Approval To Sell Used Books
Amazon, your recent requirement for sellers to get the publisher's approval before selling a USED book is a DISASTER! Your thousands of sellers affected ask you to quickly review and revise this unworkable policy.
I've sold thousands of used books on Amazon since 2010 without problems. My customer satisfaction rating is 100%, with no A-Z claims, and very very few returns. Recently Amazon requires invoices from the publisher, etc., etc. before I can list a USED copy. This might be understandable for NEW copies, but used books are picked up from swap meets, library sales, friends, other booksellers, and acquaintances.--not from the publisher. There is absolutely no possibility that any of my books are counterfeit copies. Most are out of print, so the publishers are no longer selling new copies.
These forums have many discussions of this matter, yet Amazon has never explained why this new policy exists, only saying that it enhances our customers' experience. How can it enhance their experience when the books they want cannot even be listed?
If I want to sell my house, my car, my artwork, or my pet, I don't need the original maker's permission. Amazon, by refusing sellers listings of used books, you are losing money. One book I have is valued at $1,100. It's already listed on Amazon but is shown as "currently unavailable," probably because no sellers can get the permission of the original publisher (I've tried--and been ignored). Think how much commission you are losing. My inventory is worth at least $200,000. If I take the advice of others and switch to eBay, Amazon will lose its commission on those sales. Work the numbers, Amazon!
Amazon, thousands of your bookselling "partners" need your attention and cooperation. Yet our cases and forum complaints are being ignored. Seller support on this issue is non-existent. Forum posts are quickly locked. Our cases are ignored and dismissed, evidently by bots. Please get your vice president in charge of seller relations to come on these forums and explain things. Please have them review this inane approval requirement, with seller input, and revise it.
Thank you.
Approval To Sell Used Books
Amazon, your recent requirement for sellers to get the publisher's approval before selling a USED book is a DISASTER! Your thousands of sellers affected ask you to quickly review and revise this unworkable policy.
I've sold thousands of used books on Amazon since 2010 without problems. My customer satisfaction rating is 100%, with no A-Z claims, and very very few returns. Recently Amazon requires invoices from the publisher, etc., etc. before I can list a USED copy. This might be understandable for NEW copies, but used books are picked up from swap meets, library sales, friends, other booksellers, and acquaintances.--not from the publisher. There is absolutely no possibility that any of my books are counterfeit copies. Most are out of print, so the publishers are no longer selling new copies.
These forums have many discussions of this matter, yet Amazon has never explained why this new policy exists, only saying that it enhances our customers' experience. How can it enhance their experience when the books they want cannot even be listed?
If I want to sell my house, my car, my artwork, or my pet, I don't need the original maker's permission. Amazon, by refusing sellers listings of used books, you are losing money. One book I have is valued at $1,100. It's already listed on Amazon but is shown as "currently unavailable," probably because no sellers can get the permission of the original publisher (I've tried--and been ignored). Think how much commission you are losing. My inventory is worth at least $200,000. If I take the advice of others and switch to eBay, Amazon will lose its commission on those sales. Work the numbers, Amazon!
Amazon, thousands of your bookselling "partners" need your attention and cooperation. Yet our cases and forum complaints are being ignored. Seller support on this issue is non-existent. Forum posts are quickly locked. Our cases are ignored and dismissed, evidently by bots. Please get your vice president in charge of seller relations to come on these forums and explain things. Please have them review this inane approval requirement, with seller input, and revise it.
Thank you.
17 replies
Seller_kIukTwdhvntAp
" Think how much commission you are losing. My inventory is worth at least $200,000. If I take the advice of others and switch to eBay, Amazon will lose its commission on those sales. Work the numbers, Amazon!"
News flash -- Amazon DOESN'T CARE!
They have been moving away from ALL used items for several years now. It hasn't been a 'good' place to sell books for some time UNLESS you sell niche items AND buy direct from the publishers with an LOA allowing you to sell on Amazon.
The PUBLISHERS have pushed Amazon to restrict all sales -- both new and used.
Pick whatever OTHER site(s) you want to sell on and protect yourself from getting an ulcer and high blood pressure from dealing with Amazon and the ever changing policies and rules.
Seller_qTJiCxRI8PpIZ
Hello fellow used bookseller, I completely understand where you're coming from. The best advice I can give you is don't put all your eggs in one basket. If you're selling solely on Amazon, change that immediately. Used books do way better on A B E or E Bay.
Ever since Amazon bought ABE I've been convinced Amazon is trying to push us out and encourage us to sell our used books over there instead. The unfortunate thing is, ABE is becoming more and more like Amazon. Still, I do advise listing books either there or on the bay.
Seller_fmUqKecYk2wsp
Don't ya love it when you have the only copy available & they tell you it is too highly priced, no MSRP, nothing?
No other copies available on any site I can find, not even a google search will find any for sale.
The bay does not scoff at such things.
Seller_HRcJa1gdGHeov
Unfortunately, this is all too true.
Between the poorly programmed bots and the incompetent people who work for Amazon that refuse to question the bots, Amazon is a dumpster fire.
Seller_GYZrUtJZKkCjd
I have seen similar. Amazon just doesn't really care about you or me. They make almost all their money on the AWS server side and the MEMBERSHIP. They they start out and your are happy happy and then they slow pull the plug on you and change the rules. Not much we can do but forge on in multiple places to sell our books. As for all the publishers blocking the sell of their books its all about control and MONEY. They want to force used out so everyone has to pay a higher price for their textbooks etc.
Seller_Fj8BGFk6ivq5u
This is not something new. As others have said, Amazon is slowly moving in that direction. I believe that this is due to a number of sellers that send out junk (i.e., thrift stores, mega-sellers, HPB, etc.). You can see it with the poor packing they use, the crappy listings they create, and the poor quality of books they send out. It is destroying the used book marketplace for everyone else.
Seller_vPNR7UK7Tjp3i
I had this happen for a 82 year out-of-print book. Yet this can be listed on other sites. Makes no sense.
Seller_Ha6JyVvDK6Ybs
So much easier listing on platforms that want you to sell items instead of putting of roadblock while letting marketplace get flooded with fake knock off brands.
Seller_VNuoYX3SYjnc7
How is it now?
Many of my friends buy good quality second-hand books from Amazon.
Seller_Gef8naBDj83Xp
I cannot list 20 used books without two or three requiring approval to sell. I am asked to provide documentation that is impossible to provide. I can sell these books on ABE, Biblio, E-bay, Alibris, in my store and anywhere else except Amazon. This is not right. I do not understand what kind of fraud Amazon thinks it is guarding against? I can't believe all these publishers are asking Amazon to prevent sales of used books they have printed, because many of these publishers no longer exist and these books have been out of print for decades. Amazon should be embarrassed, asking for documentation that there is no way used booksellers can provide. They should at least be honest and say "this is our website and you cannot sell that book here and we don't have to explain why" which is really what they are saying anyway.
