What Is Appropriate When Pricing Used Books?

[toawh]

I'm not sure why but it really bugs me when people ask almost full price for a used item. I see it as grabby. What do you feel is a fair way to price used items. How do you determine your pricing? In my experience buying used items is more work and less straightforward. While I appreciate the price cut, between the "lightly written in pencil pages" and the "shows signs of wear" I feel I am doing the buyer as much of a favor as he is doing me, and I don't want to pay 5 dollars short of full price. What's your logic?

[Random]

I think (and I may get flamed for this!) that 50% of retail is fair when a product has been used and shows signs of wear. If a product looks new and hasn't been used, I'm willing to pay 70%-80% of the new price. That's how I try to price items and that's the price point I'm willing to pay. Otherwise, I don't take the risk associated with buying second hand---because the risk is really the biggest issue for me. If I can't find a product that low, I'll just buy something new, or go without it.

[Stellalarella]

I think, "What would I be willing to pay if I were going to buy this book?"

 

and also

 

"How much joy would I get out of setting the price low and making someone's day?"

 

or

 

"Who would be overjoyed to get this book for free?"

 

Homeschooling is really so expensive, I just feel bad about trying jab somebody else who is also desperately trying to homeschool their kiddos. I mean, maybe there are some high rollers out there homeschooling their kids, but that's not the general impression I get.

 

Yeah, I'm not so great for business acumen, huh?

[toawh]

Yeah, I think 50% is pretty fair. I see crazy pricing and not just for books either.

[Homemama2]

I guess it doesn't really bother me when people do that b/c I know a lot of IRL homeschoolers who have to sell their stuff before buying for the next year. So, in a case like that I don't feel it is "grabby". Also, I just don't buy from those people. They can sell it for whatever they want, but that doesn't mean I have to buy it. ;)

If someone is going to sell it at almost new price, though, it should look new, IMO. If it isn't like brand new, then it should be priced accordingly. I got tired of buying/selling used because it seemed like I would pay quite a bit for used books and when I got them, them were in fine shape but would end up falling apart on me later in the year. And when I tried to sell things, nobody wanted to pay enough to make it worth the headache of emailing back and forth (sometimes 8 or 10 times!!) only to have them change their minds. Now, I just give away my things to friends who need it.

[Kathryn]

I usually sell locally, but I price NEW quality at 75% of the cheapest I can find it new and good condition used at 50%. Less than good condition I do 25% or free

[toawh]

Also, I just don't buy from those people. They can sell it for whatever they want, but that doesn't mean I have to buy it. ;)

 

I find that all my pet peeves are illogical. :) It helps to know what people are thinking though.

[Soror]

Whatever the market will bare is what I price and what I expect when buying.

[Aubrey]

I figure 50% of new + shipping, then adjust if necessary. For ex, if it's not in good condition or it's commonly available, price goes down. If it's in GREAT condition or hard-to-find, the price might go up. BUT I usually check Amazon & make sure I'm not asking more than they are (used). And it doesn't make sense to me to sell very close to the original price, because *even* if my item were in PRISTINE, NEVER-USED condition, the buyer is taking a risk buying from me--not just because I'm a nobody on the internet, but also because they're foregoing their chance to exchange/return/whatever the original company offers. THAT is worth more than 10-20%, imo.

 

But...it seems like I've got less & less to sell ea year. My littles are both doing K work, the baby is nearly 18mos...too many little hands lined up waiting their turn w/ all the curric. So I guess nothing (or very little) is going to be leaving the shelves any time soon. Time to get more shelves.... :p

[EKS]

When selling, I generally price things between 50-70% of new (and I include shipping in the price) if they are very gently used or like new.

[Farrar]

I think it's fair to ask for closer to the original price when something is basically untouched. The thing is, you don't know when you buy on the internet for sure so it's a huge risk. If you were buying from a sale, it might be worth it, but with the risk and the shipping costs, paying 80-90% of the price for something is just absurd IMO unless it's something that's discontinued maybe.

 

In general, 50% seems fair to me as a starting place - a little more for things in good shape with all their bits or less for things in less good shape.

[airforcefamily]

All I can think when I see prices close to the new price is that the person selling is assuming buyers will try and negotiate so they set the price high to start with to give some room to bring it down. I understand the reasoning. So many times I've tried to sell something for a fair price of 40-70%, depending on condition, how easy it is to find, and the shipping costs (I always include shipping in the price) only to have someone agree to buy it then ask for a lower price when it's time to pay.

 

The only time almost new prices seem fair is when the company only sells on their own website and has high shipping costs. Some places charge $10 to ship a $15 book so if someone asks $15 with shipping included it might be a fair price.

[mommymilkies]

I price mine on what it usually sells for on the board. I also include shipping in my price, so while sometimes it may look like almost as much for a new book, a good portion of that is just packaging, insurance, shipping. Some things have high resale value, too, so keep that in mind.

[PachiSusan]

I price mine 50% of retail if they are in very good condition, 30% if they're more abused.