Am I losing money on each sale?
I’m getting started selling some used books on Amazon, and have been pleasantly surprised by how fast and easy it is. However, when I looked to see how much I will be paid, my account says $0.00. It seems that Amazon’s fees are so high that, not only are they not paying me, but I’m losing money on shipping. Please look at the screenshot of my account and tell me what I’m missing.
29 replies
Seller_f5NinHPryoyCJ
You need to preview the fees!!! If you’re charging $3.99 for postage, you will lose money on anything priced at $3 or less.
Seller_olet7eVOHxQZd
Uggh! You must do the math before you list something for sale. You can see a fee preview when you look at your inventory.
A big newby mistake is that they think the $3.99 for shipping is all it will cost to ship the product.
Seller_DZ1maDmp7Xt2o
You probably can’t make money on the individual plan especially if the book – larger / telephone book size / thick heavy volume – however you need to build in the cost of the mailing / shipping, for most people the cutoff is at eight or nine dollars, and then at that point you’re still making pennies… You cannot compete with a mega sellers that have special deals on Postage and automated machines that package stuff, and use bulk mail…
So you need to be looking at much higher / larger prices…
Even your smallest little child’s book is going to cost you probably a minimum of 2.75 sending it Media Mail along with all the other fees that Amazon charges… there is a breakdown that tells you how much you were making somewhere on your dashboard you need to look at that costs and be more aware…
Unless you want to just subsidized the buyers reading habits and work for no money and wish to continually lose any profits…
There are lots of things, that I simply discard -giveaway - rehome - stick in little free libraries & Community organizations, just never thrift shops …sometimes even public Library’s - that have a free shelf in the lobby— they are not worth selling on Amazon…
In addition just because it’s old doesn’t mean it has value…
Seller_2sSWhvyZsq56v
Are you selling books for $1.00 & $0.75???
Seller_M04MjNuWAA1Xz
Yes
Might want to charge a bit more…
Seller_K1GA82m0EahF0
After Amazon takes their fees, you get $1 - $2 per item. It costs you $2.75 to ship a book Media Mail if it weighs under one pound and $3.27 to ship if it weighs 1-2 pounds. Plus you pay for tape, packaging materials, etc. so yes you are losing money each time you sell something.
Seller_Hi7wbO2Kbo6bl
You need to set a minimum price, and if a book doesn’t look like it will sell for that – don’t list it.
You have to determine that minimum for yourself, but for individual sellers, it certainly should not be less than $6 – and I suggest more.
And more yet for heavier books.
Seller_8heIxAf1mLwgp
Of course it’s fast & easy - you’re practically giving the books away. Actually that would be even easier.
Seller_CW0P5hgbsiqWX
You are working in the world of retail sales when you sell on Amazon. To make any profit you have to know, UP FRONT, the following.
- Your cost of the product paid.
- Your cost to ship the product to every address in the USA and it’s territories.
- Your cost for shipping and packing materials.
- All fees and commissions paid to the vendor. (Amazon)
- Now add to that your desired profit.
And then…….you will come out with your offering price.
Well not really…………Because now you have to compare your offering price to that of other sellers. For a product to sell quickly, it should be the lowest offering price on the top of page one. If your offering is displayed on page 2 or after, and you are willing to wait for years to get the sale, you may still be ok.
SHIPPING The price displayed to the customer has nothing to do with the actual shipping cost of a product. Amazon placed that there many years ago to make it appear to the customer that, whom ever you buy from, the shipping cost is still the same. 
Seller_nRFmxiQg4EGrw
No offense, but it looks as if you are selling books that really should go in the donation pile, or possibly even the recycle bin.
Even if Amazon charged you nothing, I don’t see how selling a book for 75 cents, that you then have to pack up (after paying for packaging) and taking to the post office could be worth the time involved.
I determined that if I sell a book for $7, I’ll at worst break even; at best make a few pennies. So if I can’t sell it for $8, it goes in the donation pile; and that’s only for books that I already have, usually because someone gave them to me. I won’t intentionally source anything that won’t get at least $12; it’s simply not worth the time.
