Archive for April, 2010
Friday, April 30th, 2010
Have you ever read a book that you enjoyed, then squirmed, then disliked, then cried and then, at the end of it all, you realized you really really liked it?
Now you know the journey I took while reading “American Taliban”. The book opens in August 2000 following a privileged young man’s journey as he moves from surfer/skater through his study of Islam and ends in May 2002. Perhaps because 9/11 and the Taliban tend to be such a core part of the American conscious now, it was easy to forget sometimes that I was reading fiction. There were quite a few uncomfortable situations in the book (see above: squirmed) and quite frankly, while watching the progression from privilege to Taliban, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to finish the book. But in the end, Abraham brings everything full circle. That’s not to say that the book finishes neatly wrapped up and shiny — not at all. But it does feel complete. After the rollercoaster held within, I closed the pages with a sense of peaceful sorrow.
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
There are many outlets and venues for you to sell used books. Below you can find the best methods for selling your used books to maximize your financial resources.
Does old mean rare? Does signed mean valuable?
The first step is trying to get some sort of feel for what you have. Is it a collectible book, which has the potential to be worth a lot of money? Or do you have more recently published novels, or leftover texts from college? The types of books you have dictate how you approach selling them.
A lot of us would like to believe that the box of old books left to us by our grandmother are valuable. Unfortunately, most old books are exactly that -old books. Usually they have little to no value.
I can hear some of you saying, “but mine are first editions!” or maybe “my books are signed by the author”. The bad news is, the vast majority of books ever printed are first editions, because most of them were never popular enough to require additional printings. Signed books are also tricky. An autograph, signature or inscription can often add value. However, there are many authors who will sign anything that quits moving for short periods of time. In order for an autograph or signature to have value, it has to be authentic. Can you show provenance? Even if you can, you must then hope that enough people are collecting signed works of that author, to create a demand for the item. Only when you have a scarce or rare item, coupled with buyer demand, will truly exceptional prices be attained.
Does this mean that all old signed books are worthless or not worth investigating? Not at all. There are some great stories of individuals finding rare books worth lots of money. How about the family in southern Britain who found a copy of “The Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin in their guest bathroom, which is expected to sell for around $99,000.00! Of course, I now check all books found near toilets, wherever I go.
Whenever I find something that I can’t identify, I run to the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America(A.B.A.A). This is a great resource site to point you to an expert who can help you identify what you have, and if it may have value as a collectible book. Like most aspects of life, remember that there are reputable, and less reputable individuals. Asking for references is always a good idea as are sending multiple inquiries sent to different people.
So if it is not rare or collectible, is it garbage?
Your used books always have some sort of value! Most likely, it will not be as much as you hope, but it is definitely worth a few minutes to look at them and see what you have.
The three most popular methods of dealing with your used books are below. All three are the worst possible way to deal with used books from a financial view point. Don’t get me wrong, if you have no regard for your finances, please sell your books at a garage sale or to a local bookstore. If you do opt for one of these methods you may see me. I will be the one who comes along and buys your $15 book for 50 cents, and sells it for a profit.
Garage/Yard/Rummage Sales – The average price for a used book at a sale of this type is between 37-77 cents per book. Apparently, your location in the U.S. affects the price. Midwest and Southern states generally have lower prices, while the coasts seem to have slightly higher prices. These figures are based on what people state they have paid, not the asking price. Why these cheap prices? Your market is small, even if you have a really good book. Say you are trying to sell used textbooks. How long do you think you will wait before a student comes along who happens to need that book and is willing to pay top dollar? Yeah – you are going to be out there awhile. If you want to sell used books in a garage sale, you should only sell the bad ones, or take a tax write off after donating them.
Tax Write Offs & Donations – Goodwill, Thrift Stores etc. – It is a generally accepted practice to deduct anywhere between 25 cents to $2.00 per book. Consult your tax preparer for more details specific to your case. Remember to keep your donation receipts in case the tax man comes calling.
Local Book Store – Many local bookstores will gladly purchase your used books and gently used texts. Be aware however, you are going to get paid next to nothing. The whole process works similar to a pawn shop type deal when you go to sell an item. Few who bother to haul their books into a store, want to haul them back home, even after receiving an offer that is insultingly low.
What is the correct method for selling my used books?
The key to successfully selling your used books to maximize your financial success is a combination of selling strategies. Tap into the online market! Sell your best books online for the most money and then dump the books that are worth less into a garage sale or take the tax deduction.
