Hello,

I have been a member of Ebay since July 13, 2002.

When I first started selling on Ebay I would sell almost anything. I was one of those cases in which "One persons junk is another persons treasure!" applied. Well, I was up to my neck in "Treasures", and I had to clear them out, so Ebay was my choice.

I must admit that I was really surprised how easy it was to get registered and on to business with Ebay. I just followed the step by step instructions and was in business in record time!

I did good at getting rid of a lot of "Stuff", although what I thought was one of my treasures, a lot of Ebayers refused to bid a penny on. It has been a real learning experience.

I happened to go to an estate sale one weekend and I picked up a Nancy Drew book entitled: "Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase" - 1930's edition. I had no idea then of what it was to do research on a book, so I slapped it on Ebay for .99 cents.

I don't think it was on a day and I received a question from a potential buyer.

They asked me the following questions:

1. - What color is the design on the inside and back covers?

2. - What color is Nancy Drews Shadow on the Dust Jacket?

3. - What is the name of the third book written by Carolyn Keen listed next to the introductory page?

4. - What was the advertisment on the last page?

5. - What condition was this book in?

Well, I immediately became suspicious and pulled the book off Ebay - it was then I learned what the word "Research" meant.

I found valuable resourses in book sites such as Biblio, Alibris, Amazon and even Google.

The best site I have found yet is "Abebooks". They have thousands of books listed and all you have to do is type in the Author, Title, and in the "Keyword" box, type "First Edition" or the year the book was published. Your book will pop up and give you a general idea of what it is worth, so you can establish a price on Ebay. Sometimes you will be shocked at the price and realize that you have a real treasure to list on Ebay.

I have even typed the title and author in Ebay's Search to see if other sellers have the same book for sale and what they are charging.

Anyway, to get back to my first experience, I ended up finding that this book was a First Edition and also I found the same book listed on Ebay by another seller for $75.00. I was shocked, to say the least. So, I ended up re-listing my Nancy Drew Book for $25.00 on a Ten day listing. Believe me, it ended up selling for a lot more than $25.00!

I was now going to be a book seller.

If you are planning on becoming a Book Seller on Ebay, here are a few suggestions:

Research, Research and Research! Have a general idea what your book in worth before you list it on Ebay, or else you will end up shorting yourself once that price turns green. I usually research three (3) books at a time so I don't get "Research Fatigue".

Describe the book in detail - What condition is it in? Does it have any stains? Is the binding tight along with the pages? Are the boards worn? (Boards are the front and back hard covers, something else I learned through research.) Is it a First Edition? Is it signed by the Author?

Be as honest with your buyers as you would want another Ebay Seller to be with you. If the book is stained, state it in your description. If the boards are worn, state that also.

Photos do a world of good by showing the buyer the condition of the book and its contents. I sometimes scan up to three (3) or four (4) pictures of one book to show the condition it is in and how stunning the layout is. Buyers are impressed by this effort, and it pays off in the end.

Now we come to the final step in selling books and that is charging shipping and handling.

I have made it a policy of mine to never over-charge on shipping. I have a small scale and whatever the weight is, that is what I charge for postage. I don't even consider a "Handling" charge. I sell books on Ebay because I enjoy it, not because I want to charge some poor buyer money for me picking up a book and sliding it in an envelope! 

I have had the experience of being ripped-off on postage in the past and I don't think anything can get my blood boiling more that to see a .99 item listed on Ebay with a Shipping fee of $7.50!

I hoped this "Blog" has helped anyone who is planning on selling books on Ebay. I have certainly enjoyed writing it.

Mr.Carmine G. Petti

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