I buy and sell used books through Amazon often. They make selling very easy to get into, with no charge to list an item unless it sells. Some tips:
1. Be very attentive when dealing with books with multiple editions, ie. academic texts. Amazon tries to keep a separate product page for each edition, but specific edition listings often have truncated descriptions or aren’t listed at all. This is as confusing for sellers listing inventory as it is for buyers shopping. So double check descriptions and when in doubt email a question first.
2. The 3.99 shipping is USPS media mail. It usually takes about a week. Except when it takes 3 weeks. Don’t sweat it when something doesn’t show up, it’s usually not lost. Just slow.
3. Don’t sell hardline leftist books, ie. Ivins etc. Seriously. The first time I got a profanity laced rant in my mailbox three business days after a sale because the book hadn’t arrived yet, I thought it was a coincidence. The third time I knew it wasn’t. I justified it on the grounds that I was costing the publisher a new sale, but dealing with those people just isn’t worth it.
4. Don’t take much account of seller feedback counts. A low number of feedbacks doesn’t mean a new account and probable scammer like it does on eBay. Most people just don’t leave feedback. I get about one feedback per 25 items sold.
Wow! Have you met others who have had the same experience?
Does Amazon have instructions on how to do this?