How to Start an Amazon Seller Acct
Making the Most of Unused Books and Videos by Selling Online
Nov 10, 2008
Online selling is an excellent way to earn extra cash at a time when many people are exploring ways to pay off credit card debt and other pressing loans. Amazon Marketplace features a very user friendly web site and the process of setting up a seller account only takes a few minutes. Sellers that have lots of books, videos, CDs, and DVDs that are “collecting dust” can turn those items into a profit. In many cases, items untouched for years may have accrued in value and fetch tidy sums well above what they originally sold for.
Listing and Selling Books and Videos
The listing process is extremely simple and can often be completed in less than three minutes. Entering the ISBN number usually produces a product match. Setting your sales price can be determined by how many similar items are already listed by price and condition. A book or video in “used as new” condition can be listed for more than one that is “used good” or “used acceptable.”
It is crucial to give an accurate description of the item so that the buyer will select your offering rather than a competitor’s. Comments like “not ex-library or not ex-rental” tell the prospective buyer that very few people have handled the book or video. A good book description might state: “Hardcover, 1st Ed.; Binding/spine in ex. cnd.; No marks in book; from private collection – one owner. Ships same day as bought.” This description tells the buyer that:
- The book is cloth bound and is not a reprint.
- The binding is not torn.
- There is no highlighting in the book or other “notes”.
- Only one person has owned the book.
- Buying from this seller ensures speedy processing.
Selling Yourself Instead of Selling to a Used Book Store
Used book store merchants will only purchase books that they can resell quickly. This is particularly true of text book sales. Sellers can expect to receive one quarter of what the merchant will price the book for. If the merchant sells the book for $7.00 (which is usually one quarter of what the original price of the book was when new), the seller might be offered $2.50 for the book. Used book merchants cross reference every book they buy with web sites like Amazon, Abebooks, Alibris, or Bookfinder to determine current listing prices, often selling them online themselves rather than putting them on their store shelves. With a little time and patience, sellers can earn much more for their book or video by listing it themselves on one of these sites.
Commission and Postal Fees
Once an item is sold, Amazon notifies the seller by email. It is expected that the sold item be shipped within two business days of the sale. The cost of postage is paid for by the buyer and this is reflected in the total netted by the seller. Amazon, as do all companies, retains a commission for the sale. These fees vary from company to company and depend on what kind of seller account is maintained. Going to the various web sites, prospective sellers can determine which selling package best fits their needs. Amazon remits accumulated funds every fourteen days with monies appearing in the seller’s checking account three to five days later.
After the first sales, the process becomes common place as sellers watch their profits grow. This requires patience. It may take weeks and even months for a buyer to purchase offerings. The more listed, the speedier the sales come in. And if sellers run out of items to sell, there are always weekend yard sales and flea markets were items can be bought for dollars and resold for much more on an internet selling account.