So you’re thinking, that sounds great, but I do not know anything about selling online. The good news is, there are a couple of options. One is so simple that even my grandmother is able to do it, and she falls into the “internet and computer handicapped” demographic.
Selling Yourself Online – There are two ways to sell your books online.
- Sell your books yourself at various online sites like eBay, Amazon, ABE Books and many others. This method requires you to be more patient as well as computer/internet knowledgeable.
- Sell your books to an online specialty site like CKY Books. There are many online sites like this to choose from. This method is much faster and simpler, but you will make slightly less money.
Selling online using method #1- Online Marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, ABE Books)
You must be prepared to handle many things in order to get paid and actually turn a profit.
- Price your books properly for sale.
- Write accurate descriptions of your books detailing the physical condition.
- Be patient/lucky enough for your book to be selected for purchase while constantly watching the price drop.
- Clean & package your book for shipment.
- Deal with customer emails, questions and complaints.
- Deal with customer returns and items that go missing during shipment.
- Maintain high customer satisfaction ratings which are a requisite for online success.
- Be willing to pay the fees involved.
- Site listing fees, closing fees, commission fees (Will roughly cost between 15%-22% of the sale price of the item)
- Cost to ship item ($2.38 1st pound +.39each additional pound)
- Cost to collect your money (It costs money to move money 1-2% – Hello PayPal)
- Then you have to factor in your time and labor costs, cost of goods, taxes.
EXAMPLE:
Let us assume you sell a book on one of the sites we are talking about and the selling price is $6.58. You will face a Fee Formula similar to this:
(Sale Price – Commission – Closing fee) or $6.58 -$.99 -$1.35 = $4.24
Do not forget to take out cost of goods, packaging and labor costs. Then of course you have taxes.
The biggest drawback that nobody talks about, is the cost when a problem occurs with a sale. All online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay are setup so the end buyer is protected. This is great for the buyer, but is horrible for a seller. If you sell something and a buyer complains, the site will hold your money until you prove your case. Unfortunately, it is your job to prove you did nothing wrong. The buyer holds all the cards and the site holds your money. There are many horror stories of reputable sellers being cheated out of their money and their product. Of course, the rules are in place because past sellers would take advantage of buyers. Another case of a few bad apples spoiling things for everyone.
Selling online using method #2 – Online specialty site like CKY Books
Your time and responsibilities are greatly reduced when you deal with a service like this one, but there are still some things that you have to do.
- Your books have to meet certain condition guidelines. (As they do on the sites like amazon.com and eBay)
- You are responsible for securely packing and shipping your books, and making sure they arrive at their warehouse. (Fairly easy to do when you choose to purchase shipping insurance)
- Again, like most things, there are reputable online sites and less reputable sites. When in doubt it is always a good idea to check out a company’s complaint history with the Better Business Bureau. Steer clear of any site with a large complaint or unresolved complaint history.
EXAMPLE:
The same book we just sold on our previous example would get you a CKY Books payment of between $2.00 and $2.55. Offers can vary from day to day, but you can always expect to get a lesser amount than you would get if you were to sell it yourself. I have seen prices of $1 per book, to well over $100 for some books on sites like this.
You will have to decide which selling methods suit you best. Personally I like to sell my books all at once, and get the most money for my good books and then take a tax write off on the ones that they won’t buy. It saves so much time, and my time is valuable to me.
The Pros are many and the Cons are few.
You enter your books into the website. If they are buying the title, you are given an offer. You may either accept or decline the offers, and the books are added or subtracted from your order. When you are done, you box up your books, print a FREE shipping label, and send off your books. Usually within 15 days, you receive an email that your books have been received and are being processed. In most cases, payment is issued within 24-48 hours via PayPal or Check (your choice). The only real expense you have with a service like this is your minimal cost to insure your shipment -$1.80 buys you $100 of insurance.
You might have a shipping problem and your box is damaged, destroyed or lost. If you do not purchase shipping insurance you are pretty much…up that proverbial creek without a means of propulsion. If you do have shipping insurance, and disaster strikes, you have to file the claim, which can take some time before you get paid. Shipping issues and the condition of your books are the only issues you really have to worry about with services like this.
Hopefully you will find this information worthwhile and it well help you decide which option is the best way for you to sell your used books.
