Selling 2nd Hand Books on Amazon - some lessons learned

   Long time readers will know that I am very keen on growing my second hand book business. My basic strategy is to buy joblots on Ebay and then sell off singly on Amazon. In 2012 when I moved from England to Scotland I made the decision to stop listing fiction titles as there was just too much competition. From this point onwards I've concentrated on Non-Fiction. I've bought 3 Joblots from Ebay private sellers and 1 big joblot of 1500 books from a charity trading on Ebay. This last joblot will almost double my inventory when listed. There is one problem though and that is managing space. Having 3000 books in your house takes up a lot of space. Therefore I need to prioritise my listings. This is also important as I have the further aim of joining the FBA program sooner or later. I need to identify a seller before joining FBA as I will be paying storage fees at this point, and who wants to pay storage on a dog?

   In the list below I show the last 100 titles I have sold on Amazon. Popular subjects seem to be: Art and Craft, Home, Motoring, Study, Gardening and Cookery.

   Perhaps the inclusion of Gardening and Cookery is no surprise as these are by far the biggest subjects by volume in my inventory.

   Moving forward I am going to start withdrawing "heavy" (those which would need to be sent as a standard parcel) from Amazon and sell them off as a collection only lot on Ebay.

   Wish me luck.

What is Feminism? [Paperback] [1986] Oakley, Ann; Mitchell, Juliet 

Guinness World Records 2010 [Hardcover] [2009] 

The Lion King [2 Disc Special Edition] [1994] [DVD] [DVD] [2003] 

Painting as a Pastime [Paperback] [1964] Churchill, Winston S 

Glorafilia: Venice Collection - 25 Original Projects in Needlepoint and Embroide... 

The Science of Self-realization [Hardcover] [2003] A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prab... 

Low-Carb Slow Cooker Recipes [Plastic Comb] [2004] Thomas, Kristi M. 

Triumph 2000, 2500 and 2.5 PI Mk.I and Mk.II Owner's Workshop Manual [Hardcover]... 

The Silent Witness The Mysteries Of The Turin Shroud Revealed [Paperback] 

York Notes on Chaucer's "Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale" (York Notes Advanced)... 

Core Maths for 'A' Level [Paperback] [1990] Bostock, L.; Chandler, S. 

Vegetable Garden Displayed (Wisley) [Paperback] [1941] Royal Horticultural Society 

The Everything Private Investigation Book: Master the Techniques of the Pros to ... 

The F2 Diet [Paperback] [2006] Eyton, Audrey 

100 Recipes Slow Cooker (100 Everyday Recipes) [Hardcover] [2011] 

Build It!.... with Pallets [Paperback] [2009] Joe Jacobs 

Decoupage Kit [Hardcover] [1993] Ballantine, Belinda 

Montherlant (Writers & Critics) [Paperback] [1964] Cruickshank, John 

The Dads' Book: For the Dad Who's Best at Everything [Hardcover] [2007] Heatley,... 

Painting The Weather [Paperback] [2002] Richard Stemp 

Stars and Planets (Encyclopedias 96) [Hardcover] [2008] 

7 Weeks to 50 Pull-Ups [Paperback] [2011] Stewart, Brett 

Women's Murder Club 4: Little Black Lies (PC DVD) [Windows 7 | Windows Vista] 

The Signal and the Noise: The Art and Science of Prediction [Hardcover] [2012] S... 

Starting your own Childminding Business: How to set up high quality childcare in... 

Get a Life!: The Little Red Book of the White Dot [Hardcover] [1998] Burke, Davi... 

Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7 (Nintendo 3DS) [Nintendo 3DS] 

F**k It: The Ultimate Spiritual Way [Paperback] [2008] John C. Parkin 

Catch Me If You Can: The True Story Of A Real Fake [Paperback] [2003] Abagnale, ... 

Psycho-cybernetics: The Original Science of Self-Improvement and Success That Ha... 

The Biggest Secret: The Book That Will Change the World [Paperback] [1999] David... 

The Biggest Ever Tim Vine Joke Book [Paperback] [2010] Vine, Tim 

The Cookery Year [Hardcover] [1974] Reader's Digest 

Radio Control for Model Boats [Paperback] [1970] Connolly, Philip; Smeed, Vic 

2000 AD Annual 1978 [Hardcover] [1978] Anon 

The Englishman’S Flora. [Hardcover] [1987] Grigson, G. 

Noises Off! [DVD] [1992] [DVD] [2004] 

Mary Queen of Scots [Hardcover] [1994] Fraser, Antonia 

The Official alibaba.com Success Guide: Insider Tips and Strategies for Sourcing... 

