Author: Elaine Krieg Smith
Format: e-book
Publisher: self-published
Whether you are new or an experienced bookseller, Elaine Krieg Smith has so much wisdom to share that you are bound to learn something from reading this book. Even if you are not presently a book seller and you have been thinking about trying it as a home-based business, this book would be a helpful resource for you to read.
This book is quite targeted and provides a lot of information about selling used books on eBay in their auction format. The books Smith focuses on are old and antique, collectible and sought-after children’s books and children’s books which are sought to be used for homeschooling children.
All the sources for finding used books at inexpensive prices are covered, with library used book sales as a primary source. The process begins before the book hunting begins, though, with learning about what books are selling for the highest prices on eBay so you can keep an eye out for them while book hunting. Smith sells other e-books which are lists of the children’s books which are selling for the highest prices on eBay auctions. There are a three different books featuring different categories:
1. Most Valuable Children’s Antique Book List & eBay Price Guide Volume One: Books Published 1850-1930
2. Most Valuable Children’s Book List & eBay Price Guide Volume Two: Books for Younger Children 1931-Present
3. Most Valuable Children’s Chapter Book List & eBay Price Guide Volume Three: Books for Older Children & Young Adults 1931-Present
You don’t have to use these lists, of course, but buying and using them would achieve this:
1. If you are going to attend library book sales you might as well be aware of the desirable and profitable books so you can be on the lookout for them.
2. If you want to make the highest profits by reselling books you may as well pick the ones which resell for the highest prices, to invest in.
3. These lists took hours to compile, and you will save not just hours but many hours spread over many weeks and seasons of the year. These lists were compiled over many months time. Smith also notes trends with books selling at different times of the year is also shared as a general tip.
If you are serious about selling used children's books for profit then buying, reading, and using these three volumes would be a small investment cost, that would be considered a business expense, and these guides would be helpful to you.
Smith advocates selling non-rare books in lots rather than singly. By grouping books in similar subject lots, homeschoolers and teachers are drawn to bid on the auction.
Many tips are shared about exactly how to word the eBay listing and what information to put in the description (in words and photos).
Smith urges booksellers working for profit to work smartly and efficiently. By concentrating on high profit sales and selling books in lots, the seller can earn the most money for the least amount of work.
Smith walks the newbie through everything from advice on picking an eBay seller name to the best way to take digital photos or scans of the books to include in the listings. There are so many tips that I am sure that even experienced book sellers are sure to learn something.
Some other topics covered are:
1. streamlining eBay listings using Turbo Lister
2. whether or not to use the ‘buy it now’ feature
3. the timing of the auction’s listing can stimulate more exposure (day of week, time of year)
The shipping process is covered in detail. Smith recommends that experienced sellers use endicia for postage (not the USPS) and that insurance be purchased at a discounted price through U-PIC.
How to advertise your eBay auctions to your targeted audiences is covered as well, including lists of Yahoo Groups! which allow advertising of eBay auctions for used books.
Good communication with the buyer is covered in depth, everything from how to write and invoice, how to maintain good customer relations to how to handle a return.
Overall this is a very good investment to learn specific information from a trusted person. Smith is foremost a mother who homeschools her children and who loves books, that is how I ‘met’ her through the Internet.
Comparing This Book To Others I've Read
To compare and contrast this book to others on the market, I will compare it to Steve Weber’s book “The Home-Based Bookstore”. Weber’s book focuses on the recommendation to resell used books on Amazon.com through their Amazon Marketplace. Weber’s book could apply to any type of book but his own area of expertise is in reselling recent bestsellers, current books which can be bought for cheaper prices used, and also selling used college textbooks. Overall Weber’s focus is on books that Amazon has complete and detailed listings for. Smith focuses in this book on eBay auctions (not eBay stores).
Smith’s single listed books are often rare, antique, or out of print and Amazon does not feature adequate information on their site to give enough details to do the book justice. Smith’s use of selling books in small lots grouped by topic is also something that cannot be done on Amazon Marketplace.
If you use Smith’s other e-book price lists for old children’s books and focus on that niche market you would be focusing in an area not covered at all by Steve Weber’s books.
In a nutshell I am saying that Weber and Smith’s books cover completely different niche products the selling platform that they each recommend seems right and best for their markets. So if you are looking to sell newer used books on Amazon, Weber’s book is best and if you are going to sell antique, old or rare children’s books, or more current children’s books in lots, then Smith’s e-book is best. If you want a big picture for your research, buy and read both books!
Here is a link to a book review I wrote for Steve Weber’s book “The Home-Based Bookstore”.
My Interest In Reading This Book
I am not presently a used book dealer but I have always had a dream of owning a brick and mortar bookstore, and specifically, a used book store. Since the arrival of the Internet I have wondered if and how I should venture into a home-based book reselling business. Now that I have built a library of over 6000 books (most of which are being used to homeschool my children with) I wonder if I should be reselling these books when we are finished with them. Since I am a frequent book hunter at library book sales I also am curious if I am passing by any gems that could represent an occasional profit-making sale. Since I am a book lover and am curious about the book selling business I actually enjoy reading books such as this just for fun. Perhaps one day I will be a used book dealer but for now I am a book lover, book hunter, book collector and a book reader, period.
Elaine Krieg Smith gave me a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing this review. I have signed up for her affiliate program and if you purchase this e-book through the link here on my blog I will earn a commission on the sale.
Soon I will be reviewing one of her e-book price list guides here on my blog.
Here are links to read more about, and to purchase the e-books authored by Elaine Krieg Smith.
How To Sell Books Using Online Auctions
Most Valuable Children’s Antique Book List & eBay Price Guide Volume One: Books Published 1850-1930
Technorati Tags: used books, selling books, reselling books, eBay, children’s books, antique children’s books, home-based business, book hunting, homeschooling, living books.
0 comments:
Post a Comment