# My First On-Line Attempt to Sell Used Books--Advice? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 23, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-on-line-attempt-to-sell-used-books-advice/150534 "2003-01-23T21:01:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-on-line-attempt-to-sell-used-books-advice/150534/1 "2003-01-23T21:01:19Z")
I never did this before, but I’m trying it now—selling two used books on Amazon. The titles are: _Red Star_ and _The Complete Time Traveller_ Any advice from the peanut gallery on best/worst things to do? Most of our local used bookstores are closed, & I wanted to try this. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-on-line-attempt-to-sell-used-books-advice/150534/2 "2003-01-23T21:09:45Z")
I appreciate it when they tell me the condition of the books; broken spine, nam written on cover, etc. ---
**Author:** ![1ofthegulls](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/bcef8e/32.png) [@1ofthegulls](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1ofthegulls)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-on-line-attempt-to-sell-used-books-advice/150534/3 "2003-01-23T21:15:10Z")
I sell a lot of books on eBay. I go and check and see what they’re retailing for today & price them accordingly (usually 1/3 less). I don’t sell anything not in mint condition, too many people to complain. I see eBay as a huge garage sale and seems that many see it as Barnes & Noble. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-on-line-attempt-to-sell-used-books-advice/150534/4 "2003-01-23T21:15:43Z")
List the Publisher, whether it’s a first, second, third, etc. edition, and–if it’s a book club edition be honest about that. I’ve bought a couple books that ended up being book club editions–even though that wasn’t mentioned–and I was supremely irked. A good clear picture of the cover is always nice too, if you have the necessary equipment. I personally like to know what kind of condition the dust jacket is in and a picture _is_ worth a thousand words. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-on-line-attempt-to-sell-used-books-advice/150534/5 "2003-01-26T12:33:36Z")
Any more advice? Anybody? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-on-line-attempt-to-sell-used-books-advice/150534/6 "2003-01-26T12:37:57Z")
What exactly is a book club edition? Is it shorter or something? ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-on-line-attempt-to-sell-used-books-advice/150534/7 "2003-01-26T14:06:49Z")
Yeah, and how can you price a book that isn’t currently being sold on E-bay? I’m thinking of selling my “Janes Aircraft of the Word 1995-1996” but have no idea how much to sell it for. The only other REAL Janes book was “Janes Fighting Ships 1985-1986” or something like that… it was going for $75 at a rare used book store. I’ve got this, and nothing else, to go on. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-on-line-attempt-to-sell-used-books-advice/150534/8 "2003-01-26T14:29:14Z")
If it’s “price clipped,” say so. Few simple things bring down the value of collectible books like having the corner of the jacket cut off by someone who was giving the book as a gift. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-on-line-attempt-to-sell-used-books-advice/150534/9 "2003-01-26T16:33:00Z")
"Yeah, and how can you price a book that isn’t currently being sold on E-bay? " You put the name in a search engine & find someone on the net who has it for sale & see what their price is…or read used book price books that your library has. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-on-line-attempt-to-sell-used-books-advice/150534/10 "2003-01-26T17:43:54Z")
Maybe you could offer media rate shipping. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-on-line-attempt-to-sell-used-books-advice/150534/11 "2003-01-26T18:24:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cisco \* > \*\*What exactly is a book club edition? Is it shorter or something? \*\* The content is no different (unless it’s a Reader’s Digest “condensed classic” or somesuch) but the book itself is often smaller. The cover art is different, illustrations are sometimes left out, and the binding can be lower quality. None of which matter much if you’re just buying it to be read, but all of which can pose a problem for a collecter. ---
**Author:** ![1ofthegulls](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/bcef8e/32.png) [@1ofthegulls](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1ofthegulls)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-on-line-attempt-to-sell-used-books-advice/150534/12 "2003-01-26T19:43:01Z")
Well, with just a little bit of researching I found: Jane’s Fighting Ships of WWII (but it didn’t list the years, as you had1985-1986. Listed on eBay (#2702748062 for $4.03 and (#2907986445) $24.95. Now these were only up to current bid levels and could go much higher. Your exact edition isn’t listed by anyone. Jane’s All Worlds Aircraft 2002-2003 is currently retailing at $595.00 (Amazon). Sorry I couldn’t find more to go on. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-on-line-attempt-to-sell-used-books-advice/150534/13 "2003-01-26T20:56:25Z")
(shameless plug for my own collection) If you run across any anti-communist propaganda, especially McCarthy era, I’m interested. (_barely_ even related, I know) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-on-line-attempt-to-sell-used-books-advice/150534/14 "2003-01-26T22:58:01Z")
I just list all of mine at [www.half.com](http://www.half.com) and price them competitively, since it’s a fixed price site. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-on-line-attempt-to-sell-used-books-advice/150534/15 "2003-01-27T00:16:01Z")
I’ve listed books at Amazon twice – mostly hardcovers in really good condition and a few trade paperbacks. Out of the maybe 50-60 books I listed, I think I sold 5 before the listing period expired. I was careful to price my books competitively and to describe them accurately. It was disappointing that more of them didn’t sell. The ones that did sell were probably under-priced, including a signed copy of an OOP book that I had forgotten was signed until the buyer rec’d it and wrote a nice thank you note. I like that Amazon helps pay shipping, and that they collect for me, but all in all, I think buying on-line works better than selling on-line. That doesn’t make sense, does it? As for the OP, my only advice would be to price your books realistically, and put something in the description that will make someone want to buy from you rather than the other guy.