Am I losing money on each sale?
I’m getting started selling some used books on Amazon, and have been pleasantly surprised by how fast and easy it is. However, when I looked to see how much I will be paid, my account says $0.00. It seems that Amazon’s fees are so high that, not only are they not paying me, but I’m losing money on shipping. Please look at the screenshot of my account and tell me what I’m missing.
Am I losing money on each sale?
I’m getting started selling some used books on Amazon, and have been pleasantly surprised by how fast and easy it is. However, when I looked to see how much I will be paid, my account says $0.00. It seems that Amazon’s fees are so high that, not only are they not paying me, but I’m losing money on shipping. Please look at the screenshot of my account and tell me what I’m missing.
29 replies
29 replies
Seller_f5NinHPryoyCJ
You need to preview the fees!!! If you’re charging $3.99 for postage, you will lose money on anything priced at $3 or less.
Seller_olet7eVOHxQZd
Uggh! You must do the math before you list something for sale. You can see a fee preview when you look at your inventory.
A big newby mistake is that they think the $3.99 for shipping is all it will cost to ship the product.
Seller_DZ1maDmp7Xt2o
You probably can’t make money on the individual plan especially if the book – larger / telephone book size / thick heavy volume – however you need to build in the cost of the mailing / shipping, for most people the cutoff is at eight or nine dollars, and then at that point you’re still making pennies… You cannot compete with a mega sellers that have special deals on Postage and automated machines that package stuff, and use bulk mail…
So you need to be looking at much higher / larger prices…
Even your smallest little child’s book is going to cost you probably a minimum of 2.75 sending it Media Mail along with all the other fees that Amazon charges… there is a breakdown that tells you how much you were making somewhere on your dashboard you need to look at that costs and be more aware…
Unless you want to just subsidized the buyers reading habits and work for no money and wish to continually lose any profits…
There are lots of things, that I simply discard -giveaway - rehome - stick in little free libraries & Community organizations, just never thrift shops …sometimes even public Library’s - that have a free shelf in the lobby— they are not worth selling on Amazon…
In addition just because it’s old doesn’t mean it has value…
Seller_2sSWhvyZsq56v
Are you selling books for $1.00 & $0.75???
Seller_M04MjNuWAA1Xz
Yes
Might want to charge a bit more…
Seller_K1GA82m0EahF0
After Amazon takes their fees, you get $1 - $2 per item. It costs you $2.75 to ship a book Media Mail if it weighs under one pound and $3.27 to ship if it weighs 1-2 pounds. Plus you pay for tape, packaging materials, etc. so yes you are losing money each time you sell something.
Seller_Hi7wbO2Kbo6bl
You need to set a minimum price, and if a book doesn’t look like it will sell for that – don’t list it.
You have to determine that minimum for yourself, but for individual sellers, it certainly should not be less than $6 – and I suggest more.
And more yet for heavier books.
Seller_8heIxAf1mLwgp
Of course it’s fast & easy - you’re practically giving the books away. Actually that would be even easier.
Seller_CW0P5hgbsiqWX
You are working in the world of retail sales when you sell on Amazon. To make any profit you have to know, UP FRONT, the following.
- Your cost of the product paid.
- Your cost to ship the product to every address in the USA and it’s territories.
- Your cost for shipping and packing materials.
- All fees and commissions paid to the vendor. (Amazon)
- Now add to that your desired profit.
And then…….you will come out with your offering price.
Well not really…………Because now you have to compare your offering price to that of other sellers. For a product to sell quickly, it should be the lowest offering price on the top of page one. If your offering is displayed on page 2 or after, and you are willing to wait for years to get the sale, you may still be ok.
SHIPPING The price displayed to the customer has nothing to do with the actual shipping cost of a product. Amazon placed that there many years ago to make it appear to the customer that, whom ever you buy from, the shipping cost is still the same.
