http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=403x3576Oh my.
grasswire (1000+ posts) Fri Jul-16-10 11:39 PM
THE FARMERETTE UP OVER THERE IN WISCONSIN
Original message
interesting tips for book pickers
While stumbling 'round the Internets last night I came across this page on how to buy inventory from a used book store. I thought the 5-S strategy was very interesting and would serve those of us who buy things to resell.
http://www.bookthink.com/0008/08inv.htm
Vinca (1000+ posts) Sun Jul-18-10 08:14 AM
THE HIP-IMPAIRED VINDICTIVE PRIMITIVE, A NOTORIOUS RE-SELLER
Response to Original message
1. It's so difficult to find books if you're looking to resell them on ebay.
I've found things such as first editions by Carl Sandburg, William Faulkner and John Steinbeck you would think might sell and they're virtually worthless. There is always another seller with a book in better condition, with a dust jacket and signed. Every Monday morning the thrift shop I frequent puts out new books and booksellers turn up with their wireless devices to check out each volume before buying it. The group shop where I sell has a funky vibe, though, and I can always count on books about the Beatles, Grateful Dead, etc. to sell. My husband dragged a book of Kurt Cobain's journal entries home and that will sell like hotcakes. Strange.
grasswire (1000+ posts) Sun Jul-18-10 12:47 PM
THE FARMERETTE UP OVER THERE IN WISCONSIN
Response to Reply #1
2. I have done pretty well with some things.
None of them literature as such. One very old theological book did well. One about early radio -- I paid four bucks for it and sold it for nearly four hundred. I was proud of myself for finding that, because the dealers had already combed that estate sale. Hehe. That kind of stuff.
So I guess I have done best with his "strange" category. He says not to bother with cookbooks, but I also have done pretty well with some obscure cookbooks. One was written by old Hollywood star Zasu Pitts -- a candy cookbook. I always look at cookbooks first at an estate just cuz I also collect them. And I know that handwritten cookbooks in a composition book or notebook from the early 1900s will bring me from $60-100 on eBay.
The worst part about picking books is fighting the dealers, who are very aggressive and rude in my experience.
I paid four bucks for it and sold it for nearly four hundred.
Hmmm.
The oil companies make a windfall profit = bad.
The farmerette primitive makes a windfall profit = good.
Vinca (1000+ posts) Sun Jul-18-10 01:23 PM
THE HIP-IMPAIRED VINDICTIVE PRIMITIVE, A NOTORIOUS RE-SELLER
Response to Reply #2
3. Your last line is so funny. They got so bad down at the thrift shop - literally elbowing a woman in the face - there is now an employee standing guard on Monday mornings. My greatest pleasure is the few times I've walked in while they're all busily checking the values of the stuff in their rapidly amassed piles and spotting something on the shelf that looks good. I usually make a point of quickly snatching it and saying "Oh, wow!" out loud just to mess with their heads.
grasswire (1000+ posts) Sun Jul-18-10 01:35 PM
THE FARMERETTE UP OVER THERE IN WISCONSIN
Response to Reply #3
4. Heehee!
One dealer cursed at me and told me we were going to have some "trouble" if I didn't stop body-blocking a shelf where he was grabbing as fast as he could and handing off to an associate who manned their boxes. FU, lady! He said. FU! Mean old ugly face.
Good times, good times.
