eBay

wernerwagonec · ‎12-22-2016

Thriftbooks' prices make selling books difficult. Every time I go to list a book, Thriftbooks is selling the same book for almost nothing. Frustrating!

joesoucie22012 · ‎12-22-2016

The only way to beat the mega listers is dont sell junk books. Before you buy a book you have to know what your doing.

1786davycrockett · ‎12-22-2016

Many times, when I have been comparing book titles on Thriftbooks, I have noticed that the keyword information is rather narrow -- often just the book title and the author, and sometimes just the title by itself.

Keep in mind, however, that many people may not be looking for a book by its title, or by the author, but by subject matter; so figure out some good-selling keywords that will attract sellers to YOUR listing, rather than to Thriftbooks -- and that way you can justify charging more than the Thriftbooks price.

But keep in mind that Thriftbooks purchases book titles in massive quantity -- so try to avoid purchasing anything for resale published within the last 25 years.

fine.books · ‎12-23-2016

@joesoucie22012 wrote:
The only way to beat the mega listers is dont sell junk books. Before you buy a book you have to know what your doing.

This is the solution - sell better books.

.

taylor_memorial · ‎12-23-2016

Wait until theirs sells.
Sell cheaper books in lots: if you sell 5 books for $19.99 you beat the same number of $4 books.
Thriftbooks does not describe their books and don't picture the book they are selling, using stock photos. Provide pictures and descriptions.
Thriftbooks does not examine books for autographs, inscriptions or other such things. Emphasize the importance of the book you offer.
Learn from you errors to improve your over all stock.

cumos55 · ‎12-25-2016

People soon learn not to buy books priced at less than $10

Not to buy books listed with stock photos

Not to buy ex-library books.

cumos55 · ‎12-25-2016

There was once a bookseller that listed 100,000 books on eBay... and except for a few higher priced books, all were listed at less than $5.00. The higher priced books could be purchased elsewhere for less than $25

Eventually this seller started to raise his prices... but he did not know what the prices should be. Seller eventually ended up on eBay special book only site.

If you watch carefully those higher priced listings have started to show up... However, the seller does not know which book should have a higher price, or even what that price should be.

cumos55 · ‎12-25-2016

To earn $1000 with book sales on eBay....

One can sell 1000 book at a $1.00 each

50 books at $20 each.... or 33 books at $30 each

If one knows what to do... list correctly... price wisely ..... that $30 average for all sales is possible

dreambooks · ‎12-25-2016

For some of these books, there are thousands copies availble online at any moment. There may be only 1-100 customers buying at any given day. Even the lowest price cannot guarantee a sale.

cumos55 · ‎12-26-2016

When someone lists about three million books on eBay, it is difficult not to see a book from this seller in a search..

And then sometimes it is not one, but two,,, and even three listings of the same book . At first the listings each have a different condition... but all with the same stock photo... or no photo at all.

If one checks picture policy... the question becomes ... Are these duplicate listings ?..... Everything is OK until one looks at the fact that the same photo... a stock photo is used on all listings.... and the photo DOES NOT show there is a difference between the listings.....

Duplicate listings because of the violation of picture policy in relation to the listings...... use of the same stock photo for all listings of the same book.

Have a read of picture policy.....

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/picture.html

and look at what should NOT be done....

Why should a seller have more than one listing for a specific book?

zenlama · ‎12-28-2016

Not only that: eBay uses the ISBN that it requires us to supply, so that it can target your listing with Thriftbooks advertising at bottom of page for same book. They are using our information to undersell us. Notice That thriftbooks never mentions wether or not book has dust jacket, etc. We are forced to compete with inferior products. Every Chamber of Commerce, Shopping Center or Mall knows that it is unethical to charge a store rent then place a cheap competeor next store. But eBay has to keep it's profits high so overpaid executives can keep their job and inflated salaries. Wake up eBay! ...also, charging commissions on shipping is outrageous. When they are overcharged on combined shipping and you make a refund to buyer eBay keeps it's original commission stealing more fro sellers. Ah, but this is not meant to be fair, just profitable.

zenlama · ‎12-28-2016

But eBay wants ISBN numbers supplied that they link to Thrifbook ads. If you don supply ISBN your listing is low ranked and does not get same coverage.

taylor_memorial · ‎12-29-2016

@cumos55 wrote:
People soon learn not to buy books priced at less than $10
Not to buy books listed with stock photos
Not to buy ex-library books.

After reading all the comments, I will add this.

There is a market for cheaper books, and ex-library books. I find these sell better in groups, the more specific the grouping the better.

20 Lee Child books sell for more money and faster than 20 international spy thrillers by various formula sellers.

A lot of Alex Cross will sell for more money and faster than a similar sized lot of James Patterson across the range of his prodigious output.

These are all "commodity books".

Another advantage to lots is they can't be sold by ISBN.

Thriftbooks has a special arrangement with eBay. The rules don't apply to them.

booksbysam · ‎12-29-2016

I've purchased a few books from Thriftbooks and always end up returning them because of their poor condition. I no longer buy from them, even if it is a collectible book at a very appealing price. Just emphasize your listings with great pictures and accurate descriptions...that will attract the right customers.