Seller_nRFmxiQg4EGrw
No offense, but it looks as if you are selling books that really should go in the donation pile, or possibly even the recycle bin.
Even if Amazon charged you nothing, I don’t see how selling a book for 75 cents, that you then have to pack up (after paying for packaging) and taking to the post office could be worth the time involved.
I determined that if I sell a book for $7, I’ll at worst break even; at best make a few pennies. So if I can’t sell it for $8, it goes in the donation pile; and that’s only for books that I already have, usually because someone gave them to me. I won’t intentionally source anything that won’t get at least $12; it’s simply not worth the time.
Seller_f5NinHPryoyCJ
You need to preview the fees!!! If you’re charging $3.99 for postage, you will lose money on anything priced at $3 or less.
Seller_f5NinHPryoyCJ
You need to preview the fees!!! If you’re charging $3.99 for postage, you will lose money on anything priced at $3 or less.
Seller_olet7eVOHxQZd
Uggh! You must do the math before you list something for sale. You can see a fee preview when you look at your inventory.
A big newby mistake is that they think the $3.99 for shipping is all it will cost to ship the product.
Seller_olet7eVOHxQZd
Uggh! You must do the math before you list something for sale. You can see a fee preview when you look at your inventory.
A big newby mistake is that they think the $3.99 for shipping is all it will cost to ship the product.
Seller_DZ1maDmp7Xt2o
You probably can’t make money on the individual plan especially if the book – larger / telephone book size / thick heavy volume – however you need to build in the cost of the mailing / shipping, for most people the cutoff is at eight or nine dollars, and then at that point you’re still making pennies… You cannot compete with a mega sellers that have special deals on Postage and automated machines that package stuff, and use bulk mail…
So you need to be looking at much higher / larger prices…
Even your smallest little child’s book is going to cost you probably a minimum of 2.75 sending it Media Mail along with all the other fees that Amazon charges… there is a breakdown that tells you how much you were making somewhere on your dashboard you need to look at that costs and be more aware…
Unless you want to just subsidized the buyers reading habits and work for no money and wish to continually lose any profits…
There are lots of things, that I simply discard -giveaway - rehome - stick in little free libraries & Community organizations, just never thrift shops …sometimes even public Library’s - that have a free shelf in the lobby— they are not worth selling on Amazon…
In addition just because it’s old doesn’t mean it has value…
Seller_DZ1maDmp7Xt2o
You probably can’t make money on the individual plan especially if the book – larger / telephone book size / thick heavy volume – however you need to build in the cost of the mailing / shipping, for most people the cutoff is at eight or nine dollars, and then at that point you’re still making pennies… You cannot compete with a mega sellers that have special deals on Postage and automated machines that package stuff, and use bulk mail…
So you need to be looking at much higher / larger prices…
Even your smallest little child’s book is going to cost you probably a minimum of 2.75 sending it Media Mail along with all the other fees that Amazon charges… there is a breakdown that tells you how much you were making somewhere on your dashboard you need to look at that costs and be more aware…
Unless you want to just subsidized the buyers reading habits and work for no money and wish to continually lose any profits…
There are lots of things, that I simply discard -giveaway - rehome - stick in little free libraries & Community organizations, just never thrift shops …sometimes even public Library’s - that have a free shelf in the lobby— they are not worth selling on Amazon…
In addition just because it’s old doesn’t mean it has value…
Seller_2sSWhvyZsq56v
Are you selling books for $1.00 & $0.75???
Seller_2sSWhvyZsq56v
Are you selling books for $1.00 & $0.75???
Seller_M04MjNuWAA1Xz
Yes
Might want to charge a bit more…
Seller_M04MjNuWAA1Xz
Yes
Might want to charge a bit more…
Seller_K1GA82m0EahF0
After Amazon takes their fees, you get $1 - $2 per item. It costs you $2.75 to ship a book Media Mail if it weighs under one pound and $3.27 to ship if it weighs 1-2 pounds. Plus you pay for tape, packaging materials, etc. so yes you are losing money each time you sell something.