CKY Books is offering a special first time customer promotional, between now and May 31, 2010. Whether you sell a single book or a bunch of books you can earn an extra 10% on your payment amount just by writing the name of this article, “The truth about selling used books” on your packing slip. This promotional offer is valid for first time customers only. To get started selling books online and take advantage of this special offer you can head over to CKY Books and learn more.
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
The spring semester is almost over. Students are starting to consider their options with their used books. Local or campus bookstores are frequently the fastest, easiest method for textbook buybacks. However, if this is the only route you have ever considered, you are missing out. These stores are often overwhelmed with textbooks at the end of the semester. If the class is offered the following semester and they have three hundred copies, the demand is low, so the price you receive will be as well.
Thankfully there are now options beyond the campus bookstore, campus bulletin board or your bookshelf. There are a growing number of online programs, some of which will accept international editions of textbooks as well. With these online programs you have the opportunity to receive a higher price for your textbook. There are two different types of online buyback programs.
Text book buybacks are similar to selling to a bookstore. You sell directly to the company and receive payment from them. The positive side to this method is that you know from the time you enter the ISBN on their site whether it will be accepted. You also know that payment will be sent shortly after the book is received at the book company. The down side is that based on the number of copies the reseller currently has as well as the fact that they find a new buyer, they take a larger percentage of profit. Programs differ somewhat from one site to the next, so take a look at their Frequently Asked Questions page for details. Information regarding the types of books, condition and shipping methods can usually be found there. If there are specific types of international additions that are not accepted, it is addressed as well.
The second option involves selling directly to the new buyer via the site. As the seller, you set the price making the sale more profitable. The down side is that it may take some time to match the selling price with a buyer. Before deciding on the type of program, there are a few questions to ask yourself. Can I wait for the money? Once the book is sold, can I pack and ship it quickly? If you answered yes to these questions, the direct to buyer option my work for you.
Whether you are a student of faculty member, there are many opportunities to turn your unused books into cash. For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact us at info@ckybooks.com or via the form on the “Contact” tab.
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
My teaser is from the recently released “The Creation of Eve” by Lynn Cullen.
At that moment, I should have whisked the Queen from the scene, but I was too stunned by Don Juan’s announcement to move. Of her volition the Queen turned away.
Monday, April 26th, 2010
Fiction new releases:
04/27/2010
Cars from a Marriage (Debra Galant)
The Tulip Virus (Danielle Hermans)
The God of the Hive (Laurie R King)
Young, Restless and Broke: A Novel (Blossom Kan)
The Carrie Diaries (Candace Bushnell)
Reckless (Andrew Gross)
Return to Sender (Fern Michaels)
The End Game (Gerrie Ferris Finger)
Last Train from Cuernavaca (Lucia St. Clair Robson)
Island Beneath the Sea (Isabel Allende)
The Edge of Ruin (Irene Fleming)
Burned (House of Night Series #7) (P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast)
Ether: Seven Stories and a Novella (Evgenia Citkowitz)
One Man’s Paradise (Douglas Corleone)
Lover Mine (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series #8) (J.R Ward)
April 28, 2010
Being Nikki (Meg Cabot)
Necroscope: The Plague-Bearer (Brian Lumley)
*Added to my “to be read” list
Monday, April 26th, 2010
Here’s the weekly comparison of the Wall Street Journal and New York Times Top 5 bestsellers in Fiction Hardback. The Shadow of Your Smile (Mary Higgins Clark) debuts on both lists at #1. The Help continues to dominate #2. Jeff Kinney’s Wimpy Kid books remains on WSJ’s list. The Last Olympian (Riordan) reappears on WSJ at #4. Every Last One (Anna Quindlen) debuts on NYT’s list at #5 (#10 on WSJ). Changes (Butcher) drops from #1 on the NYT to #3. It dropped to #6 on the WSJ list. Caught (Coben) drops one spot to #4 on NYT and to #9 on WSJ.
| Wall Street Journal Top 5 |
New York Times Top 5 |
| The Shadow of Your Smile
Mary Higgins Clark |
The Shadow of Your Smile
Mary Higgins Clark |
| The Help Kathryn Stockett |
The Help Kathryn Stockett |
| Diary of a Wimpy Kid Jeff Kinney |
Changes Jim Butcher |
| The Last Olympian Rick Riordan |
Caught Harlan Coben |
| Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days Jeff Kinney |
Every Last One Anna Quindlen |
Friday, April 23rd, 2010
“Pinion” by Jay Clark (sequel to “Escapement”) was released March 30. I picked up both novels at the same time and read them back to back. If you have not read Escapement, I suggest you do the same. Although Pinion has a completely different feel, a lot would be lost without the first half of the story.
