Cheap Shipping

[maximum61]

I'm confused....I have a lot of used books to list.  I don't understand how other sellers can sell a book for $3 and offer free shipping.  And there are a ton of similar listings.  Even with media mail rates, I can't turn a profit selling a $3 book.  Can someone explain please?

[lux.ra_14]

Maybe Facebook wants market share, but they will never be the go-to site for most booksellers or buyers.

Maybe they negotiated a commercial rate for books, but again it's hard to imagine eBay, Amazon,  and other sites couldn't do the same.  The $3.99 Amazon shipping credit, regardless of weight, has been a sore spot with sellers for years. $2.89 would be a dream.

[robbie31415]

Oh I know they never will be, and I will add, on facebook it's not limited to books. I mainly sell DVDs.

I also sell on Amz, WMt, mecari, fbmp, offerup.

Somehow FBMP of all places has the best shipping rate for media for small sellers.

[wastingtime101]

FBM shipping rates are odd. They charge in weight increments and prices are often lower than you'll see elsewhere. I think it goes 1/2 lb, 1 lb, 2-5 lb, 5-10 lb, etc.

[robbie31415]

You can also choose exact weights.

It will use the rate table like we use here.

For media mail even if you select 0.5 lb. Or under it will still be at the 1 lb rate for media. The two screen shots show the same price for less than 0.5 lb and 0.5-1 lb.

[ebeths_eclectic_collectibles]

Books, CDs & DVDs. Often just not worth the bother

[slati_2013]

Because on some auction sites, many local governments and libraries put up their outdated books for sale. The just want to get rid of the books. Make space.  If you buy thousands of books for less than $100, sometimes I have seen pallets of books go for $10, you can list these books for $3 each with free shipping and still make a huge profit if you can sell the books. Given the price many of these sellers buy the books for, all it takes is selling just a few books to break even. Everything else is profit. The question is do they actually sell enough of the books to make big money? 

[lux.ra_14]

"you can list these books for $3 each with free shipping and still make a huge profit if you can sell the books"

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$3 might be pushing it for the mega-sellers these days, even with their bulk shipping discounts. Their acquisition costs are small, but their inventories are huge and require warehouses, employees, equipment, etc.

[dirk12955]

Tagging on:

I've never had any luck selling books.    But I buy books on ebay all the time.    I'm currently working my way thru 

an 80 book series and have been buying them in paperback (Used)

Thrift books,   Better world (Who pays nothing for their inventory)  and something called second.sale are 

where I've been buying.

Buy 3 get 1 free with shipping included.    I'm paying $11.00 to $12.00 per order of 4 books.

They might not make any profit on 1 book,     But not too shabby on 4

[lux.ra_14]

@dirk12955 

I've bought cheap reading copies from Thrift, etc. I'm ok with their flimsy packaging, but their error rate is high -- wrong book sent, improper grading, etc.  About half of my orders have been botched one way or another. They are quick to refund, though, when there's an issue.

Can't remember which seller it was, but only one required a return when the wrong book was sent. I mailed it back with a prepaid label, even though it made no sense for the seller to cover the shipping both ways on a $4 book. 

[brightlightbookseller]

I don't know how they do it either, except by losing money.  We never list anything that cheap, but we make great money selling books.  The trick is finding the right books that will sell at the right price.

[1786davycrockett]

@nobody*s_perfect 

@robbie31415 

USPS Library Mail seems to be limited to certain academic and/or non-profit organizations, according to USPS regulations:

Library Mail Service

Library Mail Service is an economical shipping solution for qualified items on loan from or to be mailed between academic institutions, public libraries, museums and other qualified organizations. Each mailpiece must show in the address or return address the name of a qualified school or non-profit organization.

Library Mail Service Features

• Available for sending books, recordings, and media material to, from, or between schools, libraries, museums, and other qualified organizations. 
• Packages are to show the name of the school or non-profit organization in the address or return address.

Which begs the question:  how Facebook Marketplace can provide that huge shipping discount to regular booksellers.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Media Mail and Library Mail are two different services.  Here's a broader view of the page that I screen captured and linked to above:

[robbie31415]

If you go to USPS website they have separate category for media mail commercial and library mail with different starting price points.

Here is a snap shot for you.

 

[1786davycrockett]

@robbie31415 

What many of us are attempting to determine, is under what agreement can Facebook Marketplace permit its sellers to purchase USPS Media shipping at less than the current rate of $3.92 for the first pound.

It still remains unclear how sellers on Facebook are permitted to ship at $2.59, instead of $3.92.

[robbie31415]

Technically 2.89, have no clue where that cost comes from. Maybe Facebook is able to buy at 2.59 and they pocket the .30. Or it's a special rate deal that facebook was able to make with the USPS.

My main point is if Facebook can do it, eBay should be able to.

Come on eBay, get us better media mail rates. Not the rates everyone gets at the counter, use your muscle.