Endgame [Paperback] [1976] Beckett, Samuel 

Mr Bean's Joke Book [Paperback] [2010] Green, Rod 

The Natural Home: Inspiration and Decoration (Small Book of Home Ideas) [Hardcov... 

Propaganda [Paperback] [2004] Bernays, Edward L. 

Buying a Home in Spain [Paperback] [2006] Hampshire, David 

Streetwise Spycraft [Paperback] [2007] Davies, Barry 

The Everyday Wheat-free and Gluten-free Cookbook [Paperback] [1998] Berriedale-J... 

The Washing Machine Manual (Haynes home & garden) [Hardcover] [1999] Dixon, Graham 

Beating Anger: The eight-point plan for coping with rage [Paperback] [2005] Fish... 

Everywoman: A Gynaecological Guide for Life [Paperback] [1998] Llewellyn-Jones, ... 

A Devil's Chaplain: Selected Writings [Paperback] [2004] Dawkins, Prof Richard 

General Knowledge Crosswords (Best Ever 320 Spiral) [Paperback] [2008] 

 (Fifty Shades Darker) By E. L. James (Author) Paperback on ( Apr , 2012 ) [Paper... 

Ken Jennings's Trivia Almanac: 8,888 Questions in 365 Days [Hardcover] [2008] Ke... 

The Little Book of Chav Speak [Paperback] [2004] Bok, Lee 

Step by Step Cake Decorating [Hardcover] [2012] Igloo 

Movies of the Forties [Hardcover] [1982] Lloyd, Ann; Robinson, David 

Pomodoro Technique Illustrated (Pragmatic Life) [Paperback] [2010] Staffan Noteberg 

Wordsearches (Easy Read) [Paperback] [2010] Igloo 

 (Fifty Shades Freed) By E. L. James (Author) Paperback on ( Apr , 2012 ) [Paperb... 

101 Things to Do Before You Die [Paperback] [2004] Horne, Richard 

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady [Hardcover] [2006] Holden, Edith 

Stand Up and Deliver: A Nervous Rookie on the Comedy Circuit [Paperback] [2011] ... 

Bedrooms (Small Books) [Hardcover] [2007] Gilliatt, Mary 

Wild Fruit by Snowdon [Hardcover] [1997] Attenborough, Sir David; Snowdon, Earl ... 

Working in Complementary Therapies: How to start a career in the new caring prof... 

Rhod Gilbert's Bulging Barrel of Laughs (BBC AudioBooks) Free Dearland Audio CD ... 

My Mermaid Make and Do Book (Sticker and Activity Book) [Paperback] [2010] Igloo... 

Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World [Paperback] [2012] Graham Hu... 

Wuthering Heights (Classics Illustrated) [Paperback] [2009] Bronte, Emily 

Enid Blyton'S Bedtime Annual 1972 [Hardcover] [1971] Blyton, Enid, Illustrated B... 

The Secret Life of the Garden [Paperback] [2009] Beardshaw, Chris 

 (ONE RED PAPERCLIP) BY MACDONALD, KYLE[ AUTHOR ]Paperback 05-2008 [Paperback] [2... 

Handbook of Classic British Bikes [Hardcover] [2001] Kemp, Andrew 

Baby and Toddler Meal Planner [Hardcover] [2008] Kim Davies 

Bodydoctor: Trust Me, I'm the BodyDoctor. [Hardcover] [2004] Marshall, David 

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady [Hardcover] [2006] Holden, Edith 

Pesticides and Pollution (Fontana New Naturalist Series) [Paperback] [1969] Mell... 

Sparkly Girl's: Princess Playtime (Sticker and Activity Book) [Paperback] [2012] 

Law: A-level Study Guide (A Level Study Guides) [Paperback] [2003] Charman, Mar... 

Sparkly Girl's: Princess Playtime (Sticker and Activity Book) [Paperback] [2012] 

Omelettes, Frittatas and Souffles: Sweet and Savoury Recipes with Eggs [Hardcove... 

Fifty Shades of Grey [Paperback] [2012] James, E L 

The Tail End System [Paperback] [2007] Newton, Ross 

THE GIANT BOOK OF FORTUNE. [Paperback] [1994] unknown 

The Apple Source Book [Hardcover] [2007] Clifford and Angela King, Sue; King, An... 

Just Say A Few Words [Paperback] [2004] Monkhouse, Bob 

The Sensational Baby Sleep Plan [Paperback] [2010] Scott-Wright, Alison 

New Penguin Guide To Personal Finance 

Frugillionaire: 500 Fabulous Ways to Live Richly and Save a Fortune [Paperback] ... 

