2 - How to List a Book on Amazon

Start by picking up a book you'd like to sell.

Go to Amazon.com and search for the exact same book. Don't just search by the title, it is critical that you find an exact match in Amazon's catalog. Instead, search by ISBN number. ISBN is short for International Standard Book Number, it is a unique number much like a book's own Social Security number. You'll find it inside on one of the first pages along with the publisher's information, or on a barcode on the back of the book.

Enter the ISBN number into Amazon's search. When that book comes up, click to enter the product details page and compare that copy with yours. Is it the same? If so, look to the right of the screen for a button labeled "Sell Yours Here".

On the following page, you'll see two places where you can describe your copy of the book. One is the Conditon drop down box and the other is the Comments box (where you input text).



1 - the Condition dropdown. What condition is your book in? New? Used? Very Good? Acceptable? Amazon has provided condition guidelines to help you in grading your book. It is important that you are honest and grade correctly so your buyer won't be shocked or unhappy when he receives his purchase.
These are Amazon's condition guidelines:

Guidelines for New and Used Books items:

* New: Just like it sounds. A brand-new, unused, unread copy in perfect condition.
* Like New: An apparently unread copy in perfect condition. Dust cover is intact, with no nicks or tears. Spine has no signs of creasing. Pages are clean and are not marred by notes or folds of any kind. Book may contain a remainder mark on an outside edge but this should be noted in listing comments.
* Very Good: A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.
* Good: A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact (including dust cover, if applicable). The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include "From the library of" labels.
* Acceptable: A readable copy. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact (the dust cover may be missing). Pages can include considerable notes--in pen or highlighter--but the notes cannot obscure the text.
* Unacceptable: Moldy, badly stained, or unclean copies are not acceptable, nor are copies with missing pages or obscured text. Books that are distributed for promotional use only are prohibited. This includes advance reading copies (ARCs) and uncorrected proof copies.

Be sure to describe your books in an accurate manner. An accurate product description increases buyer satisfaction, helps sellers build a loyal customer base, and ensures positive feedback ratings. Should a book have an obvious cosmetic flaw, sellers are strongly encouraged to make a note within the comments field. The presence of a remainder mark should always be noted in comments. Advance reading copies and uncorrected proofs are not permitted.

2 - The next field for you to enter information is 'Comments'. Here you'll note any flaws or things of interest about your copy. Typical comments are "Small crease on front cover, text is unmarked" I like to mention that my copy is exactly the same as the one shown. If there's an edition (as there often is with a textbook) it's good to mention it here just to ease the potential buyer's mind that you're selling the right book. The thing to keep in mind is - be honest, be clear, be concise and try to limit the comments to a description of the item being sold.

Here are some real examples of seller descriptions found on Amazon. These are good examples of what NOT to say:

Comments: PICK ME, PICK ME, OH, PICK ME!

Comments: I plop your item into a cozy, cushiony bubble mailer as soon as I receive your order and shlep them to the post office every weekday afternoon

Comments: Condition: VERY GOOD. (Book may have one or a combination of the following characteristics: former library book, cover wear, name written inside cover, light underlining/highlighting, remainder mark, etc. Overall, the book is in solid shape. This is a blanket description. Please email us if you require a specific, detailed description of the book condition. We will typically respond within one week of your request).

Comments: dirty book
(hmmm, did they forget to clean it or does the book cover a naughty subject?)

Comments: HEAVILY LIQUID DAMAGED WITH STAINED WAVY PAGES (some stuck together and not readable) AND MUSTY ODOR!
(yikes - how about just not listing that one? It's not even 'Acceptable'!)

Let's assume that you've read the condition guidelines, identified your book's correct condition and then typed in some details in the comments field. Click "Continue" and the next page asks you what price you want to put on your listing. It shows Amazon's price, and on the right side of the page you can also see the other New and Used listings. You can click on them to review what other sellers are asking for their copy.

Enter your price, the quantity (how many copies you have of this book). You may enter a Seller SKU number next (or leave it blank for now), it's just a number that you give to the book so you can find it later when it sells. It's necessary for larger inventories but not needed for just a few books.

Next is the Shipping Methods available. You have to offer Standard Shipping - $3.99, but it's your decision if you offer Expedited or International Shipping. Standard shipping gives a timeline of 4 - 14 business days for delivery, so it's wise to use Media Mail. Expedited orders have a timeline of 2 - 6 days to arrive, and the buyer expectation is that you'll ship by Priority Mail. It's true that nearly every Expedited order should ship Priority, but First Class Mail actually is Priority Mail. First Class packages go up to 13 ounces, after that they become Priority Mail. They are handled nearly the same way and travel at the same rate. For Priority Mail, it's a good rule of thumb to keep a Flat Rate Priority Mail envelope at your desk while listing a book for sale. If it fits into that flat rate envelope, then offer Expedited Shipping. If not, don't. (exception is a more expensive book that you won't mind springing for the extra cost)

International shipping is best determined in the same way - see if it fits comfortably into a Flat Rate Priority Mail envelope. A very heavy or large book that won't fit into a flat rate envelope will be much too expensive to try and send outside of the country.

After selecting your shipping, Click on 'Continue' and then 'Submit Your Listing' and you're done! Your book is listed for sale. Wait about 10 - 15 minutes and then go back to that page and look for your listing.