Quote:
Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks
It used to be easy and somewhat profitable to sell used paperbacks on Amazon, but these days, the big second-hand sellers are all over that market and Amazon now takes a larger chunk of the sale. I can testify that it is not worth it. By the time I use up my saved stash of envelopes and pay for gas to mail the thing, I'm lucky if I can make 40 cents to a dollar by selling a used book. There are so many copies of most everything, a lot of books sell for a penny. Amazon takes a cut of the shipping so you don't even get the full 3.99 shipping. Sometimes, out of the 3.99 postage cut, you get BARELY enough to cover the actual postage. If I didn't use up old bubble envelopes, I'd have been paying to ship books out. There are times when I was covering some of the postage from my supposed profit (hardbacks especially or any very large book like a cookbook, large paperback).
I've sold exactly ONE audio book via craigslist. It just doesn't have enough reader eyeballs to be a market for used books. I'm sure there are places where books could more readily be swapped, but I agree. It's a lot of trouble and with the price of gas and postage, it is hardly worth it (for me).
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I am just curious, Do you actually make 40 cents to the dollar on a book that you bought new (which is mainly what I was referring to although I didn't make it clear) or one you bought used?
I am surprised that you can actually get 40% for used after factoring in time and transport, currency transfer fees etc. but I do not doubt your word
Not worth it to me, I can always even at my advanced age, get as much work than I want, and even my menial labour job which I enjoy will the most, or hate the least, depending on the day it is, seems preferable. 1 hour worked equals 3 books at full price or probably more than the 40% I could possibly get back on them and 2 more
And strangely enough I actually enjoy economising at times. Selling used books is one way. Doing without is another. Spending some of that time I save by entertaining at home and being entertained in turn at my friends homes can literally save me $100's a month. And it is fun. Likewise my fancy coffee machine. People come for coffee once a week or occasionally twice, bring REALLY fancy pastries, or home made goodies, and often I am stuck with the leftovers
And as I said it is fun.
Helen