Vegetable Growing Month-by-Month: The down-to-earth guide that takes you through... 

Nude Painting [Paperback] [1979] Jacobs, Michael 

Social Psychology [Hardcover] [1998]

My Kingdom of Books [Hardcover] [1999]

Nicole Nobody: The autobiography of the Duchess of Bedford [Hardcover] [1974] Du... 

Once More, With Feeling: How we tried to make the greatest porn film ever [Paper... 

1000 Rock Hard General Knowledge Questions

Let's Collect Fossils (Cotman-color) [Paperback]

Whitaker's World of Facts 2011 [Hardcover]

Drama and Theatre Arts [Paperback] [1998]

Awkward Family Photos [Paperback] [2010]

Another Good Amazon Week

   Another good Amazon week with £25.61 coming in for very little effort.

 That means I've averaged £25 per week for the last 9 weeks. I've actually found that I've been getting sales on items where I am nowhere near the cheapest price - nice. I must be building up a reputation.

   The classic thing about this business is that it is scaleable if you have enough storage space and buy correctly.

http://1000moneymakers.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-i-make-100-every-month-from-amazon.html

How I Make £100 Every Month From Amazon Without Really Trying

How I Make £100 Every Month From Amazon Without Really Trying

   This is the simplest but yet most effective money-making system that anyone will ever show you. This is true 4-Hour Work Week material. If you like books then this is the perfect business for you. I am going to assume that you have an Ebay and Amazon account already. Here are the steps:

1)      Go to Ebay and search “books joblot”.

2)      Identify joblots within a reasonable driving distance which have a unit cost of 10p or less (5p preferably). Don’t bother with anything less than 200 unit lots. Try to identify those which have Non-Fiction rather than fiction available in the picture.

3)      Make a bid.

4)      Collect your wins and list the books individually on Amazon.

5)      Put fiction in a separate pile. Put Children’s books in a separate pile. These will be sold at Car Boot sales – or back on Ebay as Joblots.

6)      In other words we have picked out the Non-Fiction as our core lines. Store these alphabetically for easy picking.

7)      Sales will come thick and fast on Amazon. With an inventory of c 1500, I see 30 sales a month, every month.

8)      Use your profits to buy more stock.

   With a rolling inventory of around 1500 books bringing in c £100 a month, it is reasonable to assume that a 3000 unit stock would bring in £200 and a 10,000 unit inventory would bring in c. £600. The only limit is space in your house and how many books you can fit in your vehicle.

   As you scale up sales can be increased by listing on sites other than Amazon. Also, once past 40 items per month you should be stepping up to the Amazon Pro-Level.

   Eventually you may find that Amazon FBA is the right thing for you.


 

Amazon Cashflow........

   More cash in from Amazon this week. I've just listed a couple of hundred books in the last 48hours so I should see a pick up for the next fortnight or so.

Dear uncommonadvice@googlemail.com,

We initiated a transfer to your current account (ending in 771) in the amount of £21.78 on 27/11/2012.

A message to "The Hub"

   Long time readers will know my love of local resuse centres. In Alloa we have "The Hub". Here is a note I have recently sent them touting for Amazon stock.

Hi,




I note that the number of books you are carrying has increased greatly from my last visit. I have a small Amazon business and would be intersted in buying stock from yourself in bulk. At the moment I buy 500 to 1000 books at a time. Does this sound good to you?



Kind regards,



Ross Taylor.

Secrets for Sale.....

   People who say "Don't judge a book by it's cover" are probably right, on the other hand we are all guilty of doing it - and of judging a book by it's title too. I'd wager you that a book with any of these titles would sell. Note that you could knock up a half decent book pertaining to these titles in one night easy.

Titles:

• Make Money from driving
• Have a flat stomach in 3 months
• Fight back against hair loss
• Cash from your Camcorder
• How to win the UK Lottery
• Self Hypnosis made easy
• Winning at casinos
• How to obtain a second passport
• Speed reading made easy
• Develop your own super memory
• Your own profitable import agency
• Low capital home business ideas
• Slash your tax bill
• Complain and win every time
• The secrets of mind mapping
• Improve your IQ
• Short story writing for profit
• How to avoid paying parking tickets and speeding fines
• Story Sparks plot ideas for creative writing
• Convert used cooking oil to run a 6kw silent diesel generator (God I'd buy that myself!)
• Tax tips for the Self employed
• Make money at home with cake decorating
• Earn £100s per week using your digital camera
• Live on farmland without planning permission
• Glamour nude wedding photography
• Make a million from hypnosis
• Pyschology for beginners
• How to make money while you sleep
• Learn Spray tanning
• How to earn from life coaching
• How to remove gold from computer boards
• How to spray paint your car
• How to make £1000 in 1 week
• How to get laid 365+ times a year using hypnotic techniques
• How to write an ebokk in under 1hr
• A Traders guide to self discipline
• How to make $385 in one day using Ebay

