The Collectible Book Blog

eBay: Tips on Buying Books

The online auction monster eBay is a great source for you as you build your library of collectible books. Your intrepid blogger purchases books from this source many times per week; sometimes many times per day.  And since I purchase mainly for resale, you should gather that as a collector, you can find some real bargains.  Unless a real bidding war heats up (and we will show you how to avoid that) items on eBay sell for about 30% of a high-end retail value.  This is important to know if you are selling, and a great opportunity if you are buying.  There are always exceptions to the rule, of course, but this is what I have found from my own experience and research.

I assume that you are familiar with eBay, have an account; know the basics, &c.  If not, eBay itself has some great resources, and I am not here to reinvent their wheel.  What I want to share with you is how I buy books, why it has been successful for me since 1998, and let you make up your own mind about what will help you.

Here is what you need to know:  How to search effectively; how to snipe; basic research skills; bidding tactics; and follow-up with the seller. 

There is a particular way that I set up my eBay search feature that lets me get right to where I want to be in the Book category.  Sniping is strangely considered an Evil perpetrated by Big Bidders, but it is simply a tool that allows you to be dispassionate and keep your head in the bidding process.  It also allows you to do other interesting things (laundry, train spotting, découpage, goldfish training, (your own favorite goes here), while the auction proceeds without your physical presence. 

There are ways to quickly find the book that you are looking at on eBay is being offered for sale elsewhere, and at what price.  Has the book been auctioned or catalogued recently by a reputable firm?  If you suspect that the book is scarce, how many libraries in the U. S. currently report holdings?  Is there a bibliography that will tell me more about the book, how many pages it should have, illustrations, points of issue, &c.?

After setting up a sniping program and doing the necessary research, there isn’t much to bidding tactics.  (My bidding tactics are overseen by that tyrant, Mr. Cash Flow).  You will know in what range the book is valued on the market, and will adjust up or down based on your own desires and circumstances.  The only real tactic with a sniper program is choosing the time that the bid is placed on your behalf, and the amount of money you want to spend.

After you purchase, you should contact the seller and ask them to package the book well for shipping.  Some sellers know how to package books properly, others shove them in a manila envelope and hope for the best.  A simple request often solves the problem, and at least lets them know that you are paying attention.

Each of the specifics mentioned above will be expanded upon in our upcoming posts.  Check back soon!