Used books selling fees
Hello.
I just started selling used books on Amazon. I've noticed the selling fees are very high though.
Some used books selling fees are $4.23-$4.67, and these books are marked to sell for around $4.99-$5.50.
How is anybody making money out of selling used books?
4 replies
Seller_Hi7wbO2Kbo6bl
Do not even consider listing used books for that amount. Set a realistic minimum based on your packaging and other costs. Certainly nothing less than $8 -- and that only for very light books. A higher minimum is better.
Not only is there the 15% referral fee (taken on item and shipping charge), but there is also the $1.80 closing fee. And, for those on the individual plan, an extra 99¢
Seller_nRFmxiQg4EGrw
If that is including shipping, then you are guaranteed to lose money on them. If the standard $3.99 shipping charge is to be added to that price, giving a total around $9, then you can make a small amount, assuming that the book is not heavy enough to require significant extra postage.
I'll price that low if it's a book that can fit in a Sta-Flat and ship for under 16 ounces. Otherwise, I'm shooting for $10 total as my minimum; if i can't do that, it gets donated.
Seller_4zBzdtgCyS9EI
Because the really big sellers get special deals and pay much less in postage. There is also something called "loss leaders" where loss doesn't matter, because it brings buyers to the store to buy more and turn the loss into profit
Danny_Amazon
Thanks for looking to the forums for some insight on selling in this niche, @Seller_vTJpcN9uVSJv4- and I appreciate the input shared by some of our forums veterans!
In case it's useful, I did want to ensure you had this list of useful fee tools to help you plan margins and estimate fees, but let us know if you have any other questions on the topic.
Best,
Danny
