Posts:
13,406
From:
The 19th Hole
Registered:
2/8/06
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Re: do you make a living selling books?
Posted:
Jul 22, 2006 8:50 PM
in response to:
palmtreesales
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Hi Betsy, You can find sources in the most unusual places. Someone recently told me of a church with a small bookstore. Would you believe they had HUNDREDS of donated books at very low prices. Go figure, Ron
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Posts:
1,848
From:
Clearwater Beach, FL
Registered:
2/8/06
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Re: do you make a living selling books?
Posted:
Jul 22, 2006 8:59 PM
in response to:
rssbooks
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Hi Ron: My new "mission" is to start REALLY LOOKING for more outlets. I've been isolated for awhile at home playing "caretaker". I'm hoping I can start getting out more to scout. I really miss it and I know that is part of my selling problem right now. Thanks for the advise and it's good to "see" you! Betsy
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Posts:
1,171
Registered:
7/16/06
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Re: do you make a living selling books?
Posted:
Jul 22, 2006 9:39 PM
in response to:
thelocalshop
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My results are somewhat similar to the OP: I've been sellling about 7 months, I list about 5-10 books a day and gross about $400-500 per week. Although I also sell music, DVDs and Videogames as well which can really boost me some weeks. I think most of us are going to complain about finding books . . . they are out there but there is much competition. I stop at a Goodwill in a neighboring town and it just "feels" like someone is there regularly keeping it dry. But I do the same thing in my city . . . I pull many good books out of "my" thrifts and if someone just stopped in one day they would think they are dead. I'm not interested in a wage from selling. I have a job I like with good benefits. Selling books is a way of eliminating some debt for me and having extra cash for expenses. I think it would be a hard living to maintain.
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Posts:
5,875
From:
Manhattan
Registered:
2/8/06
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Re: do you make a living selling books?
Posted:
Jul 22, 2006 9:56 PM
in response to:
elfsplace
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If you are disabled enough so that SS is paying you every month, how is it that you are well enough to sell books/media on Amazon?
This is the most physically demanding job I have ever had, and I am constantly covered with bruises from all of the heavy lifting required in the bookselling business.
Taking the books to the PO requires muscle and stamina (it is a very long line). How can this possibly be a job for someone who is disabled, and is it even legal for you to be receiving a check from the government on the basis of disability AND engaging in the bookselling business?
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Posts:
1,321
Registered:
2/8/06
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Re: do you make a living selling books?
Posted:
Jul 22, 2006 10:01 PM
in response to:
thelocalshop
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read the bookthink newsletter: Contains tons of practical information on moving your bookselling business to the next level. The basic level newsletter is *free.* The paid issues are worth the subscprition price. http://www.bookthink.com/back2006.htm#2006
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Posts:
1,171
Registered:
7/16/06
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Re: do you make a living selling books?
Posted:
Jul 22, 2006 10:07 PM
in response to:
onesardine
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"I am so impressed with your sales considering your inventory. I currently have over 2,300 books listed with Amazon and if I have 3 sales a day, I consider myself lucky. What am I doing wrong?" I think it isn't a case of how many listings you have but how many you are creating. I've been reading "Selling used Books Online" by Stephen Windwalker (checked it out of the library :-) and he suggests that new listings will account for a big percentage of sales and old listings a smaller amount. I see this to be true in my experience. The other day I sold 7 items which had been listed in the last 10 days and one that had been listed in December. About finding books . . . on my way home from the grocery today I stopped at a rummage sale when I saw books. I scoutpaled two tables and then paid $3.25 for 13 (mostly good ranking "Christian interest") that I listed for $120. I'll likely sell half of them in the next month and then they will taper off and I'll be stuck with a few. The rummage beat is tough but probably a great way to get stock. About Happeeface's comment: "However, we all have different philosophies and inventories, so I'm not criticizing the people who don't mind mailing 100 $2 books per day rather than 10 $20 books per day." I'd rather sell 2 $100 books a day :-) Actually, I'll mail 3 $3 books, 2 $7 books, 1 $20 book, and 1 $35 book . . . anything that gets me to my goal.
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Posts:
12,508
From:
On the banks of the San Jacinto (with sandbags)
Registered:
5/19/06
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Re: do you make a living selling books?
Posted:
Jul 22, 2006 10:56 PM
in response to:
selg
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"If you are disabled enough so that SS is paying you every month, how is it that you are well enough to sell books/media on Amazon?
This is the most physically demanding job I have ever had, and I am constantly covered with bruises from all of the heavy lifting required in the bookselling business." I don't want to turn this thread into a personal pitty pot and so I shall answer as briefly as possible. I began with a cancer the size of a pencil eraser on a tonsil. I was refused treatment by SS until finally approved after growths became grapefruit size and cutting into my jugular. Where a tonsilectemy of $3,000 was prevented; a 3 year treatment of chemo/radiation etc at the cost of over a half million $ was approved. Thank you, Dear taxpayer.....it's your money. This medical idiocy left me with an inability to eat resulting in under weight (102 lbs at 5' 4") and the inability to stay awake due to loss of energy. I also have a little disfiguring and I'm 62 years old, female. For short periods of time, when I can stay awake, I am very strong. I was a farmer most of my life and commonly loaded haybails (weighing 75 lbs) onto our farm trucks. SSI pays me because I can no longer be employed. I am an insurance risk, I am due for SS retirement anyway so not worth re-training, and I am still under treatment for the cancer. There is a lot I could add to this, but it's a personal problem of little interest to those who pose the question "do you make a living selling books?"......to which I would answer......yes, I do.
