Forum

What's the scoop about selling books?
 

Not sure if that's considered at all risky?
Go slow to start, or perhaps more lenient?

What about getting onto half.com?

Selling books isnt that risky at all - I do know that textbooks seem to be looked at a bit unfavourably.

Thanks! I didn't think it would be a problem. Going to go moderately slow and see what happens!

Anyone know anything about having stuff listed on Half.com, which is Ebay owned?

Anybody?
Hello? Is this microphone working? tap tap tap

lol

Your post probably fell off the map ha. I have not sold on Half.com.

Half is, moneywise, basically the same fee structure (15%) as Amazon. But Amazon will have MANY, MANY more sales.

Stay away from international editions of textbooks. Amazon does not allow them at all.

If you sell textbooks, be prepared for a LOT of customer service. These college students wait until the day before their classes start to order, then they basically expect you to put the book in an ambulance and send it over - at no additional cost to THEM, of course.

lol i had few peers in the past do that. Did not know you were at the other end Jeff.

Use Jeff's advice as he is experienced and you will do well.

Truer words were never spoken.

The other thing is that many will purchase and then say "Whoops, I don't need it!" Even after they already got it and will ask if they can return it. College textbooks are a headache.

Also Half.com is good. As the others had said it's like Amazon but it is a LITTLE bit cheaper because they give you a little more of a shipping credit. So in the end you make a little bit more.

It's slight though so don't choose it over Amazon. What I would do is list on both and see how your sales are and compare.

And as the others have said books shouldn't be risky. I said this before, but I talked to an Ebay rep one time and with a new account that was selling only books. He even said "Oh and I see you sell books. Those aren't something we worry about".

And don't forget the one who drops their class 60 days into the semester and expects a full refund on their book - the one you sent brand new - even though they wrote their name in it and put notes and folds all over the pages. Not to mention the pizza stains on page 45. If you do not give in to their demands, Amazon will refund them under the A-Z claims guarantee program and you will lose both the book AND the money.

And ALWAYS ship with insurance. When selling items other than textbooks, I OCCASIONALLY get someone claiming they never received their item - even though the tracking number shows it was delivered - once in a great while, and I deal with it. I'm sure that some of those claims are scams, but I'm also sure that there are some legitimate ones too. When we are talking textbooks, that goes up - WAY UP - to at least 1 in 20 or 30. Of course, a lot of times they miraculously find the book after I tell them they will have to sign the insurance claim - the one with the statement that says insurance fraud is a felony punishable by jail time - before I can replace or refund their order.

I got so frustrated with textbooks, I no longer buy or sell them. The majority of college students are honest, but having to deal with the ones that are not totally turned me off from this market.

I have sold text books for years. A very lucrative market. Half.com is excellent site for text books, but Amazon is far and away the best. there are many excellent seller platforms: Half, Ebay, Amazon, Alibiris, Abe etc.....As for International Editions, if you know what your doing (most have no idea at all) it is very lucrative. It is problematic but the markup makes it very tempting at certain times of the year.