“Pinion” picks up immediately where “Escapement” left off. Clark continues his system of dedicating a few paragraphs/pages to each character’s situation and viewpoint. It’s an effective method for maintaining the many threads of the storyline. There’s a lot of details & action to keep up with but I never felt bogged down. There was no time to get bored with a plot line before switching to simultaneous events. This was particularly enjoyable when he switched between two characters in the same place. It was fun to see how differently they experienced and reacted to the exact same elements.
The novel was chock full of battles, intrigue and magic but to label it as simply an adventure story would be a disservice. Clark also tenderly weaves love through the pages. And make no mistake, the love stories are just that – purely love. There is no romance, flowers or frills. It is pure emotion and dedication grown from shared circumstances and respect that bond these characters. And just for good measure, Clark tosses in spiritual implications as well, not so subtly touching on the characteristic s and purpose of a soul as well as human’s ability to play at being gods.
This was a multilevel book that had me contemplating it several days after I closed the cover. Taken at surface value, it’s a great escapade. Dig deeper and it will stick with you much longer.
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
Yesterday my (almost 13 year old) son, who has become quite the avid reader, picked up my current book and asked what it was about. I immediately responded “Doesn’t matter. It’s not a kids’ book and you’re not going to read it.”My reaction visibly startled him. We both frequent the “teen” and “adult” sections of the library equally. As often as not, I pass on to him the books I’ve just finished – and vice versa. While I am aware of what he’s reading and have on the rare occasion vetoed a choice, I don’t know that I’ve ever shut down an inquiry quite so forcefully. In truth, I reacted the way I did because the book made ME uncomfortable in spots and certainly addressed issues I’m not quite ready for my child to broach. And that realization got me thinking. How DO we define young adult literature?
Obviously there are books/series that are written, marketed and published with a young adult audience in mind. But many of those end up popular with the adult crowd: Harry Potter, Twilight. On the other hand, there are books originally written with an adult audience in mind that are now commonly considered young adult reading: Catcher in the Rye, Huckleberry Finn. (It does seem though that modern day literature tends to cross over from young adult to adult rather than the opposite.)
I thought maybe writing from a young adult’s perspective or having a young adult protagonist might be a fair criteria but I can’t even support that idea. Margaret Atwood’s Cat’s Eye and Ian McEwan’s Atonement are both written from the perspective of a young adult but are both considered adult novels.
My son and I just finished a series that I thoroughly enjoyed but would categorize as young adult. On the other hand, I also enjoyed and finished another book (different from the one mentioned initially) but would never let my teen near it. In many ways the two are similar. They’re both fantasy novels containing fey creatures. Both have conflict and injuries and death. Both address relationships and love and sex. But the writing in Series A handled it all in a realistic manner that I felt was still appropriate for my 13 year old boy. Series B was much more graphic.
So is graphic description an indicator of young adult literature? I don’t think that’s a fair criterion just as I don’t agree that language or subject matter is fair criteria. I say this for one primary reason: what I consider appropriate might – most likely – differs from what you would consider appropriate. That being said, I’d love to hear from you guys that work (or have worked) in a book store or library or publishing house. I’d love to hear from you guys that have young adult readers in your life. How do YOU classify literature as young adult?
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
My teaser is from the recently released “American Taliban” by Pearl Abraham.
Seeing his disappointment, Noor offered her little brother. “You can teach Ali,” she said.
Monday, April 19th, 2010
Fiction new releases:
04/20/2010
Other Lives HC (Peter Bagge)
Burning Lamp (Arcane Society Series #8) (Amanda Quick)
Eight Days to Live (Iris Johansen)
Parrot and Olivier in America (Peter Carey)
All That Follows (Jim Crase)
Deliver Us from Evil (David Baldacci)
This Body of Death (Inspector Lynley Series #15) (Elizabeth George)
The November Criminals (Sam Munson)
Edge of Apocalypse (Time LaHaye/Craig Parshall)
The Double Comfort Safari Club (The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series #11) (Alexander McCall Smith)
The Third Rail (Michael Kelly Series #3) (Michael Harvey)
Lucid Intervals (Stone Barrington Series #18) (Stuart Woods)
Super (Jim Lehrer)*
April 26, 2010
The 9th Judgement (Women’s Murder Club Series #9) (James Patterson)
*Added to my “to be read” list
