This guide is to help people sell a specific genre of book/cd/etc.
Also, sell products you enjoy having around as well knowing it will benefit those that buy from you.

Now, most of the books I sell deal with Spirituality, Religion, Metaphysics, Self-Help, Philosophy, and Psychology. I started selling childrens books recently, so I am learning from them.

Areas to buy from

1. Garage sells. I look for books that are less than a dollor ($1.00). Childrens books have to be way cheaper.  If I am able to buy a whole lot of books, I ask if they can come down on the price, since I am taking the majority off their hands quickly. Go early to as many garage sells as you can.

2. Library Book Sell. My local library has a book sell almost every three-five months. They sell old library books as well as donated books. I'm always calling to see when the next one is so I can have at least $50 on hand. When I go, I am one of the first there, this last time, there were over 20 people waiting to get in! Majoity of the books are sold for $0.50 and $1.00. I go directly to the topics I am interested in and start grabbing books, as well as audio books and movies, since they sell for so cheap. I make at least three good sweeps over all the books there before I leave. The last time I was there I bought 70 bks and audio tapes for less then $50. From what I sold in the next two weeks I made over $300. Good investment if you ask me!

3. Used Book Stores. Where I live there isn't much for good used book stores. I live directly between Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi, so every so often I go down to the book stores there (not telling you which ones though) and rumage through their clearance sections. I do not buy books for over $1.00 here as well.

4. eBay Auctions - I have bought four different bulk lots (over 1000 books) in the past year. The first was a good 10hr drive away, but helped me stock up on some really good used books. The rest have been childrens books. Now with childrens books they have to be in good to great/excellent condition or I wont sell them (wouldn't buy them either). Sell as if you were giving them to your own kids! I usually look at a variety of lots, which are close to where I live, and see what I can spend on them.

Same thing with single bks/cds, or small lots. Look to see what other items the seller has and see if they combine shipping. I have been able to buy books and cds for very cheap rates and resell them for a bit higher price.

5. Estate sells - I haven't bought any Estate sells yet I know they are out there. Higher price yet something to look into.

When Selling Online

When I sell online I take a good part of the time to check if other people are selling the same item. I check to see if it is in ebay store or auction as well as see what the lowest price is. I also check the "Completed" link of a product to see how other items like the one I'm selling faired in being sold from other sellers.

If a book is being sold through another eBay store, I try and beat their price by a few cents. I rather have my listing (inventory) sell for a lower rate then others rather than sitting on the shelf while other sellers are selling that item at a lower cost. It also depends on the cost you bought it for as well. I look to make 100% profit from a listing. Remember, you can make a small amount off of the postage, so take that into account (more info on postage bleow). For instance: I buy a book for $1.00. Another seller is selling that book for $4.00 in their eBay Store with their shipping at $4.00. Depending on a varity of factors I will more and likely place it in my store for $4.50 w/ postage at $3.00.

I try and put myself in the frame of mind that I am only a buyer, for at least that one product. I would shop around, check details (which is important as well), check quality and check the total price (combined actual cost and postage cost). I look for the cheapest price in most cases.

Also, if your listing is in your eBay store and has been there for a good two months or longer, check out other sellers listings for that book. At the time of me listing a certain book, I had the cheapest rate, yet after a few months, one or two other sellers placed the same item up for a lower price, so I had to go in and adjust some prices. For me, it's about turning over the product, whethr for a big or little profit, as long as the item sells, I find peace in that!

Details: Like I mentioned above, having detailed information about a listing is good to have. Information about the quality of the book as well as information about the book itself is great to have if none is given in Information that is given by eBay. If I have a used book that has slight wear on cover I will sell it a lot cheaper than someone selling a new copy. For me, if I want a book, it depends on exactly what I want that book for. If I am going to keep it, I look for a higher quality, if I'm just going to read it and resell it, I look for a lower quality. yet, most of what I buy I just resell, usually reading a few here and there.

There have been a few books and cds that I have had that wouldn't have sold even if I had it listed for $0.01. With these books and cd's I usually pile them in the corner and wait a good month before looking to see if they would be sellable. If not, I usually place a number of books and cd's in a lot and sell them that way. Might not sell as much but it's all about rolling the money into buying more products.

Postage. When I first started I was sending off books at regualr mail rates. Little did I know there was a Media rate, which you can send books, cds, movies, and the likes for a cheaper rate through the mail. Now, most of the time the post office will say that it will take longer to get to the destination, yet, depending on the season, majoity of books I've sent have gotten there within a seven day period.

I have a flate posted postage rate of $3.00 per single book/cd I sell. Media rate usually isn't that much for a single book. usally between $1.30 to $2.07, depending on size of book. The extra money made from the postage saved usually goes to the expense cost of listing on ebay as well as Paypal fees. I also give a discount on two or more books bought. If someone buys a lot of books from me I usually give them an even bigger discount. Also, addtional amount from postage can be totaled into your profit of the book.

Overseas shipping. I usually send off surface mail, which is cheaper to mail and cheaper for the buyer. Same thing with time, the postoffie will say 3-5 weeks when I have received emails from overseas custoners within two weeks. There was one time a book lot took two months to get there, yet it was close to Christmas

Doing what you Like

Also, you must enjoy what you sell. I use to have a store front years ago, now I sell strickly off eBay with looks to the future of reopening my storefront. I sell books and music I know will enhance anothers life. I enjoy knowing a buyer is buying a book that will help them in their path in life, whether for spiritual growth or gained knowledge. For the childrens books, I'm glad to know some kid out there is going to enjoy reading books their parents bought for them. Or knowing a teacher bough them for her class.

Also, when buying bulk lots to resell, be sure to donate some to your local library or school. this is a small way I can give back.