Question
hello,
I have several old books that are signed and 1st Edition. Is Ebay the best place to list these to move them out or is there somewhere else to look?
Thanks for any input!!
Janet * Lanetzliving.com
My Website, up and running and I already sold stuff!! woo hoo!....
Me Page
Answer
Unless you have an ABE account eBay is pretty much your best bet. Research first and set a reserve based on that research, the market is dead lately and great books are going for a song if the seller doesn't use reserves.
Whatcha got?
Answer
Here's what I do:
1. I go to abebooks.com and see what "real" booksellers are asking for my book.
2. I then go to eBay and see if it has sold recently.
3. If I'm not pleased with the price I see on eBay, I put it on my store at a bit less than the abebooks.com sellers are asking for theirs.
4. If it's a real treasure, I'll sell it on eBay, of course, depending on what #2 tells me.
Invariably, I do #3, and it sells within 1-2 months (takes that long to show up in the search engines). It's NICE not having to give anyone a Final Value Fee when it sells. http://community.here.com/infopop/em...on_biggrin.gif
I'm thinking of hiring a helper to get some of these books listed. I've got TOO many and need them outta here!
http://members.aol.com/melbayone/thread.gif
Melinda
Answer
Well, I was doing some research but not finding to much http://community.here.com/infopop/em...icon_frown.gif
I have a Lillian Gish Signed bio,
Sodagee Silhouettes,signed.
Frostfire, Beulah Fenderson smith Signed,
My Anchor Held, USS Pueblo, signed by author.
Several more early 1900 to late 1880's, but they are going for nearly nothing!
I looked on abe books and the price for the Lillian gish was all over.
I may wait till fall and hope it picks up a bit.
Janet * Lanetzliving.com
My Website, up and running and I already sold stuff!! woo hoo!....
Me Page
Answer
Hi Melinda,
That is my conclusion, to put them on my website. http://community.here.com/infopop/em...icon_smile.gif
Thanks for the great advice!
Janet * Lanetzliving.com
My Website, up and running and I already sold stuff!! woo hoo!....
Me Page
Answer
Melbay,
Have you thought of opening an account with abebooks?
I saved this from an auctionbytes newsletter earlier this summer but have not had the time to dig deeper into it:
Any thoughts?
Abebooks Partners with eBay for Used-Books Services
By Ina Steiner
June 17, 2003
Abebooks, a leading site for used, rare and out-of-print books, has created a new inventory management service for online booksellers to sell on eBay and other used-book sites. Booksellers using Abebooks services to list books on eBay can also list their books on other Internet marketplaces such as Abebooks.com international sites, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Abebooks will offer an uploading agent and inventory manager for eBay sellers, with features such as ISBN lookup, free book inventory software, customer support, and access to other online bookselling programs. Abebooks will, on behalf of its ten thousand booksellers, put its used, rare and out-of-print books up for auction or fixed-price sales on Ebay.com.
Abebooks is an employee-owned Canadian company based in Victoria, BC, with listings of 42 million books for 10,000 booksellers in 42 countries. The new service is offered to all booksellers who can deal in U.S. currency and provide English-language book listings. For each book sold there is a 5% program service fee placed on the price of the book (calculated before shipping and all other charges are applied). A special promotion will allow booksellers to use the service with no program service fee through July 31, 2003.
http://www.abebooks.com
Janet * Lanetzliving.com
My Website, up and running and I already sold stuff!! woo hoo!....
Me Page
Answer
In my experience a typical 'rare' book will bring 10-25% of market value on ebay. In other words a book that averages $200 on the book sites can expect $25-50 on ebay. Tonight I just purchased a very rare 18th century first edition that lists for $250-400 in its condition for $30.
Now some books, geared toward non-book collectors can easily go way over retail. I have had some technical books go over $200.
Recently there seems to have been a slump in the book market on ebay with sell throughts being poor.
I just started selling on ABE, so I am no expert, but there are some things to consider, like cost. For under 500 books its $25 per month. ANd THEN theres a 5% flat commission. And on top of that, if THEY process your credit card order, its another 5.5%. So its 10.5% + $25 a month, which means at $250 a month in sales, you're paying 20%. Now Alibris charges 20% and no listing fees, but you need 1000 books for minimum inventory. However at $1000 a month in sales the net take is more like 13%. And around 10% if you process your own card cards.
ABE charges a 5% commission for listing your books on eBay through them. On top of all your normal ebay fees. Just as easy to handle it youself. Get an order through ABE, just cancel your ebay auction. I've done it. And it feels good.
Sadie has recommended Amazon.com. But they are $40 a month plus 15%. I am not familiar with that market (since I NEVER have purchased anything through them -their prices are too high), but I imagine for certain TYPES of books, at least the sell throughs may justify the extra expense. Amazon does have another option, where it is $1 + 15% per book if you dont want a 'shop'. This is 25% for a $10 book. Outrageous.
______________________________
THE DREAM OF REASON PRODUCES MONSTERS - Goya
Answer
One more thing.
Remember there is a difference between a RARE book and a collectible one.
Books can be one-of-a-kind and just about worthless. Even signed. I have a signed first edition collection. Half of them are nearly worthless, but that is not the reason I collect them.
And there are books that are highly sought by collectors. Like antebellum Poe, for example. SOme of these may actually not be all that rare, but still command premium prices. However, collectors are not like ordinary book buyers, so be super careful about descriptions when dealing with these folks.
In other words there is a big difference between a signed Babe Ruth autobiography, and a signed Marcel Proust first edition.
Two totally different markets.
______________________________
THE DREAM OF REASON PRODUCES MONSTERS - Goya
Answer
thanks Snakebait
That is some great information about abebooks. I do not have that many books http://community.here.com/infopop/em...s/icon_eek.gif, don't plan too either but just run accross them alot.
"Rare" was not a good choice of words, sorry about that. These are just above the ordinary that I see. http://community.here.com/infopop/em...icon_smile.gif
Janet * Lanetzliving.com
My Website, up and running and I already sold stuff!! woo hoo!....
Me Page
Answer
Janet, I looked into abebooks long ago, but it was too expensive for the volume I do. Frankly, I do better on my site. I paid virtually nothing for the books I have, so anything I get for them is pure gravy.
http://members.aol.com/melbayone/thread.gif
Melinda