One of the things I love best about ebay is being able to buy books at a good price.  Because I am a book nut, I often find myself looking for a book online, in bookstores, and at second-hand shops.  Some of the more difficult to find books almost always turn up on ebay.  The more I looked, however, the more I noticed some were not quite the bargains they appeared to be.  Lets take a look at what you can look for online in order to find that book you want at a price you can be most pleased with.

Condition of the book

Books come in several conditions. New books should be without any damage or markings. Used books may range from perfect condition to barely readable.  Be sure to ask your seller questions about the condition of the book before you bid if it is not described in the listing.  Often times older copies (not collectible) and those with some damage are cheaper and just as readable as a shiny new copy.  If a bent cover is no big deal to you, look for those that are used.  But if you want to give the book as a gift or add it to a collection, new is a better choice.

Price of the book

Almost every book has a "list" price.  The publisher sets this price and it is often found printed on the cover.  Many ads offer a great book at a fantastic, below list price.  Check to see if the book is new, used, damaged, etc before you jump onto that "great price".  Also factor in the shipping charges.  I have seen several books that list for 7.99 on a bookseller's web site and then they are listed at a 4.98 "buy it now" price on ebay.  The difference was that the shipping on the ebay offer was 5.95.  Also watch for books that are listed at higher than list price.  If that book is rare, or special in some way that might be a true bargain, however, if its just the run-of-the-mill paperback, well, you might be better off looking for another copy later.  You can use the ISBN number to find out what the book listed for when issued that number using other web browsers or book sites.  Hardbacks are more expensive than paperbacks as a general rule.  So seeing a hardback book for 21.00 is not our of the question, but I would wonder about a run-of-the-mill paperback at that price.  Check out what they are selling for new so you can see if you are getting a bargain, or if you are getting ripped off.

Shipping

Most ebayers know that shipping a book (or other approved media) is cheaper than shipping the equivalent in weight in another product (ie: shoes, toys, etc).  Most sellers factor in the cost of packing materials, insurance, the cost of going to the shipper, etc.  So to expect a slight markup over the base media mail rate is acceptable. However, paying 12.00 shipping for one small paper back is not normally reasonable for domestic shipping.  Also watch for sellers that ship one book for 5.95 and each additional book in the same package for the same amount.  Although it is not against the rules to do that, many other sellers on ebay offer shipping discounts.  These discounts can really save you lots of money if you are buying several books at one time from the same seller.  Hardbacks, odd sized books and sets weigh more, so expect shipping to be more for those types of items too!

Shipping packages.

Some ship in boxes, others ship in envelopes.  Envelopes do not offer the same protection as would a box.  Generally the envelope method is perfectly acceptable for paperbacks, and other non-collectibles.  If you are unsure, email the buyer before you bid.  Many buyers are happy to work with you if you prefer one style of package over another.  Also, ask the seller if they "pad" the boxes with newspaper, bubble wrap, etc.  These fillers can help protect your books from being damaged in transit.

Insurance

Are you spending .14 on a book thats worth 500.00? Or are you spending .14 on a book thats worth two bucks?  Insurance for your shipments is an option, however, it may cost more to insure the item than its actually worth. Some sellers require insurance, others dont even offer it.  I dont buy insurance on books unless the value of the book, or the amount of the purchase is more than 20.00. 

Finding the book you want on ebay

Sometimes the search is as easy as typing in the title or author, you have to be creative to find it.  You may search all catagories and select the "search description and title" box below the text box for searching.  You may even browse subject and have luck.  I like to check back after a couple days if the book I want isn't listed.  People list thousands of books every day, so its bound to pop up sometime. I also search stores for the book as well.  I have had wonderful luck with that so far.

Well, thats about all the wisdom I have on buying a book on ebay.  I love finding the stuff I want, new and used, at bargain prices, books especially.  So the next time you see me lounging in the hammock, sitting in the park, or maybe even at lunch with my nose in a book, you can bet I got it on ebay!