers don't like books priced at 1p, they think there is either a catch or the book can't be any good or it would be priced higher than 1p. They are not making the connection that they are actually paying £2.76 for the book.

FFM

mishkanorman

Thanks FFM

crazy-guy

I list at 1p on certain books, if there is 3 pages of 1p listed then i have to say i chicken out and follow the pack,

BUt the way i look at it is my books came from 2 different bulk buys, one of which i have covered all costs for and am making pure profit, the other i have yet to cover so EVERY penny helps. If i get 20p off that book then i prefer that to a book that takes up space !

mishka

soolin

crazy_guy wrote: »

I've listed some books for a mere 1p plus the 2.75 p&p leaving me with £1.41 but it seems that postage costs for paperback books are quite high and i am being charged just over a pound so its getting pointless in selling books for this low price - dissapointing stuff Any hints and tips

There is an explanation about 1p books on the 1st post on this thread, that might give you some tips.

However, as you are a standard seller it is not worth selling 1p books if they are too thick to go as a large letter. That basically means the usual standard sized novel is out, the reason being that second class post as a package is £1.52. For 1p books you really need to stick to the old fashioned 'pulp' style novels that easily fit the large letter rate, or the thinner, childrens style hard back books for the same reason. Get yourself a paper guagae from Royal mail, put your items in a jiffy bag and try each and every one through the slots before deciding whether they are worth listing at 1p. Anything that is borderline don't bother with as some post offices interpret the rules very strictly.

funkyfunkymonkey

soolin wrote: »

Get yourself a paper gauge from Royal mail, put your items in a jiffy bag and try each and every one through the slots before deciding whether they are worth listing at 1p. Anything that is borderline don't bother with as some post offices interpret the rules very strictly.

Good advice from Soolin, but I would add that you do not have to send borderline paperbacks in jiffy bags in order for them to survive the rigours of the postal system - I am not recommending sloppy wrapping in a thin envelope, I'll describe my own system later (saves a couple of mm and 60p/69p depending on weight).

The other comment I would add is that if you have over strict post offices, then buy a supply of lick and stick stamps and do it yourself - post the package into postbox directly.

I use both of the above and my feedback is 100% (oh, how I hope I haven't just tempted fate!!!)

FFM

funkyfunkymonkey

If you print out the A4 dispatch note from Amazon, wrap the book tightly in that. Then insert into a plastic bag (freezer bag or A4 punched pocket with edge cut off), seal tightly with air squeezed out. Then wrap in brown paper, at the short edges fold the over hanging paper so that it doesn’t over hang the ‘body’ of the packet but acts as an additional buffer to poor handling/dropping (also keeps thickness down). Finally, go around all 4 edges with packing tape. Use a label for the address – do not press on the book.

All this needs to be done carefully and neatly otherwise the thickness of the packet increases. The plastic bag provides protection against rain/puddles. The packing tape around the edge stops the brown paper from rubbing and tearing.

Yes, this does take a while but if you sell 5 borderline books a day you could save yourself £3 in postage plus a few pence in wrapping materials ‘cos it’s cheaper than jiffy bags.

This method will not work for the volume seller because of the time required (or for most men ‘cos the majority can’t wrap Christmas presents or pack suitcases)

FFM :rotfl: