Can someone explain this to me?
I sell a book for $4.85
The buyer pays for the book + a $3.99/shipping cost. So the total is: $8.84.
Amazon charges me (are you ready?) $4.41!! That is NOT even the highest percentage (15%) that they claim to charge, that's like 50%. It's so exorbitant that it's outrageous. So subtract $4.41 from $8.84 = $4.43
Fine. $4.43. But don't forget, I have to use that money to buy shipping so now that's $4.43 - $3.99 = .44 cents.
44 FREAKING CENTS. That is my profit.
How the hell is that possible? They've been doing this on all of my sales. That is WAY over what they should supposedly be charging!
Can someone explain this to me?
I sell a book for $4.85
The buyer pays for the book + a $3.99/shipping cost. So the total is: $8.84.
Amazon charges me (are you ready?) $4.41!! That is NOT even the highest percentage (15%) that they claim to charge, that's like 50%. It's so exorbitant that it's outrageous. So subtract $4.41 from $8.84 = $4.43
Fine. $4.43. But don't forget, I have to use that money to buy shipping so now that's $4.43 - $3.99 = .44 cents.
44 FREAKING CENTS. That is my profit.
How the hell is that possible? They've been doing this on all of my sales. That is WAY over what they should supposedly be charging!
5 replies
Seller_nRFmxiQg4EGrw
The math seems slightly off, but not by a lot, assuming that you are selling on the individual plan.
My math shows:
Total price: $8.84
15% commission: $1.33
Extra fee applied to all books: $1.80
Individual selling fee: $.99
Total after fees deducted: $4.72
Not sure what's happening to the other 31 cents.
And yes, after that, you still need to buy shipping, which will cost you more than $3.99 on anything but the lightest books (plus you have to pay for your packing materials, etc.)
Other than that unaccounted for 31 cents, this is all in line with the published fees.
The question is: Why are you selling such inexpensive books? Even if you were on the pro plan (and didn't have the 99 cent charge), this price is very borderline on making enough profit to be worth dealing with.
Seller_Hi7wbO2Kbo6bl
Do not offer books for that price!
You pay 15% on book and shipping. You pay $1.80 closing fee. You have to pay for packaging material and shipping.
Do not consider listing for less than somewhere around $10 -- and that only for small light books. Raise that minimum if your analysis of packaging costs indicates you should.