King Human

   I've mentioned Avril Harper a lot on this forum. Other than Avril another Internet Biz Opp spin merchant that I like to follow is a Youtube Vlogger called "King Human". As per Avril I have a strong suspicion that much of his posts are there to promote Clickbank links. Apart from that though there are occasional gems and points of interest. One of his recent posts of interest was regarding his system for the Antiquarian Book business:

1) Go to Ebay - Books - Antiquarian & Collectable
2) Go to completed listings under £1000.
3) Find a Sold item with > 10 bids
4) Trawl the net to find that product at 50% or less of the Ebay sold price

This system sounds stupid but in his vid he shows how many books selling on Ebay can be had elsewhere, for example Abe Books, at half the price.

I pay more tax than Starbucks!

Dear uncommonadvice@googlemail.com,

We initiated a transfer to your current account (ending in 771) in the amount of £29.05 on 16/10/2012.

Rebel Bookseller

   Further to my review of "Kingdom of Books", I thought I would write a few words about "Rebel Bookseller" by Andrew Laties.

   The blurb on the back of the book would lead me to believe that it was right up my street - "Everything you wanted to know about the book business but were afraid to ask. Even I, after 40 years of writing, found this an eye-opener. Publishing, bookselling, 'should I open my own bookstore' it's all in this entertaining, biting book - Eric Carle".

   My problem with this book is the over detail. If it was 60 pages less I'd probably have been more taken. The author goes into such florid descriptions of the past that we probably end up knowing what he had for Breakfast on every day of his blinking career. He also drops more names than a Chinese phone book. The unfortunate thing as that I, as someone with no knowledge of the American Publishing industry, haven't got a clue who he has just name-checked. He writes in a conversational style - the only problem is that the conversation he is having is with Hank Wittenberger, the ex-CEO of some long defunct American Bookstore Chain.

   At 33, I am young enough to have been caught up in the 5-minute attention span-Youtube-Youporn era. I need short and to-the-point chapters, infographics, bullet points, website back-up and audio. If the written word hasn't grabbed my attention by the end of the first page of each chapter then forget it. Sad but true.

   If anyone reads the whole of  "Rebel Bookseller" and can summarise it down to one cue card then please get in touch.

Richard Booth - My Kingdom of Books

   I recently sold my copy of Richard Booth's "My Kingdom of Books" on Amazon. As I wrapped it up to send I was reminded what an absolutely fascinating life is described within its pages.

   In a nutshell Richard Booth started selling the dusty tomes from his family's bookshelves in the backwater (and I can say that as a regular visitor) of Hay and Wye in the Welsh Marches. As his business grew he started to go far and wide buying job lots of books. His ever increasing stock pile meant he had to find more premises and he even invented the "Honesty Bookshop" where books are stacked up outside with a tin box for donations alongside. Over time other booksellers gravitated towards Hay. Today it is a thriving rural community - and an excellent place to visit. Richard began to know as much about developing rural towns as he did about selling books. Many of the views he puts forward in the book are the same sort of things that Mary Portas tells the government and big firms (for a fee) nowadays. Keep it local, keep it friendly but professional, bigger doesn't always mean better.

  I'd recommend this book to anyone looking to get started in the second hand book business or even anyone interested in how business can thrive away from the crack-riddled drug dens of the inner M25.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Booth

I'm an Amazonian...

Dear uncommonadvice@googlemail.com,

We initiated a transfer to your bank account (last three digits 771) of £28.90 on 11/09/2012.

Recent Amazon Cash

   Amazon rolls along. Here is my two most recent receivings:

Dear uncommonadvice@googlemail.com,

We initiated a transfer to your bank account (last three digits 771) of £8.55 on 14/08/2012.

Dear uncommonadvice@googlemail.com,

We initiated a transfer to your bank account (last three digits 771) of £21.85 on 21/08/2012.

The Amazon Cash keeps rolling in

Dear uncommonadvice@googlemail.com,

We initiated a transfer to your bank account (last three digits 771) of £15.05 on 07/08/2012.

Amazon Sales

Back on the horse with ASDA sales. £20 odd in the last fortnight. Aim is 3 months of £100+

"Dear uncommonadvice@googlemail.com,

We initiated a transfer to your bank account (last three digits 771) of £29.31 on 31/07/2012."