Step-by-Step Guide: How to Sell Used Books on Amazon

Looking for a simple but effective way of selling books online? Selling on Amazon is the best option for people who need to get exposure to the vast audience base of this marketplace. On top of that, Amazon allows sellers to feature various types of books under multiple conditions. You can list the book in simple steps, set the price, and earn immediately. However, selling books on Amazon can be overwhelming for new sellers. Let’s guide you on how to sell books on Amazon – from sourcing books to performance monitoring.

Why sell books on Amazon?

Even if you are a new seller, Amazon can be an excellent platform for many reasons. Below are a few of them:

No inventory constraint

Amazon does not have inventory constraints like a physical bookstore. You can sell as few or as many books as you want. There are no space limitations for books on this platform. Listing more books opens up more selling potential.

Your store is always open.

Unlike a physical store, Amazon is an online marketplace that is always open. Customers can access your store 24/7 without worrying about traffic, long lines, or operating hours.

Selling various types of books

Amazon supports various types of books. You can sell new releases, second-hand books, textbooks, or even ebooks. Sellers can sell all book categories, which allows them flexibility.

Access to a global audience

Amazon has millions of local and global users actively buying from this marketplace. You can get exposure to this vast customer base. You can expand your business across borders, reach more customers, and increase your sales potential.

Trusted payment system

Amazon offers a protected payment system that ensures maximum security for all parties. This is an automated system in which sellers need not physically manage transactions and refunds.

Marketing and advertising tools

You have access to several marketing and advertising tools at Amazon. For example, you can use features like ‘sponsored products’ and ‘deals’ to reach more customers and draw their attention.

Easy shipping with Amazon’s fulfillment ( FBA)

Amazon’s fulfillment services are a great option for sellers who can not manage inventories, packing, and shipping themselves. They allow you to concentrate on your core business while Amazon takes care of the logistics at an affordable cost.

Different types of books to sell on Amazon

Before starting your business at Amazon, you must understand the various book categories you can sell. Below are the most common book categories:

New book

Amazon is a great place for sellers with a stock of new books. Self-published authors, publishers, dealers, and retailers can list their latest releases and start selling. Untouched copies of new books published many years back also attract customers looking for old books in fresh condition.

Used book

If you intend to sell used books that are gently read and in a well-used condition, Amazon can be a great place to do so. These books attract buyers looking for an affordable option for their desired book.

eBook

Selling ebooks for Kindle devices is another great option. Ebooks are the leading format with the highest growth rate chosen by Amazon customers. These books do not need printing and distribution and can be delivered instantly through digital downloads.

How much does it cost to sell books on Amazon?

Like any other marketplace, selling on Amazon is associated with some costs. Some of these costs are mandatory, while some others are optional. Below are a few of the costs involved:

Subscription fee

You need to subscribe to Amazon first as a seller if you want to utilize this platform. There are two types of subscription plans:

Individual plan – It charges $0.99 per item for the product sold. This plan is suitable for sales, starting with a small volume of products.
Business plan – It costs $39.99 a month for a subscription fee. This plan is suitable for medium to large sellers. A business plan is ideal if you sell more than 40 items monthly.

Referral fee

Referral fees are the sales commissions deducted after a sale. Each product category has a different fee structure. For book products, Amazon charges 15% of the sales price as a referral fee. The amount will be deducted from your account after the sale is made.

Closing fee

Amazon charges an additional $1.80 as the closing fee for media items. These items are considered digital content such as video, music, audiobooks, Kindle eBooks, etc. Hence, only eBooks will be charged $1.80 after the sale is made. Physically printed books will not be entitled to a closing fee.

Fulfillment costs ( FBA)

Fulfillment at Amazon covers inventory management, packaging, storing, customer service, return, and shipping. There are three types of fulfillment costs associated with the process:

Basic FBA fulfillment cost

The basic fulfillment cost is designed based on the product size and weight. For example, a small standard-size product with a shipping weight of 2 oz or less will be charged $3.06 as a fulfillment fee. There are different price tiers for various weight and product size categories.

