selling books on Amazon - tips for more profit

Kaminari_2

Of about 6 i have never had one go through either however i did have one buyer contact me saying he still wanted the book and he has cancelled the transaction so he can do it again. I relisted it for him and the second transaction went through smoothly.

Kaminari_2

Recently i sold a book for £10 that i only paid 20p for. When the buyer provided me with the mailing address it was only around the corner (even on the same block!) from the charity shop i bought it from. Buyer said he had been waiting 6 months for it!

Boomdocker

Hi everyone, I am loving this thread, its taken me a few days to skim it all.

I have dabbled with ebay for most of the summer and switched it all off over Christmas as I can't commit to it with work etc at the mo. (plus my local post offcie isn't great, loooooong q's) I have sold books over there but nothing special and I still have many that are unsold including some new ones. So I have just set my Amazon account up and plan to list my stock in the new year.

Can't wait to get going and have found some very helpful hints and tips on here so thank you for that. I am sure I'll be back in January with questions.

larmy16

I hit a little snag today. On my sellers profile terms and returns that kind of thing, I state that I will send a book second class if on first day of confirmation e mail, and that this helps me price the book the lowest I can. I go on to say that if it goes on the second day I will post first class. I doubt many people read this though!!

I always post first class more expensive books. Some though, especially if they are on the heavy side, you just about break even by a few pence. Recently, I sold such a book.

It sold on Monday night at 6 minutes to 10pm. I emailed buyer saying would send it following day but to allow for some extra time as post is very busy at the moment. He emailed back, no problem and was looking foreward to getting the book - v. pleasant.

Today though, he emailed asking whether I had sent book first class as they had not received it and needed it as it was to be taken somewhere blah blah.....as a present!

Now I feel in a quandry. I emailed him v. politely saying sorry if it was inconvenient to him, but hoped it would get there in time and the reason I send cheaper heavier books second class - I tend to price my books 70 -1.00 lower than the others if possible.

Thing is, if someone buys late at night, that does not count as the first day does it? It says working days. I am not clear on this and hope someone can put me right.

Also as the books weigh more they can jump in price going first class and if they only cost say £1.40 it really takes any profit.

On the other hand I would rather send first class than get poor feedback for the sake of 30p - 40p.

I do think though if the book was so urgent it could have been purchased a bit sooner - but it is not my place to say that

Also do you think from a buyer's point of view that as they have paid £2.75 for delivery they are justified to expect it sent first class????

PS. Sorry lengthy post

numberthree

Gosh 24 hours without a sale!!!

I've had at least one sale a day over the last 2 weeks and then today it all stopped! I felt rather let down.

Maybe people are aware that Christmas delivery times are getting a bit tight now.

I shall put all my stuff on holiday settings after the weekend until the New Year as the last day for posting in time to receive before Christmas is 2nd class Saturday and 1st Class Tuesday, and I really can't be bothered with checking my emails everyday over the Christmas period - espacially as I've just been to the wine merchant, glug, glug.

Happy holidays everyone

apprentice_tycoon

Larmy, I think that your buyer should have read your terms and conditions and emailed you say it was a prezzie and would you consider sending it by first class as a gesture but he didn't .
Amazon states that the book will be sent within 2 working days and monday 10pm doesn't count as a 'day' so I think you're fine there. Aamzon themselves don't get parcels sent out as quickly as some of us Marketplace dealers do so he couldn't have done any better if he'd bought it new (unless he'd paid extra for a superdooper service)
I think that your OK with this but I don't think your buyer will though, he may be a problem for you

larmy16

Trouble is AT, as has been mentioned on the thread, if they choose to leave neg feedback, there is absolutely nowt you can do to change it. I have the impression that Amazon only contact random buyers - am I right? I have sold loads of books but officially only have 13 feedback - 12 were 5/5 and one 4/5 and I never ask for it myself - seem to do ok anyway

HOLsale

apprentice_tycoon wrote:

This is great, it hasn't come up in the thread before so thank you - I'm not sure that I've got the mental energy to list at the moment but after Chrimbo I'll put a few on and see what happens.

be prepared...they constantly update their newly listed books and people will swarm down on you like a hoarde of locusts to get them... but in a good way :snow_laug

just today i got garth nix's 'Lirael' in excellent condition too... picked up the first book in the series 'Sabriel' for 20p at a boot sale a few weeks ago

i'm trying to get the whole set, i'll probably sell it as a set on ebay

apprentice_tycoon

Larmy - a buyer can leave feedback if they know how to do it but a lot don't bother, amazon will ask the rest if they want to leave feedback, but again a lot don't bother.

I think that you can have a moan about unjustified feedback but I'm not sure how you do this....anyone tried to correct duff feedback?

Kaminari_2

I alway pop a slip in with the book that says "Thank you for your purchase from Amazon.co.uk Marketplace. I hope it meets your expectations. Feedback is much appreciated."

They seem to respond well to that.