How To Kill It As A Book Flipper?

11 years ago

Originally Posted by justlukeyou

Hi,

I have been flipping used books for two months and it has gone well. However I went out yesterday and did quite poorly. If I sell all the book I will probably make $75.

Can anyone recommend any systems which make it easier to get hold of used books.

For example I have heard of one where you go on to college campuses and offer to buy students used books however I think they will want a good price for them if they are bought in person.

have you tried thrift shops they have really cheap books I get somw of my reference material from threr

Thanks

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justlukeyou

11 years ago

Charity shops are first source of supply but at best they will only have 1 or 2 profitable books.

Thanks

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salegurus

11 years ago

Originally Posted by justlukeyou

Hi, If I sell all the book I will probably make $75.

You've been on this Book thing for quite a while now and judging by your posts you are still struggling.
Looks like you are putting in much more time and money into sourcing your inventory than what it's worth.
Sometimes you just have to cut your losses...

Anyway...
What about setting up a website where you offer to buy used books from people?
They list the books and you make an offer accordingly, it seems to work for Gold buyers...

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

― George Carlin

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justlukeyou

11 years ago

Originally Posted by salegurus

You've been on this Book thing for quite a while now and judging by your posts you are still struggling.
Looks like you are putting in much more time and money into sourcing your inventory than what it's worth.
Sometimes you just have to cut your losses...

Anyway...
What about setting up a website where you offer to buy used books from people?
They list the books and you make an offer accordingly, it seems to work for Gold buyers...

Wouldn't say I was struggling. Made $190 in first full month and $1125 in my second month.

I went into a library last weekend and a college tutor donated a trolley full of quality books as he was retiring. I still have around $6000 books left to sell.

But I went out yesterday and it was terrible..

Thanks
2 replies

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JohnMcCabe

11 years ago

Originally Posted by justlukeyou

Wouldn't say I was struggling. Made $190 in first full month and $1125 in my second month.

I went into a library last weekend and a college tutor donated a trolley full of quality books as he was retiring. I still have around $6000 books left to sell.

But I went out yesterday and it was terrible..

Pardon my French, but shit happens. Some days, you're the pigeon. On others, you're the statue.

Learn to deal with it.

Then consider the suggestion salegurus made. That's what I was going to suggest, too.

Edit: It's been a couple of decades, but back when I was in college, the campus bookstore bought used textbooks for half of the original price. If the book is slated to be used in the next term, you'll have to beat that price to pick anything up.

[ 1 ] Thanks

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Paul200

11 years ago

Originally Posted by justlukeyou

Wouldn't say I was struggling. Made $190 in first full month and $1125 in my second month.

I went into a library last weekend and a college tutor donated a trolley full of quality books as he was retiring. I still have around $6000 books left to sell.

But I went out yesterday and it was terrible..

In the sales game its never consistent.

I have been in the sales game for a very long time and I mean more than 10 years. Although I dont sell goods I sell memberships but it is the same kinda of thing. One day I can make well over £500 the next I can make £40 I think you need to look at your sales over a few weeks or over a month and not on a daily basis.
Dont be disheartned cause you have had a few bad days it happens in sales and it happens to the top sales people to. Sales is a numbers game so if you truly think that you can carry on and are making a decent profit overall, forget about the bad days and think about the good days. Every new day is a new opportunity to make more £££

Thanks

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justlukeyou

11 years ago

There is a company called ThriftBooks which is expanding rapidly but Im not totally sure how they work.

If I tried to buy peoples books wouldn't they become suspicious and check the prices themselves?

Thanks
1 reply

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JohnMcCabe

11 years ago

Originally Posted by justlukeyou

If I tried to buy peoples books wouldn't they become suspicious and check the prices themselves?

A few would. Most wouldn't.

Listing a single book or three is too much work, if they even knew the option existed for individuals.

Someone mentioned the "used gold" people. That might be a good model to study. In particular, they make it really easy for people.

> List your stuff you want to sell.
> Get an estimate (what you as the buyer would be willing to pay).
> Ask for the mailer.
> Send in the stuff.
> Get paid.

Easy-peasy for the seller. Some gold buyers even skip the first two steps, and people still load their valuables into the envelope and send them in.

Thanks
1 reply

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justlukeyou

11 years ago

Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe

A few would. Most wouldn't.

Listing a single book or three is too much work, if they even knew the option existed for individuals.

Someone mentioned the "used gold" people. That might be a good model to study. In particular, they make it really easy for people.

> List your stuff you want to sell.
> Get an estimate (what you as the buyer would be willing to pay).
> Ask for the mailer.
> Send in the stuff.
> Get paid.

Easy-peasy for the seller. Some gold buyers even skip the first two steps, and people still load their valuables into the envelope and send them in.

Hi,

Im not totally sure what you mean. 98% of used books sell for 1p on Amazon. I want a system which avoids me receiving boxes full of useless books.

How can I get hold of quality books?

Thanks
1 reply

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JohnMcCabe

11 years ago

Originally Posted by justlukeyou

Hi,

Im not totally sure what you mean. 98% of used books sell for 1p on Amazon. I want a system which avoids me receiving boxes full of useless books.

How can I get hold of quality books?

I forgot you are in the UK. Sorry about that, chief...

There are several US outfits that buy used gold through the mail. Some of them will ask you to either list the items you want to sell or send photos/video. They'll estimate what the pieces are worth and give the prospect a ballpark estimate "pending physical inspection." They even provide a mailer to send the pieces in.

Others will simply send the mailer, and the terms specify that you will be paid the amount the gold buyer offers. If you don't like it, too bad.