FBA storage cost

You must pay to store your products at Amazon’s fulfillment centers. The cost is charged in cubic feet of space you occupy during packaging and inventory handling. This cost is charged monthly. For standard-size products, the storage cost is $0.78 and $2.40 per cubic foot for January to September and October to December, respectively.

Other costs

The costs I have discussed above are the basic costs. Apart from these, there can be other costs that can be incurred in different circumstances. Below are a few of the costs:

Refund Administration Fees

Refund administration fees are only applicable after a return and refund happens. Amazon will charge $5.00 or 20% of the sales value which one is less. A clear understanding of refund fees enables sellers to handle returns efficiently while protecting their profit margins.

Rental Book Service Fees

Amazon charges service fees when you list books for rent on their platform. If you rent out books on Amazon, you will be charged $5.00 per rental. Amazon deducts rental processing fees from your revenue when they handles book rental management.

Advertisement Costs

Amazon’s advertising services provide a way to boost your book’s visibility. Successful campaigns require in-depth knowledge of your advertising budget and return on investment metrics.

Selling books in 5 simple steps

Let’s discuss the process of selling books on Amazon in five simple steps.

Step 1: Source the books

Sellers can acquire the books from multiple sources. Where to source the books will depend on whether you’re selling new or used ones.

New Book

You can source new books from multiple sources:

Wholesalers – Book wholesalers sell new books in large quantities at reduced prices. They can be a great source for sellers wanting to purchase large volumes of books on Amazon.
Distributors– Book distributors are intermediaries between publishers and retailers. They maintain a consistent inventory of various types of books and can be a good source of new books.
Publishers – Direct purchases from publishers are the best option if you want access to the most recent books at reduced costs. Buyers can read bestsellers and niche books before they reach traditional retail stores through this option.

Used Book

Amazon allows selling used books as well. Below are a few potential sources for used books:

Used Book Stores – Local used bookstores can be the best source of books for resale. If you want to acquire affordable books in good condition and sell them at a higher rate, contact these bookstores.
Library Sales – Libraries often conduct book sales to remove outdated inventory. Most of these books are in good condition, and you can acquire them at a reduced price.
Yard Sales- Yard sales can be a good source of used books, as the book owners often sell their books at an extremely low price. Amazon sellers can also find rare book collections and ask for high resale prices in these places.
Estate Sales – Like yard sales, estate sale occasions can also be a good source of old books. Many estate owners had personal book collections or libraries. Estate sales can be a good source for finding rare and valuable titles at a good price.
Thrift Stores – Thrift stores regularly sell used books at significantly discounted prices. Their collection includes a variety of books that sellers can resell on Amazon.
Online Marketplaces – Online platforms like eBay enable sellers to purchase used books from private sellers. You can avail yourself of huge discounts on bulk book purchases. Sellers need to keep an eye on these websites and grab the opportunity.
Free Books – People distribute books through websites like Freecycle and various community programs at no charge. You can resell them to generate profits without any investment.

Step 2: Register as a seller on Amazon

After you have sourced your books, it’s time to register on Amazon to become a seller on this marketplace. Below are a few steps to follow for successful registration.

Select your plan

We have already mentioned that Amazon has two subscription plans for the sellers. Choose between the individual or business plan. A business plan will also provide additional features such as creating multiple user accounts, offering promotions and coupons, etc, which are helpful to scale your business.

Verify your identity and provide billing information

Amazon will verify your identity to maintain security across the marketplace. During the verification process, you will need to submit your government ID and tax information. You also need to submit your banking details and credit card information for payment transactions.

Configure your account

After your verification is done, you must configure your account settings. The process includes selecting the shipping method and setting up return policies, payment preferences, and more. You are going to configure the following during this step:

Seller profile
Business information
Shipping and returns settings
Tax information and settings
Notification preferences
Login settings
User permission

Step 3: List Your Books

After you have set up your account, you can start listing your books. Start your listing by searching the ISBN in Amazon’s catalog. If you do not find it create a new listing manually. Put the description, condition and high-quality photos accurately to attract potential buyers. Finally, price strategically to become successful on Amazon. Below is the summary of the listing process:

Look for the book title or ISBN on Amazon’s online catalog.
Create a new listing manually if you cannot find your book in the catalog.
Provide detailed information about the book’s condition and specify whether it is new or used.
Upload high-resolution photos of your book.
Price the book strategically to make it competitive.

