Book dealers urged to abandon Amazon, eBay and AbeBooks
Guy Weller over at the Bookshop Blog has some advice for those who use Amazon, eBay and AbeBooks to list their used and rare books: Take a hike!
If independent booksellers don't do something soon, "we are likely to find ourselves doomed as an industry segment" Well says.
What's the answer? Booksellers should develop their own Web sites and forge partnerships with networks that will produce direct sales without charging commissions.
Labels: collectible books
posted by Steve Weber at 10/26/2007
5 Comments:
Hi there Steve,
I don't think Mr. Weller has ever advocated leaving the large sellers such as Amazon and Abe. They can be a very useful partner especially in the realm of advertising. We regularly have visitors in our shop that 'discovered' us on Abe and the like. What he advises is to - at least- lessen their overall power by using other networks and using these networks to direct potential buyers to your own web presence.
Thanks so much for giving the matter some attention.
Thanks for the correction, Bruce, I must have gotten carried away ;0)
Steve
About a year late.
Last year at this time AZ had the Great Collectible Book Purge of 2006.
There is minimal complaint now mostly from newbies. AZ is composed of mostly people who have read books on bookselling and should have supplemented the radin with a book on business operation and marketing techniques [although main vendors control that faucet.]
There was no major outcry over the $10 minimum or Jacket Price [whichever is greater], must be 'unique'[subjective/objective] and a list of other arbitraries.
Collectible books on AZ are being treated like coins or vintage hardware. Though this would be debatable, an Ex-Library book can be collectible [or valuable] if it meets certain criteria. The list far exceeds the 1/2 dozen restrictions AZ has placed. Also, the fact on reprints Jacket Prices may go up or down, there is no respect for "original" jacket price.
This has been done in the name of giving buyers greater benefit. But, looking behind the scenes there appears to have been pressure from high-end & antiquarian booksellers. These make up few of the sales though each unit would have a high figure. After the purging I saw no benfit to the customers whatsoever, I saw items in Collectible categories shoot through the roof.
I won't go near the "fact" that doing this is "price-fixing" and "collusion", not having an attorney in my family. [look up what Wikipedia has to say]
I had a drop in my sales of 30%+ after the change. My fictions are all 1st Edition 1st Print, in as close to new condition, and at times Autographed. There are markets for other than 100 year old antiquarian books that perform better if unrestricted. The Collectible section should have a criteria - sticking to the description and "must be described"[not just 10 words].
Bookateria
I love buying and selling books, but I am a very, very small seller. I have no desire to be really big as I have other things I enjoy doing also. I would be very interested in finding a place to sell my books that didn't charge as much or were free to list books for sale. If anyone knows of such sites I would love to hear from you.
I am unconvinced about Mr. Weller's charge to greater independence. Such a move makes no sense to me and my current business practices. But I welcome such a discussion.
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