Cross-Listing for More Sales
One of the toughest parts of selling books on eBay is picking the right category and sub-category. The major book categories have over 150 sub-categories. As if this isn't enough, some books are a better fit cross-listed in non-book categories. For instance, a book on WWII fits in either an "Antiquarian & Collectible" or a "Non-Fiction" sub-category (depending on its scarcity,) but is also a good fit in 'Collectibles-'Militaria'-WWII'-'United States'-'Books.'
A book on the Masons is also a perfect fit in Collectibles-Historic Memorabilia-Fraternal Groups, with a final resting place in Masons. There are many such categories under "Collectibles," including "Paper," a perfect place for booklets, pamphlets and ephemera. Cross-listing of course doubles auction fees, but from this seller's experience, it can make the difference between the success and failure of a sale.
In many businesses, packaging is everything, and that's true for book selling on eBay. Sell similar topic books together, the better the quality of the books, the more this makes sense. Note in each book's description that you have other books on the topic for sale, offer discounted shipping on multiple purchases.
For both ethical and pragmatic reasons, accurate condition descriptions are a must. The camera can lie, if a book has a hidden flaw it must be noted, ex-library, book club editions, remainder marks, ownership signatures, underlining in the text and all other defects should be stated in the description by all those who value their feedback reputations and do not want books to be returned on condition issues.
Professional descriptions inspire confidence among eBay's increasing numbers of savvy collectors and dealer-buyers. For those who do not yet feel confident enough to use the traditional book grading system of Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor, just describe the book's condition as thoroughly and honestly as possible.
Edition Status Elitism
Collectors of scarce and rare books seek first editions only; while later editions of desirable books can be sold, it is at a fraction of what 'firsts' fetch. Many publishers note "first edition or "first printing" on the copyright page, others use a number system and when the book shows a "1" as its last number, it is almost always a first.
For other publishers it's not so easy to determine: codes, letters, no indication of edition status, matching dates on the title and copyright pages and other criteria may apply. An excellent book source for determining different publisher's devices for indicating firsts prior to 1980 is Robert A. Wilson's "Modern Book Collecting," published by Knopf. A pricier but extremely comprehensive guide offering the edition status statements from 4,200 publishers back to 1928 is "First Editions: A Guide to Identification," edited by Edward Zempel and Linda Verkin, Spoon River Press. Free online resources will offer identification for specialized fields such as Pulitzer Prize winners, Beat authors, fishing books, etc.
Beware When Buying Books
More difficult than determining edition status, is the value of a book you discover in a store, auction or flea market that you have never seen before. I for one am a charter member of the "Grand Army of Booksellers Who Overpaid For Books on the Road." Our numbers are legion. For generalists who deal in books on all topics it is impossible to know the value of every book you encounter, for specialists it is nearly-impossible.
A degree of experience is needed just to attempt purchasing expensive books. Thanks to technology however, there is an antidote. You can use a PDA (or any other hand-held device that has Internet access) that can access Bookfinder or Add/All book search engines or other resources on the Web that provide instant values. For those who 'scout' and expensive books, hand-helds are a great tool, soon to be a necessity.
Research, Research, Research
The first thing to do when determining whether a book is eligible for auction on eBay is to conduct an eBay search of current and completed sales. If doing so should turn up nothing, the next step is a check of the title on the book search engines which will likely provide edition status and interesting bibliographic lore for most books. For up-to-the -minute news on eBay book selling, surfing the site's bookseller forum is also a good idea.
A Happy Ending
Book selling has always been egalitarian in the sense that sellers range from the homeless with their wares spread on a sidewalk, to the wealthy selling rarities by appointment. Online booksellers range from scholars to the literary-challenged, with motives as various as survival, earning a decent living, indulging a passion for books, and those who have simply found a successful business model and have no more feel for books than they do for clothespins or Hula Hoops.
Regardless of background or motivation, or whether you choose to sell on the book listing services, eBay, or your own Web site, today's online book seller faces a given as sure as death and taxes: work, work and more work. The amount of work is such that for the majority of booksellers, (whether they admit it or not) the calling is a labor of love. But whether you have books in your blood, or your attic, for those willing to apply themselves, online book selling is a viable way to earn a living.
Frank Fortunato is a seasoned online bookseller and frequent contributor to ECommerce-Guide.com.
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Books for Bucks: How To Sell Books on eBay
