NationStates Jolt Archive

Just browsing for an out-of-print book, and I came across this (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/offer-listing/038075567X/ref=dp_olp_0/104-1585703-4474359?%5Fencoding=UTF8). I've heard people mention getting used books for a cent (plus shipping) but just thought it was bull. So what's the deal? Have any of you ordered a book via Amazon, or other sites, for a cent plus shipping?

Just browsing for an out-of-print book, and I came across this (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/offer-listing/038075567X/ref=dp_olp_0/104-1585703-4474359?%5Fencoding=UTF8). I've heard people mention getting used books for a cent (plus shipping) but just thought it was bull. So what's the deal? Have any of you ordered a book via Amazon, or other sites, for a cent plus shipping?
I've picked up a few off Amazon.co.uk that were a penny, so it probably happens in the 'States as well.

I've picked up a few off Amazon.co.uk that were a penny, so it probably happens in the 'States as well.
Seriously? Wow. It just seems too good to be true. Now to find a site in Canada...

Seriously? Wow. It just seems too good to be true. Now to find a site in Canada...
Seriously.
Mind you, I'm not saying they were all very good books.

Seriously.
Mind you, I'm not saying they were all very good books.
Are you talking about the quality of the writing, or the condition of the books?

And I found the Canadian sites...though there are a lot less available books for 1 cent.

Bad writing. One is a bit tatty, but I've paid more for books off amazon that were in worse condition.

The key is that the "shipping cost" is higher than what it actually costs them to ship it. Of course, they have to pay for labor and packaging too, so they're probably just breaking even, not making a huge profit. This is probably a way for them to unload some of their slow sellers, making room in the warehouse and bringing down their inventory. Happens all the time in retail.

:p

I've won ebay auctions for 1 penny. But as above the shipping made up the difference. They were still good deals but not great as it sounds.

Well it could be legit or it could be the old "handling" fee ploy.


You shift the purchase price over to a handling charge so it appears cheaper.

The key is that the "shipping cost" is higher than what it actually costs them to ship it. Of course, they have to pay for labor and packaging too, so they're probably just breaking even, not making a huge profit. This is probably a way for them to unload some of their slow sellers, making room in the warehouse and bringing down their inventory. Happens all the time in retail.

:p

Isn't that how it always is? You find a good deal but then the seller gets you with the shipping. As if it costs $5 to ship a CD? :rolleyes:

Just browsing for an out-of-print book, and I came across this (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/offer-listing/038075567X/ref=dp_olp_0/104-1585703-4474359?%5Fencoding=UTF8). I've heard people mention getting used books for a cent (plus shipping) but just thought it was bull. So what's the deal? Have any of you ordered a book via Amazon, or other sites, for a cent plus shipping?
yes, and they get you with the agreement that you must keep buying so many books per year inorder to keep your discounts.

Read the fine print before signing anything.

Another solution could be that these are mail-order booksellers bent on expanding their mailing-list. They get rid of their backstock, come even by using a high shipping fee and potentially make future profit because you are a prospective client for regular priced books.

Most sellers on Amazon and eBay don't have warehouses, they are just little sellers out of their homes, like me.

I was under the impression that Amazon set the amount to charge for delivery and that it was the same for all similar items.

I am an eBay seller and yes sometimes I do put items up cheap and add a bit to the delivery. It brings down my costs to eBay to do it that way. Usually these kinds of items I'm just breaking even on, there is no real profit.

I've not sold on Amazon yet, although I'm considering it.

I do know that eBay charges me three times for each thing I sell. I pay a fee to list it. I pay a percentage at the end of the auction. Then, since most use Paypal, I get socked with a third fee from them. In case you didn't know, eBay owns Paypal now.

So please, take into consideration that it's rather difficult to profit on eBay and that moving a dollar or two to shipping costs help to keep us out of the red and really nothing more.

Technically it's against their policies to do that but they aren't enforced and so I've had to resort to that to make sales since most people don't seem to be able to add the price of the product to the shipping charge to know the true total. IOW if I list something for three dollars and the others list for a dollar and add two to shipping, their item sells and mine doesn't. That forces me to do what they do and list it for a dollar.

I've both sold and bought a few books on Amazon for 1p (plus postage). They were all used paperbacks. When selling myself, I always rationalised that it was best to sell the thing for virtually nothing (since if other people were selling it for that price, no one was going to buy it from me) but at least make a couple of quid on postage.