Seller_K1GA82m0EahF0
After Amazon takes their fees, you get $1 - $2 per item. It costs you $2.75 to ship a book Media Mail if it weighs under one pound and $3.27 to ship if it weighs 1-2 pounds. Plus you pay for tape, packaging materials, etc. so yes you are losing money each time you sell something.
Seller_Hi7wbO2Kbo6bl
You need to set a minimum price, and if a book doesn’t look like it will sell for that – don’t list it.
You have to determine that minimum for yourself, but for individual sellers, it certainly should not be less than $6 – and I suggest more.
And more yet for heavier books.
Seller_Hi7wbO2Kbo6bl
You need to set a minimum price, and if a book doesn’t look like it will sell for that – don’t list it.
You have to determine that minimum for yourself, but for individual sellers, it certainly should not be less than $6 – and I suggest more.
And more yet for heavier books.
Seller_8heIxAf1mLwgp
Of course it’s fast & easy - you’re practically giving the books away. Actually that would be even easier.
Seller_8heIxAf1mLwgp
Of course it’s fast & easy - you’re practically giving the books away. Actually that would be even easier.
Seller_CW0P5hgbsiqWX
You are working in the world of retail sales when you sell on Amazon. To make any profit you have to know, UP FRONT, the following.
- Your cost of the product paid.
- Your cost to ship the product to every address in the USA and it’s territories.
- Your cost for shipping and packing materials.
- All fees and commissions paid to the vendor. (Amazon)
- Now add to that your desired profit.
And then…….you will come out with your offering price.
Well not really…………Because now you have to compare your offering price to that of other sellers. For a product to sell quickly, it should be the lowest offering price on the top of page one. If your offering is displayed on page 2 or after, and you are willing to wait for years to get the sale, you may still be ok.
SHIPPING The price displayed to the customer has nothing to do with the actual shipping cost of a product. Amazon placed that there many years ago to make it appear to the customer that, whom ever you buy from, the shipping cost is still the same.
Seller_CW0P5hgbsiqWX
You are working in the world of retail sales when you sell on Amazon. To make any profit you have to know, UP FRONT, the following.
- Your cost of the product paid.
- Your cost to ship the product to every address in the USA and it’s territories.
- Your cost for shipping and packing materials.
- All fees and commissions paid to the vendor. (Amazon)
- Now add to that your desired profit.
And then…….you will come out with your offering price.
Well not really…………Because now you have to compare your offering price to that of other sellers. For a product to sell quickly, it should be the lowest offering price on the top of page one. If your offering is displayed on page 2 or after, and you are willing to wait for years to get the sale, you may still be ok.
SHIPPING The price displayed to the customer has nothing to do with the actual shipping cost of a product. Amazon placed that there many years ago to make it appear to the customer that, whom ever you buy from, the shipping cost is still the same.
Seller_nRFmxiQg4EGrw
No offense, but it looks as if you are selling books that really should go in the donation pile, or possibly even the recycle bin.
Even if Amazon charged you nothing, I don’t see how selling a book for 75 cents, that you then have to pack up (after paying for packaging) and taking to the post office could be worth the time involved.
I determined that if I sell a book for $7, I’ll at worst break even; at best make a few pennies. So if I can’t sell it for $8, it goes in the donation pile; and that’s only for books that I already have, usually because someone gave them to me. I won’t intentionally source anything that won’t get at least $12; it’s simply not worth the time.
Seller_nRFmxiQg4EGrw
No offense, but it looks as if you are selling books that really should go in the donation pile, or possibly even the recycle bin.
Even if Amazon charged you nothing, I don’t see how selling a book for 75 cents, that you then have to pack up (after paying for packaging) and taking to the post office could be worth the time involved.
I determined that if I sell a book for $7, I’ll at worst break even; at best make a few pennies. So if I can’t sell it for $8, it goes in the donation pile; and that’s only for books that I already have, usually because someone gave them to me. I won’t intentionally source anything that won’t get at least $12; it’s simply not worth the time.
