HOME BUSINESS: Should I Sell My Books on Ebay or Amazon? Questions and Answers #2

Should I Sell My Books on Ebay or Amazon?

Bottom line for new sellers:

• Amazon for fixed price listings (Always FREE to list)
• Ebay for auction style listings (up to 50 /month FREE)

I have books listed in both places--Ebay and Amazon.  Amazon is known for their books
and CD / DVDs, although they sell just about everything these days in their huge
marketplace with bargains galore.  Ebay is also a massive, well-known marketplace for
new and used items.  They each have their pros and cons.

When I first started internet sales, I sold books ONLY on Amazon.  There is no fee for
listing there and the listing form is easier than Ebay's.  You just register as a seller
(even if you are a buyer, you have to register as a seller) and basically, start listing.  
It is VERY, very simple.  Really.



Steps to list on Amazon:

• Sign in
• Click YOUR SELLER ACCOUNT
• Click LIST SINGLE ITEMS
• Enter the ISBN
• The form appears and you fill it out, then submit
• Photos are not needed if Amazon already has a photo in its catalog
• Amazon credits you $3.99 for shipping costs and since most books are sent via media mail, that is usually enough to cover the amount you spend

You are charged a fee AFTER the item sells.  You must then ship within TWO business
daysand CONFIRM THE SHIPMENT in order to be paid.  Amazon only sends
payments to sellers 2x a month, on the 15th and 30th of the month.

HERE are my book listings on Amazon so you can see what I have there.

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Ebay has a lengthier form to complete but it is the SAME form that is used for
everything else sold there.  

• Register as a seller, again, even if you are a buyer you have to do this

• Go to Ebay's home page and click SELL / Sell an Item

• Click the green tab  LIST YOUR ITEM.  There is a box underneath that which says "What's it worth?" which searches sales over the last few months for that same item.  I rarely do this because I have researched before I get to this point.

• Describe the item briefly on the following page and Ebay will help you determine which category it should be in.  There are LOTS of categories and it is important to get the best one (you can list in two but you pay more)

• Choose your category, then CONTINUE and complete the form

• Describe your item exactly so there is no confusion to any potential buyers, correct condition, upload GOOD QUALITY photos, set your price either auction or fixed (I sell mostly fixed because I have an Ebay store)

• Be sure to weigh your item so that the shipping cost will be calculated correctly.  You don't want to pay for the shipping yourself if you have undercharged your buyer for it.

• If there are any conflicts or blanks, a red message will pop up telling you what you need to correct

Note: Not sure what's up with the blogger spacing on this post...

After you list a few items, completing this form becomes much easier.
 HERE are a few of my book listings on Ebay  so you can see what they look like.

NET PROFIT:  The amount you  receive from Ebay and Amazon is really 
about  the same if you list at a fixed price for one month as you can see
 below.  I use the  iPod / iPhone  app called AUCTION  CALCULATOR 
to determine my  profit using the eBay with Paypal link. Remember 
that Ebay charges ANOTHER fee each time you list an item.

This is what it looks like for a book sold  on Ebay for $19.99 [I assumed 

$2.90 shipping cost, $1.00 inventory cost; 50 cents insertion fee is PER MONTH
 if you do not have a store at FIXED price].
NET is $15.26 

and one sold at $19.99 on  Amazon.
NET  is $15.72.

Use whichever site  gives you the best advantage i.e. a rare, collectible book
might make more money on Ebay; a popular  current novel might sell more
quickly on  Amazon.

 I have listed books on Amazon and then later moved those same books to Ebay
 (I just did this in fact, and sold 3 of them that had been on Amazon for months
rather quickly).  I have found that I can often sell something at a  higher price on
Ebay whereas on Amazon you can often find used books listed for as little as one
cent.  If I am about to list a book and I see on Amazon that the same title is listed
used for .01, I  just donate it or put it on PaperBack Swap.   Check the market in
each to see which is better for the book you are selling.   Textbooks often sell
better on Amazon because Amazon was "known" originally as a place to buy
books.  I have a premium store so my listing fees are only five cents per month
per item, so I could afford to keep them in my store for a few months at least to
see if they will sell.  After a few months, I will move them to Amazon.   At 50
cents per listing (99 cent items and up) it's a bit pricey to do that on Ebay
unless you have a store or know someone who does.  I  sell consigned items 
at 50/50 split AFTER fees if you'd like me to sell them for you.

Do your research and compare the two markets before listing in either place
OR put the majority in Amazon and test the market in Ebay.  I have done this
as a learning tool.  If you are REALLY organized you could even keep a few in
both places at the same time.  I admit, I have done this, too, and only messed
up once. You have to keep an eye on both places and quickly remove it from
the second spot once it sells in the first one.


For those just entering the world of internet  sales, I would 
recommend Amazon for listing books to start.   There are less up
 front fixed price costs to you and you have lost  nothing  if the book 
does not sell.  OR  if you do not have  an Ebay  store, you are allowed
 to list 50 items per month FREE of charge  on Ebay in AUCTION 
format.  Auctions last ONE WEEK at the most.   It's definitely worth 
doing this if you have a book with undetermined value or one is
 currently in demand and it's an easy way to start getting familiar 
with completing Ebay's Sell Your Item form.   


Review the fee schedules below before beginning and happy selling!


Please let me know if you have any questions and I would be happy
to help you get started.


Reference:

• Ebay fee schedule
• Amazon fee schedule