| I've tried dozens of home-based businesses, and I | | | | usually cost $1-$3 at most places I shop). |
| must say most of them are too much work, have | | | | Once I get home, I use a scanner I have hooked up |
| too much risk, or just get downright boring after a | | | | to my computer, and special software I have |
| while. I began selling used books online a few years | | | | creates a listing for each book, CD, or DVD every |
| ago, and to this day it's still fun and very profitable. In | | | | time I rescan the bar code. I put a price on each |
| fact, I no longer depend on the income from the | | | | one, based on the books that are currently offered |
| business, but I keep doing it because it's so much fun! | | | | on Amazon, assign a condition to the book |
| You may be thinking that it would be a big hassle to | | | | (acceptable, good, very good, like new, or new). |
| run a business like this, and that you don't know | | | | Then by hitting one button my book is listed on |
| anything about which used books are valuable enough | | | | Amazon. I can usually list 60 or more books per hour. |
| to buy and resell. That's what I thought when I | | | | Then, every couple days I start the software again |
| looked into it as well. But read on, you'll be surprised | | | | and it gives me a report of which books, CD's and |
| that selling used books online is anything but. | | | | DVD's sold, and for how much. I then automatically |
| A couple times a week, I visit garage sales in my | | | | generate postpaid sticky labels on my printer, wrap |
| area, and stop by a few thrift stores to see what | | | | the books in manilla envelopes or CD mailers, and |
| they have gotten in lately. I'm actually after newer | | | | apply the label. I can usually pack 15-20 books in one |
| non-fiction books, and I can quickly look over what is | | | | hour that sell for a total of $75 - $200. Every two |
| there and skip 75% or more of what is available. For | | | | weeks, Amazon makes a direct deposit into my |
| the ones that are left, I just use my book scanner | | | | account for $750-$1500. After deducting my shipping |
| (an inexpensive bar code scanner that scans the UPC | | | | expenses I usually clear over $2000 each month - |
| symbol on the back of the book) and check about 1 | | | | enough to make my mortgage payment. |
| book a second. My scanner makes an audible noise | | | | With the tools that are out there, you can make |
| every time it finds a book that sells for $4 or more | | | | good buying decisions on the books you look at, list |
| on Amazon. | | | | and ship them easily, and collect a nice payment from |
| I then buy my selections (which can be worth | | | | Amazon every 2 weeks. Best of all, "treasure |
| anywhere from $4, $7, even $100 each) and pay 25 | | | | hunting" for books is a thrill. You'll see what I mean |
| cents - $2.00 per book depending on the place I'm | | | | the first time you scan a book that's worth $75 with |
| buying. I also be sure to scan CD's and DVD's, these | | | | a $1.00 price tag on it! |
| can be sold as well and sell for $4-$50 each (they | | | | |