Amazon’s new restrictions on selling collectible books go into effect today. Last week, they published this warning that sellers must apply for pre-approval to list collectibles such as signed books, first editions, etc. This is a “category” approval, the same red tape you’d face if you began selling toys on Amazon during the Christmas season.
Here are the general requirements for new collectible book listings:
- Sellers in the Collectible Books category must be Pro Merchants, who pay a monthly subscription fee to access the tools necessary to list their products.
- Collectible Books products must be listed using the publisher’s ISBN-10 or ISBN-13, where available.
- For pre-ISBN books or books published without ISBNs where no existing page is found in the Amazon.com catalog, sellers must create new product pages using the following information: author, title, publisher, date of publication, and place of publication.
- Sellers must have low order defect rates and high seller performance ratings on Amazon.com or an Amazon site to be consider for approval to list in the Collectible Books category.
- Sellers must provide a full refund for all items returned within 30 days.
More fine print is on this page. And you can apply for pre-approval here.
Last Friday afternoon, I applied for pre-approval. I never heard back, but I’m guessing I was approved, since I was able to list a collectible this morning. I suspect that approval is automatic if you’ve been selling on Amazon for a certain length of time and your feedback is sufficiently high. It would be nice to receive a form e-mail, though, notifying you of your status.
Below is the screen you’ll see when you apply for pre-approval. At the bottom is the message notifying you that the application was received. (Click on the image twice for an enlarged view0>
When I filled out the form, I indicated I’d have five signed books, five first editions. The form also asks if you have a Web site and a brick-and-mortar store. I’m not sure how this might affect approvals, but I guess what they’re getting at is your qualifications as a bookseller.
I am curious if anyone is having trouble with the approval. I have scanned the message board at Amazon, and have seen this mentioned just once.
http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fbookcycling-20%2F8010%2F45946263-1e40-4d1f-a1e7-effb690070fb&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate
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13 Comments
I applied Saturday. Received Amazon autoresponder e-mail. Amazon follow-up e-mail to follow within 5 business days.
Do you know whether Amazon is getting significant complaints from buyers of collectible books from marketplace sellers?
Interesting that you received an autorespond message. I checked my spam folder for it. Lots of messages about Viagra, nothing from Amazon.
I think Amazon probably does get a lot of static about phony or incompetent collectible listings — whether most of the complaints are from buyers or competing sellers.
It seems the issue is being blamed on “inexperienced” sellers, but my guess is that the bigger problem is megalisters using the collectible category for extra exposure.
Typical of Amazon that it limits this to Pro Merchants. As if being a Pro Merchant makes you any more “professional” and deserving of listing a book as a collectible. Reminds me of how eBay tries to favor the really big guys and Power Sellers over the small guys. Many times, the small guys have the better stuff and are more professional. So be it. I’ll sell my collectible books elsewhere.
I agree with the above post: on the surface, this seems a move designed to protect the buyer & require more accountability on the part of sellers (both good things). But limiting this to Pro Merchants{who merely have the volume, not necessarily any expertise or book knowledge{cuts out the small-scale bookseller. I, too,won't waste my time offering my collectibles on Amazon.
Pro Merchants pay $40 per month for the ability to Upload and Manage Inventory they are more PC and web savvy and YES more Professional – their profile and need desire necessity of such tools as the Pro-Merchant feature offers coincides with offering them the ability 1st and foremost.
Your chiding the PM as opposed to going into the “bad points” cited by the lengthy posted who had really great points; illustrates the difference between “hobby” sellers and Professionals.
I have had argument with AZ's handling of Collectible Books since they 1st "Price Fixed" the category using the excuse of "better prices for Buyers"
Q: How does setting a $10 minimum on a $3 Book now worth $7.50 help the Buyer get a better price?
Q: How does a Jacket Price of $27.50 on a Jackie Collins – whose Signature is worth the ink only – with a Market value LESS than the Jacket Price – help the Buyer?
Q: Just what is the Jacket Price?
If a book has been in steady print for over a decade [10 years] with a steadily increasing Jacket Price. A MAJOR GRAY AREA with regard to AZ's Pricing Guideline/Policy on Collectible Books.
The crux of the matter is AZ is trying to make silk purses out of sows ears. Trying to make EXPERTS or Antiquarians out of it former Buyers. Watching Antiques Roadshow does not an Antiques Dealer make!AZ's Guidelines have always been scant and inadequate and light years away from "BOOK INDUSTRY STANDARDS" [I find it laughable they wanted to know industry affiliations on the form]
There are books available which cover 100's of possible Collectible niches, categories, Authors, Specialty Bindings, Series, Publishers etc. The only analogy I can come up with is AZ is just calling a Nail, "A Nail". there are Horseshoe Nails, Roofing Nails, Cobblers Nails, Wire Brads, Railroad Spikes – you get the idea.
A Book Club edition of a 1st time Author or a recently deceased Author can Skyrocket in value. I had recently sold 3 "2001" BCE's by Arthur Clarke 1 for which was an ex-Library in Acceptible Condition.
It is noticeable AZ does want more descriptions in its Collectible Category. But, what they are asking for should be applicable as a STANDARD for all of its books and Book Sellers.