Step 4: Select the Fulfillment Method

Fulfillment at Amazon includes inventory management, storage, packaging, shipping, and returns. You can either use Amazon’s fulfillment method ( FBA) or manage it yourself, which is called the Fulfillment by Merchant ( FBM) program. Amazon’s FBA is associated with some costs. Therefore, the price must be calculated, and the proper fulfillment method must be chosen.

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA): Amazon handles storage, inventory management, packaging, and shipping services. It will also provide customer service.
Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM): You handle the entire packaging and shipping process. Customer service operations will be provided within your scope.

Step 5: Monitor Your Sales

After you have made your books available for purchase, you need to constantly monitor sales performance. Use Amazon’s seller dashboard to monitor your listing performance. Make pricing adjustments if needed. Additionally, pay heed to customers’ feedback to grow your reputation.

Track your performance
Make the best use of the sellers’ dashboard
Keep your pricing competitive
Always examine sales data
Keep a positive customer rating

Tips to sell books on Amazon

Below are a few essential tips that can help you succeed on Amazon.

Optimize Your Listings

Take advantage of optimized titles, descriptions, and keywords while listing your book. A well-written description with high-quality images will help you get the quick attention of the buyers. Additionally, the categorization of the book has to be accurate, and its physical condition has to be reported honestly if you want to achieve long-term success.

Price Competitively

You have to remain competitive in the marketplace if you are a new seller. Your pricing plays a vital role while your customers make their purchase decisions. Setting the price too high will discourage them from buying from you. There are a variety of pricing tools available that can help you remain updated about the real-time market price and adapt your price accordingly.

Add High-quality Book Photos

Showcase your old books professionally by using their high-quality images. The cover design and physical condition should be displayed clearly. If needed, hire a professional image editing company to edit the book images to highlight design details perfectly.

Use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)

If you are planning to sell medium to large quantities, using Amazon’s fulfillment service will be a better option than managing it yourself. Amazon will take care of your inventory, storage, packing, shipping, and returns. Using this service, you can keep your focus on your core job while Amazon will be doing the logistics and even the customer service.

Monitor Customer Feedback

Customers review and feedback are the keys to success on Amazon. Maintaining a positive reputation on Amazon depends heavily on customer reviews and ratings. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews. If anyone leaves a negative review, take it seriously and respond positively.

Use Amazon Advertising

Leverage Amazon’s advertising services to maximize your visibility. You can plan your advertisement budget, invest in ads, and track the performance to calculate the ROI. If the ROI is positive, increase your ad spending. Advertising campaigns can increase sales numbers by targeting the right customers.

FAQ

How should I start selling on Amazon?

Try to source your books affordably. Starting on Amazon is easy and straightforward – open your account, configure it, list your books, and start selling.

What’s the difference between FBA and FBM?

These are the fulfillment methods you have to choose from. FBA is controlled by Amazon. You can avail of with with some costs. FBM, on the other hand, is controlled by the merchant. It does not cost you anything, but all the fulfillment activities have to be done by you.

Can I sell used books on Amazon?

Yes, you can. During the listing, let your audience know the condition of the book so that they can make their decisions as per their expectations.

How can I sell a good number of books on Amazon?

You can follow some techniques such as utilizing keywords, taking advantage of Amazon ads, using FBA services, and more.

What are the costs of selling books on Amazon?

The basic costs involved on Amazon are the subscription fee, referral fee, closing fee for digital books, and FBA charges if you avail of this service. Additionally, advertising on Amazon will cost you a good amount.

Conclusion

Selling books on Amazon can be profitable if you approach it correctly. Choose a cheaper sourcing method to achieve a better profit margin. From account opening to performance monitoring, all the steps should be executed professionally to grow successfully in this marketplace. Reach a global audience on Amazon and turn your passion for books into a profitable business.