How to Auction Books on eBay
Whether you want to auction some of your own used books, or have a side business selling books, eBay is the place to do it. Buy and read a book and get some of your money back by selling it to someone else, who is also a winner because they get a good deal. Selling on eBay is easy because eBay walks you through the whole process.
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Things You'll Need
- eBay account
- PayPal account
- Credit or debit card
- Digital camera
- Packing supplies
Instructions
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How to Auction Books on eBay
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1
Assess your personal book selection if you plan on selling your own used books. Don't put very worn or ragged books up for auction. Even if you are clear about the condition in your description, it's not worth the risk of a buyer being unhappy and leaving you negative feedback.
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2
Take photos of your books. Use natural light and turn off the flash because the flash can create glare on a book cover. Books can be sold individually, or as a group in a single genre.. Lots can be photographed fanned out so buyers can see the overall condition. Download the photos to your computer and pick the best and clearest ones.
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Create an eBay account if you don't already have one. Simply sign into the eBay website and let the system walk you through the process. You will need a PayPal account to sell, because that is how they charge you for listing fees.
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Create a PayPal account. While not mandatory for eBay selling, it greatly increases your chances of sales since many people prefer the convenience of PayPal. You will need a credit or debit card to have on file for PayPal.
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Click on "sell" once you're on eBay. It is a very easy step by step procedure. If you get stuck, go to the eBay forums and search topics for your issue. The forums are extremely busy and helpful. The system will prompt you to put in the ISBN number, which is found on the copyright page in the front of the book. This will bring up a detailed publisher's description of the book contents. Discard the stock photo of the book that is shown automatically by clicking "delete this picture" and upload your own photo of the book. If you don't do this, be sure to point out in the description that the photo is not what the buyer will get, but a stock photo of the new book. If you are selling many books in the same genre, skip this step and enter a brief synopsis of each book in your description.
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Write an honest and detailed description. Mention any flaws, describe the condition of the cover, the spine and the pages. A personal note about how much you enjoyed the book doesn't hurt.
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Browse eBay and look at items similar to yours to get an idea of what books are selling for, and how much more experienced sellers are charging for shipping and handling. Don't forget to account for packaging supplies like padded envelopes, wrapping paper, boxes and tape. Decide how you want to ship your books. Media mail is a little slower but usually the most economical option and is used by most booksellers. Visit the USPS website and look over their shipping choices.
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Decide if you want to have a "Buy It Now" choice, where a buyer can bypass the bidding process and buy the book directly for a higher price. This option disappears when there are any bids on the book. Many buyers like this and you can get a little extra for the book. Be aware that buyers using this option may buy right after you list the book and during the ten day bidding process, which can mean more trips to the post office since it's advisable to ship items as soon as possible after payment has been made.
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Communicate with your buyers and potential buyers. eBay will notify you of any questions regarding your item and you will be notified when they have sold. Promptly acknowlege receipt of funds and answer questions.
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Tips & Warnings
Use the eBay forums and help pages. They are extremely helpful and will answer many of your questions.
Buying large bundles of padded envelopes at an office supply store is the most economical way to package, unless you plan on using boxes or paper grocery sacks to mail books. Always wrap and tape very securely.
Decide if you want to offer international shipping. It can be very expensive so research postage costs carefully before agreeing to ship internationally.
