June Listing Update - High Selling Costs and Pricing

I wrote last month that I haven't been doing well because of five bad reactions to treatments or medications.  I figured out late last week that my continuing problems are likely due to a sixth bad reaction.  I quit that medication on Saturday, and I hope things will start getting better.

I have photographed books for eBay, but I struggle with motivating myself to list them.  The books I'm planning to list are harder to find.  They include some international editions, some library bindings, and books signed by Harriet Adams.  But how to price them?

My costs have gone up and up.  I need to start pricing a good bit higher for desirable items that are more likely to sell.  The eBay fees are steep, and the Etsy fees have increased to the point that Etsy is only slightly cheaper than eBay.  The cost of postage has increased a lot.  Media mail is often only narrowly cheaper than ground advantage, and sometimes media mail is higher.

Packaging costs have increased as well.  Shipping boxes are a bit expensive. 

I'm not interested in selling person-to-person on Facebook.  My transactions need to be streamlined; eBay and Etsy do that for me.  For that reason, paying the high fees is better for me.

As I mentioned, I've pulled out some desirable items to list, most especially some library bindings.  The library bindings are mainly the green APC Nancy Drew books, but I truly don't know what the correct price point is.

I feel like the books could be priced from $20 up to over $50 each.  Some books have the original text, and others don't.  One book is the bright green APC binding which I dislike but others covet.  The bright green APC binding shows up much less often.  That book should probably be priced above $50.

I also have a few of the multi library binding, and I have no idea how to price them, either.  I have less of an idea than I do with the green APC binding.

I thought about auctions, but I dislike auctions both as a buyer and as a seller.

I feel like my best option is to use fixed-price but price on the high end and then wait it out.  If the books don't sell within whatever I consider a reasonable amount of time, then I will gradually lower the prices.

Selling on venues like eBay has become incredibly expensive, but I'm glad people are still willing to pay the fees.  I find eBay to be a great place to shop, and I hope people continue to use it.

Jennifer's Series Books on eBay

Jennifer's Series Books on Etsy