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Posts:
20,204
From:
earth
Registered:
2/8/06
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Re: do you make a living selling books?
Posted:
Jul 22, 2006 11:02 PM
in response to:
elfsplace
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I do too, elf. And I agree that what is considered a livable wage is widely debatable. I am very very frugal and happily live on what most of you may consider nonlivable wages. BUT quality of life means more to me than dollars these days. I have earned many many times more than this and been miserable and ill. Now I may not have lots of cash but I am really happy and look forward to every day. Priceless! :> earthmom
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Posts:
12,508
From:
On the banks of the San Jacinto (with sandbags)
Registered:
5/19/06
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Re: do you make a living selling books?
Posted:
Jul 22, 2006 11:19 PM
in response to:
earthmom22
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Thanks, Earth.....I needed that. I was surprised to find so few people in agreement with my "living wage" theory. I guess it's a difference in life experiences. I too have seen better days. Some 30 years in the import/export business where I was involved in food production (the farming experience). The job paid extreemly well. But now in retrospect, I find that the greatest pleasure was in the upward climb. Once there, it never seemed to be all it was cracked up to be. I get to fish everyday (if I want to), and garden and sew and write. I find a lot more fun at the bottom but not as much comfort.
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Posts:
368
From:
Woodlands, Texas
Registered:
7/16/06
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Re: do you make a living selling books?
Posted:
Jul 22, 2006 11:57 PM
in response to:
earthmom22
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i sell and am VERY frugal so that i can stay home and take care of my grandson for my single daughter so that SHE can go to work. works quite nicely for the both of us and especially for little conor (almost 1)! i am delighted to get to be out of the 9-5 life and although i feel busier than ever, it feels different! and i looooooove being a stay at home grandma!! jenndd
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Posts:
6,053
From:
Gig Harbor, WA
Registered:
2/8/06
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Re: do you make a living selling books?
Posted:
Jul 23, 2006 12:15 AM
in response to:
selg
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Wow...if selling books is the most physically demanding job you've ever had, you're certainly finding the hardest possible ways to do it. Bruises from heavy lifting?? I've heard that some people bruise easy, but to be "constantly covered" by the lifting of book boxes is the most extreme case I've ever heard. As for the post office, there are any number of ways to make that an easy task, or even avoid it entirely. Overall (having made my living this way for 6 years), I'd say this is one of the EASIER physical jobs I've ever had. A disabled person could do it easily and well, if they think through their methods.
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Posts:
1,171
Registered:
7/16/06
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Re: do you make a living selling books?
Posted:
Jul 23, 2006 4:51 AM
in response to:
ondeckonline
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ondeckonline, Where do you get your books?
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Posts:
1,605
From:
quick sand USA
Registered:
2/8/06
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Re: do you make a living selling books?
Posted:
Jul 23, 2006 5:31 AM
in response to:
thelocalshop
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My main problem is finding enough books to sell. I travel around an area about 100 miles across and list about 15 books a day, most days.
Book selling is a very competitive business. In order for a seller to have such outstanding earnings like yours he/she must be very savy in the book selling business.
Taking into account of the expensive a person has against earnings the seller has to acquire the merchandise at a very low cost. Traveling far distances for a product that can be obtained through the internet might not be cost effective. How many times a week does the seller travels and where? With the cost of fuel it can become pretty expensive and time consuming to do all that traveling and taking consideration on the wear and tear of the car in use. What kind of books and its value is very important to make hi profits on its sale. You must be doing a lot of homework to learn what is selling and the cost to obtain those books. Must be sure you will be able to resale at a signicant increase or you will loose money. With so many undercutters and lowballers it can be a challenge.
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Posts:
1,605
From:
quick sand USA
Registered:
2/8/06
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Re: do you make a living selling books?
Posted:
Jul 23, 2006 5:36 AM
in response to:
the_book_reloca...
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am so impressed with your sales considering your inventory. I currently have over 2,300 books listed with Amazon and if I have 3 sales a day, I consider myself lucky. What am I doing wrong?"
I enjoyed reading your response. It was very informative and honest. Thank you.
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Posts:
12,508
From:
On the banks of the San Jacinto (with sandbags)
Registered:
5/19/06
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Re: do you make a living selling books?
Posted:
Jul 23, 2006 6:06 AM
in response to:
thelocalshop
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I took the easy way out in the beginning and just bought out an entire book store....lock, stock and barrel, all except the building. It gave me a lot of junk but 50% of my sales still come from that purchase. I add to it purchasing the same number of new ones that I sold the month before and replace any I have trashed. We are currently being hit by the "invasion of the penny sellers". This gives one a golden oportunity to purchase books far below their real value. You do it on line and have no transport costs. Just make sure there are not more than 3 under-priced of the same title and the difference in price is at least 4 times below what the book should be selling for. These are generally higher priced titles and some will not sell for quite a while. That's one effective way. Also, .....the last time I gave this tid-bit of info, I became the main entree at a huge roast!.....but I'm going to try it again. There really are certain key names in the book titles that are in greater demand and fetch higher prices. For example: When you walk into a room full of books, grab and purchase anything with the word "foundation" in the title unless it's Asimov's novel. There are other words also that help to quickly locate hot sellers. Now I'm taking cover because shell-fire is sure to follow.
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