The Home Based Bookstore Start Your Own Business Selling Used Books on Amazon eBay or Your Own Web Site
August 27, 2009 by sgtwak
Filed under Uncategorized
Want to discover the most profitable, lowest-risk idea for your home business? It’s selling used books online, which is growing 33 percent annually, according to a new study by U.S. publishers. Learn how to start your business part-time, then expand at your own pace. This step-by-step guide, written by one of the most successful and highly rated sellers on Amazon and eBay, includes everything you need to know:
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Star disappointed
Pretty thin for 17.05. Half of it consists of lists of websites. A lot of empty spaces, large type and semi-useless information. I already knew what dog-eared means. Anyone who thinks that someone named Robert Chambers wrote The Big Sleep(pg 81)doesn’t know much about books.
2 Stars For the very beginner without internet access
Weber’s book is quite short, too general, and tries to include too many categories of information without discussing them in any depth. It’s mostly lists: where to sell books, how to package a book, what genres to look for. This sounds like a good thing, but when they are unaccompanied by the thoughtful advice 5 years of experience should bring, they just tell you information you could easily google. Some examples: His inventory sources are fairly obvious, or too much for the beginner who might not want to expend a huge outlay (i.e. money for a lot of 400-800 books). His section on grading repeats information that Amazon gives in their help guide, when it could mention tricky cases — he doesn’t even mention ex-library books, which you’ll frequently run into. His information on packaging can be found easily through googling, where you’ll find better suggestions. His pricing strategy is to meet the lowest price so he ignores the nuances involved — for instance, why would you meet the lowest price if that person has an 88% feedback rating? Weber doesn’t even address any of these fairly rudimentary exceptions.
When he does give good information it’s often too brief or incidental; for instance, his list of genres to pick is this general: WWI books are to be eschewed, but business and financial books are great. Vintage science books all do well. There is no discussion about the nuances or tricks that a seasoned bookseller should be able to impart: when do these categories fail? One major plus is that he’s realistic about the money someone will make selling books; there are very few of the details many of this genre include about how you’re going to one day find a Fitzgerald first edition and so forth. I appreciated how rarely I saw him mention books he bought for $1 turning around to $200. Instead, his examples talk about turning $1 books into $8-10 sales.
I’ve been selling for under a month and some basic googling told me almost everything Weber includes. He does have some suggestions for other books to read that look good, but I’d save your money and look elsewhere. For this book, you’re paying for a collection of resources rather than a bookseller-mentor’s training.
5 Stars TOTALLY GREAT – a must-have for amazon.com selling
Simply the best book on amazon.com selling! His information gave me a better understanding of this business (ideas, hints, helpful websites) and confirmed what I have learned on my own. I’ve recommended this book to all of my friends to encourage them to “do the amazon.com thing.”
4 Stars Good information. To the point.
This book was an easy read and to the point on a variety of issues regarding opening a home based bookstore. It pointed me in the right direction in a number of areas without getting bogged down in too much general business questions. It was a good value.
5 Stars Excellent Resource For Book Sellers
I wish I had this book when I started out selling books back in 2005. I know this book would have saved me a lot of time and money. After selling books online for four years I totally agree with the author that fiction titles by famous authors are not good sellers and it’s best to find a niche market for the types of books that interest you.
The book is well written in a very clear style. Thanks for writing this book, Mr. Weber!
