Is It Worth It To Sell Used Books On Amazon

I am quite sure you are having mixed feelings about selling books on Amazon. You must have read some good things, and you are thinking, is it really good as it sounds? Will I really be making such success as the others are experiencing just from selling used books on Amazon? Well, from my experience, all I can say is, it is possible.

In my case, I have been wondering all around the internet looking out for any opportunity I can lay my hands on to make some extra bucks to get going in life. From the moment I stumbled upon the webinar on selling books online and right on the call, I decided to invest in this business without looking behind.

I didn’t even have the complete investment for the online sourcing platform, but I was able to strike a deal with the owner of the program to pay in installments. Just only if you can see where I am coming from.

In my position, I didn’t have any second thought because I have tried so many things online, and the bookselling opportunity was so easy to run that I said to myself it’s worth trying.

I didn’t even border about the fact that I was not based in the United States. I was busy traveling around the World, and I didn’t get to mind some of the difficulties international sellers face, like handling the purchased books, and making sure all was good with the books before selling them. But I was all in, and within a few days, I had my account settled, and before I knew it was already an “Amazon Prime Seller.”

Well, it was that easy for me to decide about selling books on Amazon, however, in your case, I am sure you must need some additional confirmation. It is wise of you to feel the depth of the waters before stepping in.

Well, as for me and until this day, I have never regretted the decision I made to start selling books on Amazon. Not just because of the income I am making but for the fact that it has been the best extra income I have ever made online just spending about 3 hours every day to run my book business.

What’s good about it for me,

I have never touched even one of the thousands of books I have sold on Amazon. Not to talk on the fact that I have also never seen a single book I have sold physically except for the picture of the book when I am purchasing the book. Isn’t it amazing?

The process is quite simple for me even for the fact that I am traveling all across Asia and the rest of the World and still being able to monitor and run my book business.

The most exciting fact about this business is the freedom it brings. All I need is my laptop and an internet connection to spend a few hours buying books online. Even in any rare scenario, my laptop is taking from me, the book business is in a way on autopilot once you have bought the books you need to sell.

This is because Amazon takes care of everything, including the packing and delivery of your sales.

Here is why it is very easy for me,

As an international bookseller, I can only source my books online. Well, as for me, I believe it is somehow good for me since it made it possible for me not to see or touch any textbooks since my days in the Universities. Sometimes I envy US-based sellers for the fact that they can source books from Thrift Stores, garage sales, library sales, and even yard sales. 

I must say it is an added advantage for local book sellers to source more books to send into Amazon and sell them for some huge profits.

It is possible to even find books through such events for as low as some few cents, which are “hot cakes” and selling on Amazon at a very high price.

But luckily enough, Amazon, which is known to be the “book ocean,” makes it possible for us international sellers to fish out good quality books to buy and resell as Prime members.

But for you reading this post, and if you are based in the US, what is stopping you from starting your own book business today?

With all the endless opportunity US base sellers have over international sellers. Even if you are busy enough to go out there and source books to sell, you can spend an hour or two every day to source books online, buy and ship them into Amazon and start making sales.

As for me here is how it works,

I will use my online sourcing software to scan available books on Amazon with the possibility to resell with some profit. When I find these opportunities, I will buy the books ship them to a facility in the US, taking care of all my books for a $1 fee per book, and they will prepare my books, create a shipment and ship them over to Amazon.

Amazon will receive the books in their facilities and activate my listings which means, the books are ready to be sold. Amazon then takes care of everything like customer service, and fulfillment after every sale, while I just wait for the profits to be transferred into my bank account

Well, I see, you may be having another question.

You must be wondering how on earth can one buy a book and resell on the same platform and make a profit. Well, it is not rocket science, and it is made possible with the Amazon Prime category.

Here is my own understanding of how.

We live in a World today where everyone wants things fast. Hmm, we all want things right now as the majority of people today are not willing to be patient even with their online shopping. Amazon was quick to realize this problem, and created a category for such people who are willing to pay more for their lack of patience. Amazon even dedicated a day called “Prime Day” to celebrate the anniversary of Amazon Prime.

The “Prime Day” is set for the month of July of every year, and you won’t believe how much sales are made on this day. As for the year 2018, the 16th of July was set for “Prime Day,” and over 100 million products (with books included) were purchased all over the World with a sales revenue surpassing 1 billion dollars within 36 hours.

I believe you can see how loyal these Prime buyers are, and the same goes for books as well. Well, I have decided not to overthink it but decided to have a small cut of the pie.

Another reason why people are willing to pay more is just for the simple fact that, we as human beings, we are so inclined to our sense of belonging. We always want to stand for something. Maybe it is for the belief that “it is better to stand for something than to fall for nothing.”

We see ourselves belonging to a club, a group, organization, and for this time, it is “Amazon Prime,” which is a good thing for us booksellers. Our days are sunny and bright as long as “Amazon Prime” exists.

Today many Amazon customers believe Prime membership is the only way and strive to enjoy all the benefit it comes with it. About 80% of Amazon customers stick and only purchase from “Prime” offers.

On the other hand, some Amazon customers see Prime membership as not just what they need. This is a typical situation with some Amazon sellers for one reason, or another decided to stick as merchant fulfilled sellers providing a space for us booksellers to find books pretty cheap to resell as a prime member.

Here is the most interesting reason,

As for the students, I still can’t understand why, but they always wait until the last minute. This also applies to the purchase of their textbooks. Now, you see where we as prime booksellers come in. Prime is the only way for them to get their books delivered in 2 days, and for that reason, they are willing to pay a higher price.

Here is just how I have managed to understand why prime members are willing to pay a higher price, and the rest is a mystery. I don’t seem to worry much about it, but to worry more about getting my books over to Amazon and make sure when the prime members come knocking, I have something to offer.

But here is the craziest of it all,

Do you know you can even make up to even 300% ROI in some cases? If you do everything right in this business, the will be moments you will be cashing out like crazy and multiplying your investments.

I have seen situations whereby an individual was able to make a 500% ROI from a single book sale. Interesting right? As for me, the minimum I can go for my books these days is a 100% ROI, and the sky is the limit when I spot an opportunity.

As I said earlier, I have never had any regret investing in selling books on Amazon, and I am on a journey to transform my book business into a “cashing” machine.

It is good selling books on Amazon so far, but it is just like any other business.

It was not just “rosy” and “sunny” right from the beginning. You have to go through some tough times and experience the learning curve, which can be difficult. When I started selling books on Amazon, I made a lot of mistakes right from the unset. These are normalities (is this even a word?) for every business.

Just like any other business, it is going to be stressful, challenging and there will be moments you will want to give up, but if you do give up, then you will have to face the reality that business is not for you. Especially when you are getting into a business, you have no previous experience.

If you are a fast and careful learner, it will be fun when you master the bookselling business. Once you have a full understanding of the business, the sky will be your limit.

All I am here to tell you is,

It is possible. You can easily turn the book business into a 5 figure business and even a 7 figure business if you take your time to master the art.

EndNote

Selling books on Amazon can be an excellent decision to make. It is a very easy business to run and master, but you must be able to give up some time to do some research and learn about the business. Selling books online has been good so far with me, and I am no superhuman being and not even close to being a magician.

If your mind is asking you to sell books and you believe in yourself, then you can succeed. Just ask yourself if you are ready to take action? Are you ready to put in the work? These are the questions you need to be asking yourself and what you need to be looking at rather than focusing on the income others have put in the work for.

It all boils down to one thing, The will to do it, and if you believe it, you can make it.