For books, the second approach would not work, obviously. You don't want a warehouse full of useless books. But asking people to fill out an online form with the title, edition, condition, etc. might work. You then check for the possible sale price. If you can make money on it, make them an offer that lets you realize your profit. If you can't, you just tell them you don't need this title at this time.

If they accept your offer, make sure you condition it on physical inspection. I know from trying to buy a car that one person's idea of "like new" can be very different than mine.

Again, I'm not familiar with things in the UK, but in the US even the books you can't sell are worth something if you have enough of them. You could possibly receive at least part of your money back selling paper by the ton to recycling companies.

Thanks

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Randy Bishop

Banned 11 years ago

[DELETED]

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justlukeyou

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Randy Bishop

you won't "kill it" doing things as shameful and financially redundant as "book flipping"

find something else to do

why is "hameful and financially redundant".

There is a large community of people doing this on YouTube from clothes throughout solid gold.

I dont understand your point.

Thanks

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Randy Bishop

Banned 11 years ago

[DELETED]

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justlukeyou 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Randy Bishop

and you never will...

When I want a book, I instantly think AMAZON.COM

this is why you fail

Um, I sell them on Amazon.
- Thanks
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Diice

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Randy Bishop

and you never will...

When I want a book, I instantly think AMAZON.COM

this is why you fail

---------

EDIT: After reading this, I realize that you are a BS'er and I no longer wish to engage with a mere miscreant such as yourself.

Well aren't you a pleasant little man.

I say little because you clearly have little man syndrome.

Thanks

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travlinguy 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Randy Bishop

you won't "kill it" doing things as shameful and financially redundant as "book flipping"

find something else to do

Shameful? financially redundant? Book flipping can be a very lucrative business model. I once made a nice living doing it.
- Thanks
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- Randy Bishop Banned 11 years ago
  
  [DELETED]
  
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  travlinguy 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Randy Bishop
  
  If bookflipping is so lucrative, why would you stop? The repo-man kept calling?
  
  No. Nothing like that. But thanks for asking. I had cancer and spent all of 2006 getting well. When I was able to function again the following year I bought and sold books. Did very well with it, as I've said. Moved on since then. Good luck to you.
  
  Thanks
  
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justlukeyou

11 years ago

Thanks,

I just need a regular way of getting stock. I have been watching a lot of YouTube cideos but they dont seem to have the items I can resell here in the UK. Only books. Im struggling to deversify.

I did sell a few coffee mugs for profit but only around 20% and they are messy to deal with.

Thanks

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Nigel Love

11 years ago

Open a store. Offer people 1 book if they give you 3.

Thanks
1 reply

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justlukeyou 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Nigel Love

Open a store. Offer people 1 book if they give you 3.

Used book shops are closing in there droves.
- Thanks
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Nigel Love

11 years ago

coffee shop/bookstore?

Thanks

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justlukeyou

11 years ago

Hi im going to set up a simple website which people can submit their books to and promote it locally. Should be cheap and easy.

I emailed a number of college's and they done them to betterworldbooks - quite a simple business model

Thanks

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JamesBorg

11 years ago

Title made me think of swatting flies.

I have no experience in the book market, but have you tried selling them as bundles on eBay? Can't be worse than those on eBay selling bundles of public-domain books on CDs, and they seem to be squeezing out a profit somehow (assuming we're not witnessing protracted stupidity on their part).

Thanks

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justlukeyou

11 years ago

Im doing fine selling on Amazon. Made $1273 in September. But my target for October is $600.

The hard part is continuously finding books. I want people to approach me offering to sell their books to me. There are a number of sites doing this but I will collect the books also locally.

Thanks
1 reply

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JamesBorg 11 years ago

http://www.gumtree.com/search?q=book...egory=freebies

You could also try a local flier campaign.
- Thanks
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Randy Bishop

Banned 11 years ago

[DELETED]

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Diice

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Randy Bishop

I hope you see why this doesnt work, and why this is an unsustainable revenue stream... Even if you claim that this is just a hobby, those paltry figures do nothing accept prove what a mistake/failure that this "book flipping" venture has been for you

Get a job!

You remind me of my late Father.

Thanks
1 reply

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bengirwb 11 years ago

If I wanted to flip books, I'd forget the internet. Takes too much time to find customers.
My focus would be on used paperbacks. There are companies that will sell a bunch of books for about 20 cents ago. Pick your genre like mystery, romance, etc.
Then I'd get a folding table to go to a nearby weekend flea market. Sell the books for $1 each.
No fooling around with deciding book value, shipping costs, etc.
- Thanks
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QuickDraw007

11 years ago

Ebay for sure. Here are a couple of perfect examples:
A Harlequin Romance 50's 60's 70's Vintage Romance Book Lot 389 Books Amazing | eBay

Harlequin Romance Book Lot 158 Books in Total Great Set | eBay

Both of those book lots are selling for less than a dollar, but the books themselves sell on ebay for $3-$4 per at least. Finding something like that would be your best bet imo. Going to book people for books is asking to get overcharged imo

Thanks

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QuickDraw007

11 years ago

Also learn how to identify first editions, if you can score some popular first edition Dr. Suess like the foot, etc you can get a nice pop

Thanks

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NewParadigm

11 years ago

You will never make much money flipping books. Never. The transaction costs are too high per book.

Sell stuff in demand with higher price points. Like mobile phones. Increasingly people are getting phone upgrade fever sooner than their 2 yr contracts and need to sell phones.

Many people will not take the time to list them on ebay/craigslist because they don't want to mail the phone and trust getting payment, or meet with some stranger.

Make it convenient, and immediate cash and you'll get deals on phones, then you can list them.

Thanks

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