AZ is dumping on small businesses and large endless man hours of revamping; as opposed to time spent increasing new inventory. This is not my problem as I use the most in depth listing the bits and bytes of each venus I sell on allows
=====OTHER TALKING POINTS I'M TOO ANNOYED TO GET INTO==========
FROM AZ WEBSITE:
"Product Listings
* All listing data and images must be suitable for all ages and appropriate
for our global community. Listing data and images may not depict or contain
nudity or pornographic, obscene or offensive items."
Tom Jones
Naked Lunch [only 2500 printed by Grove Press $1000 each even in worst Condition]
Help > Selling at Amazon.com > Listing > Condition Guidelines
"Not ex-library, remaindered or book club edition"
I have gotten $185 for an Ex-LIbrary "Egyptian Architecture: The Middle Kingdom" by Badawy
AZ still insists on using a "Lke New" grade which causes the most confusion
for Buyers and arguement amongst Sellers
Either it's NEW or not. The industry proerly calls such books "Unread[s]".
Unread: a book purchased,kept in any Shrinkwrap, box or bag or put on a shelf buy never opened or read.
Such an item would be undistinguishable from a "NEW". [Look at books on a Bookself in a B&N;
- some appear "Used" if still on the shelf at the end of its life cycle.
I think that listing my “used” book items here is still going to be OK. The first real problem arises when a small seller has a signed copy of a collectible book.
It looks like only Pro Sellers can offer these now, because they can put these books in the Collectible category.
And no book club collectibles? I agree with Anonymous that sometimes Book Club editions CAN be technically collectible for some people.
I will be looking for another venue for my really nice books now, like others are doing.
My pet peeve is the existence of the penny sellers, who sell books for less than it costs to buy them. It gets really hard for some books to even be seen, because it takes lots of page turnings to get past these for the customers.
I also didn’t like the old requirement of a certain price for a collectible book in that category.
Like Steve mentioned, only pro sellers can sell other items, like used games and toys, near the holidays already. This is just continuing the trend.
Small sellers must take these toy and game listings off during that time. I know because I was contacted and learned about it.
So yes, I think Amazon DOES want more pro sellers, which I guess make more money for them.
Personally, $40.00 a month is really steep for me as a small seller. It’s just not worth it when I don’t make that much selling.
Thank you so much for this great article. I was not aware of this change until I read this today. Great reporting!
“Pro Merchants pay $40 per month for the ability to Upload and Manage Inventory they are more PC and web savvy and YES more Professional – their profile and need desire necessity of such tools as the Pro-Merchant feature offers coincides with offering them the ability 1st and foremost.
Your chiding the PM as opposed to going into the “bad points” cited by the lengthy posted who had really great points; illustrates the difference between “hobby” sellers and Professionals.”
Translation? WHAT is this person talking about????
I am not a “Pro Merchant” but I listed a collectible book today with no problem. Of course, I have been selling on Amazon for a 10 years and have a very good rating. This is the first I have heard of the alleged restrictions.
I am a Pro-Merchant, but I guess I am NOT computer savy enough for Amazon.
I don’t use Excel (I can’t seem to master the cells too well). I use Homebase which I had from when I was on Abe (I gave up when my sales went from $700.00 a month down to around $86.00 in December of 2008). I can still use the template, and I just list directly on Amazon using Homebase as a inhouse inventory system.
I can’t quite figure out HOW I can answer the questions for the Amazon application.
Here is the reply I received from Amazon.
The collectible items form is there for you to give us an approximation of your sales in the collectible books category.
One thing to remember is that all sellers are in the same boat as far as filling out the form goes. I encourage you to sit down and take some time, being patient with yourself and with the process. It will take some time, but it will be over before you know it.
He went on to say that I can learn Excel or another spread sheet program with a little time and energy.
The problem is, as many of you folks already know…I don’t garner a paycheck of any sort unless I make money from my listing. All the time and energy I put into their new ‘survey’ of collectibles doesn’t make me any money.
I already work 60 plus hours a week in a brick and mortar (which includes the hours scouting for books that won’t make me much money, but help pay the bills both online and inhouse). So, this ‘little project’ for them, will be even more hours.
I don’t know about anyone else here, but I hate ‘busy work’ from folks that get a paycheck just by sitting at a desk, who have never been on the other end of the equasion.
Okay done venting!
Anonymous
I didn’t bother applying since I just “quit” being a pro-merchant. For $40 a month in fees, they have to deliver more than one $10 sale a month. I sold more “collectible” books on eBay the last month than Amazon and for better prices. I maybe the exception to the ebay downdraft but I’m happy.
My “collectible” books are now on Amazon as “used” and I don’t need to pay them $40 to do that.
As for qualifications? Maybe they should require that you can write an entire paragraph in English – which would let Anonymous #4 out.
Because someone has $40 to spend for Pro-Merchant doesn’t make them any more qualified than my cat if I give him the $40.
After all, ‘collectibility’ is surely a quality of the book (or of the collector), not of the lister! If I list a collectible book I don’t need to call it collectible if I carefully describe the condition, the edition and other desirable features of a scarce or unusual and special book.
Furthermore, since Amazon expects a shipping subsidy (from at least the Canadian seller), it is not my chosen venue for anything but the smallest and lightest of my acquisitions.