Used books - Adding into my inventory
Hi everyone,
So I have been selling used books for the past 12 months and recently took a short break to allow time to clear some old stock. Upon coming back and trying to add new products (Used books) to my inventory I noticed it has changed slightly.
My usual way of adding my books to my inventory is to go on catalogue and add a product, I enter the ISBN in Product ID and it brings up a match/listing already there for me to create an offer on, It asks for Condition, Price, Release date etc and I've noticed now it asks for Item weight. Not issues at all with that bit.
But now in my inventory when I click on edit listing it is asking for item package weight, How are you meant to fill this out as an FBA Seller? You don't know the weight of the packaging as Amazon take of the packaging and shipping etc.
Also I've noticed there is red exclamation mark on the safety and compliance section as well at the top . Do you need to now fill this out? It asks for details of copyright, Dangerous goods/ Product warranty etc. I always assumed it was the Brand owner/Listing creator that filled this out?
I'm not a brand or anything like that, just someone who sources 2nd hand books and sells them on here.
If anyone can point me in the right direction that would be much appreciated. Just wondered if perhaps there was different way I should be doing it.
Thanks
Liam
14 replies
Seller_RAXEWLxQ2dbmN
Just checking in case that was a typo: are you actually selling used books via FBA?
Very few used booksellers find FBA to be viable.
As for the new add a product format, it's terrible. There are already quite a few moans about it on here. It's really not fit for purpose as far as sellers of books and media (BMVD) are concerned.
Make sure you leave appropriate feedback on the page.
Seller_vijjPUI46bUSN
Hi,
Thanks for getting in touch. Hope you’re having a good weekend.
Yeah sell all my used books Via FBA, profit margins are a lot tighter now due to the VAT on fees so not sure how long I will stick with it, will just see how it goes.
Do you sell used books Via FBM presumably?
Totally agree regarding the new add a product set up, I was mega confused by it yesterday when I used it for the first time in ages. Glad it’s not just me
Seller_vijjPUI46bUSN
Also forgot to ask do you still list your books by Adding a product, entering the ISBN (Product ID) and then creating an offer on a listing that’s already there?
That’s the way I’ve always done it and just wanted to make if it was still the right way to do it
Seller_ZVAz3d5lZuGid
As a fellow bookseller, I want to agree with @Seller_RAXEWLxQ2dbmN post. Although you will see a lot of what we call megasellers using FBA, it really is not the best model for used books - you could end up with high storage fees for books that don't sell.
"....list your books by Adding a product, entering the ISBN (Product ID) and then creating an offer on a listing that’s already there?" - that is the only way to do it, you should not create a new listing for a book that is already in Amazon's catalogue. The catalogue is already awash with multiple duplicate ASINs created by rogue sellers (usually dropshippers who seem to have got round the system to input the ISBN)
Seller_RAXEWLxQ2dbmN
LJT_Bookstore
Also forgot to ask do you still list your books by Adding a product, entering the ISBN (Product ID) and then creating an offer on a listing that’s already there?
Yes, I do and I am solely FBM. Unless you have lots of fast moving bestsellers, I find it hard to see how FBA can work for books.
The long storage fees would make it unviable for me as many of my best titles can take years to find a buyer..
Seller_RAXEWLxQ2dbmN
Are you sure about that jill?
I see a few of them are now offering Prime but it is all Seller fulfilled Prime (SFP) as far as I can see.
Seller_kjXDHcJtTU3MN
I think they've used a generic term for 'package weight' (some products come in packaging...they mean the weight of the item in its packaging - not the packaging they ship it out in). Just put the weight of the book
Sarah_Amzn
Hello @Seller_vijjPUI46bUSN,
I'm Sarah with Amazon.
Did you manage to add your products successfully?
I wanted to take this opportunity to invite you to the upcoming Ask Amazon event focused on the new inventory interface.
You can find more information here.
Kind regards,
Sarah.
