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Natalia
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| Posted: June 25 2008 at 4:46pm | IP Logged
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I want to go through our shelves and sell somethings I haven't used, won't use or don't need anymore but I have some questions:
How do go about deciding the price of an item when you want to sell it?
When the price say ppd what does it mean? Does it mean that the shipping is included in the price?
What is the best way of packaging the items? do you ship via the post office or UPS?
Thanks for the help,
Natalia
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KackyK
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| Posted: June 25 2008 at 5:03pm | IP Logged
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ppd means postage paid, so yes, if you said Easy Grammar for $4ppd, that would include your shipping fee for that item
I personally tend to price low I think. I am a part of cathswap and there are some folks on there I have seen who price just under retail, and sure it may be ppd...it's still not a deal to me. I always ask myself, what would I really be willing to pay for this, and usually it's just a couple of bucks, because to me, if I only had to spend $5 more to get it brand new, what's the point...gotta be cheap I think.
For packaging, I've never sold more than maybe 2 books to one person at a time, so just a nice bubble wrap brown envelope works I have found. We have a cheapo grocery store here that sells them 2 for $1. Then I ship media mail (USPS), always the cheapest. Actually I take that back, one time First Class was cheaper because they weren't too far away. So yep, again, I stay cheap.
If they want it quicker, then I'd say your ppd price should go up a bit. When I buy used I worry about it being exact postage, I know they may in fact make a little extra because the actual postage turned out to be less. That doesn't matter I think, because from a selling pov, sometimes shipping comes out more than you thought and/or there I think you should be paid for the time you have spent buying the packaging, actually packing it and then your time to the post office.
Oh and I usually have added about $2 to each paperback for shipping and then $3 or $4 for hardback. Unless you have a big old science text or something...which I'd add at least $5 for that shipping.
HTH
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Roma
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| Posted: June 26 2008 at 8:58am | IP Logged
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i reuse envelopes that i get when i buy something. i also get brown bags from the grocery store from time to time. i cut up a cardboard box to protect the books on either side and wrap the grocery bag around with lots of tape. works well and is cheap. i've never had a complaint, but i do use lots of tape to protect the books.
i agree about the pricing, if it isn't a deal i move on.
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Natalia
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| Posted: June 26 2008 at 9:49am | IP Logged
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So do you price the item at half price of what you paid? a third? what about if it was never used?
Natalia
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kristina
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| Posted: June 30 2008 at 3:05pm | IP Logged
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Natalia,
I have listed some of our excess books on Cathswap. I have checked the going rate for the used items in similar condition on eBay (search completed items) to get an idea of a price. Another way is to check Amazon's used prices.
It looks like Cathswap has just changed to a message board format, but in the Yahoo Group format, you can enter your book title in the search box (next to the message # box) to see what price other sellers have used.
Good Luck!
Blessings,
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vmalott
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| Posted: July 01 2008 at 9:26am | IP Logged
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Natalia wrote:
| So do you price the item at half price of what you paid? a third? what about if it was never used? |
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It depends on the item, when, and where I'm selling. I've sold things on eBay, Amazon, and at Cathswap and figure the prices accordingly. If it's something that is well-known and it is gently used, and it's not during prime curriculum buying season (summer), I will usually list at Amazon, listing for the lowest price to sell quickly. Amazon tags on an additional $3+ for shipping/handling via Media Mail (which used to run ~$1.85 for a 1# package), so I take that into account when pricing an item. The nice part about using Amazon is that payment is done through them and deposited into your bank directly. No worries w/checks, money orders, or a deal that falls through.
Other items that are more difficult to find, usually the homeschool-specific stuff that can be hard to list or deoesn't sell quickly w/Amazon(e.g. Classical Writing), I'll list for a fair price (based on condition) at eBay. If it's something I'm done with and falls within the guidelines at Cathswap, I'll list there at a cheap price, postage paid, and specify how I want payment.
Usually w/eBay I specify PayPal only, w/Media Mail shipping since that's the easiest for me and I can pay for and print the shipping labels right from PayPal, saving myself a trip to the post office. Doing business this way is usually quick and easy, with no waiting on checks to clear or payment to arrive in the mail. I'm more patient w/Cathswap transactions and will usually accept check or MO if the person asks. 
Valerie
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folklaur
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| Posted: July 01 2008 at 10:51am | IP Logged
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I've sold lots on Cathswap and Ebay.
When it is used, I usually go about half-price or so - it will depend on "how" it is used - and I make sure to describe it very, very well.
If it is brand new (I bought it and we just never used it) then I list for a few dollars below the original price, but including shipping. So - if I paid $20 + 6.50 in shipping ($26.50) I will list it for maybe $18pp.
I am not one who ever buys a workbook or whatnot and just has my kids "use it but not write in it." That I would consider a "used" book. The only ones I list as "new" are ones we didn't use at all. Does that make sense?
I have never used Amazon to sell, just Cathswap, Vegsource, Ebay.
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Willa
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| Posted: April 02 2009 at 9:58am | IP Logged
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Suzanne linked to this thread from this one so I thought I would just bump it up.
I have just started selling on Amazon -- I've never sold my used curriculum before in all my 15 years of hsing, just dumped it on some other homeschooling mother who knows more folks than I do to pass it on to.
A nice thing about selling rather than just giving away is that I know that whoever buys it really wants it enough to pay $$$ (I usually just try to lowball the Amazon low price by about 5-15%). That plus getting me a little bit of extra spending money has given me incentive to clear my shelves of some of the things that I wasn't using but that I really treasure because they are good.
It has been freeing to clear my shelves of those unused resources that stare at me accusingly. I didn't know what a burden they were --- I thought I'd miss them but instead I feel delighted that they are going to new homes and are not weighing me down anymore.
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KackyK
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| Posted: April 02 2009 at 10:11am | IP Logged
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I don't know who might be interested who lives in No.Va but I know there is a decent size IRL used curriculum consignment sale at the parish in Manassas in May. Anyone who wants to know more info can pm me. I'll be cashiering!
I have also organized other IRL sales as well in the past, so if you want to know details on how to do that for your group, pm me too.
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: A question about selling curriculum
