Clean Up Your Inventory Act!
Do you know that managing your inventory when you sell books online can be a very complex thing to do? You can’t just leave everything to chance while running your business. This is particularly true when you sell used books online. You’ll be faced with the problem of building up your stock, reducing it, setting the most ideal pricing, and making a regular inventory of what you currently have on stock.
One problem faced by many booksellers is when their inventory starts to pile up. Having a messy inventory can cost money, and there are seven things you can do to help you reduce and avoid unnecessary book inventory costs.
- One thing you can do is to go the traditional route in getting rid of your surplus used book inventory. If you’ve been selling your merchandise online, try a different tactic. Go for the ever-popular garage sale to get your excess stock moving at a faster rate. You may not be able to sell your books at the same price you set online, but you can still recoup your costs, which is better than getting stuck with non- selling items at a lost.
- Second, be adventurous and get a stall at a flea market. Its a great way to rid yourself of a cumbersome inventory past its marketable prime. While you have to lug everything you need to sell to the flea market, you can be assured of selling your stock to the tons of people that frequent these popular events.
- Third, if you have a lot of the same kinds of books, you might want to open an eBay account and sell your overflowing inventory as lots. There is a good market in eBay for books, used and new. You’ll be surprised at how many people are in search of the types of literature you’re selling. You may want to opt between letting go of your surplus inventory through eBay’s bidding system, or via its “buy it now” feature.
- Fourth, establish a good working relationship with other sellers. This way, they can help you sell your surplus inventory in their own online stores where you get a percentage of the sales. It pays to network with others of your ilk, you never know when you’ll need a favor.
- Fifth, put an ad in the paper, or advertise on Craiglist. These methods have so many categories covering items for sale, and you are sure to find buyers for your overstock to recover your investment.
- Sixth, check the same ads in the paper and scour Craiglist again. Very often, you’ll be surprised to find people in search of the very same items you are selling, and you simply have to send them a private message with a list of your inventory. This way, you don’t have to shell out money to post an ad.
- Seventh, take a look at used bookstores and consignment shops near where you live. These establishments won’t pay you full price for your excess merchandise, but there is a good possibility you’ll get back what you paid for your inventory at these brick-and-mortar stores.
These seven tips will help you with your excess inventory when you sell books online. Keeping your facts straight and being as practical as possible will help you bring your business to the very pinnacle of success. If you sell used books online, you’ll be benefited from these tips aiding you with your surplus inventory.
Interested in selling books online? Please visit my blog, which includes helpful articles, proven online bookselling techniques, and daily updates with new tips and tricks of the trade.
Good posting Adam. Good advice too.
I find that I get boxes of books ‘donated’ to me because friends know I sell books. When they decide to clear off their shelves they bring the boxes to me and I can never turn down a good deal. Free is good right?
As a result I end up with a few boxes that “I’ll get around to.” growing to an unmanageable stack of boxes that I have to work around and I abhor looking at…
I’ve found the trick is to sort the books RIGHT AWAY (or set a time written in stone) into four stacks. Trash, donate, sell and read (& perhaps keep). The sooner this is done the less likely one will find entrance to their storage area blocked by cartons of unknown stock.
Another great way I’ve found to “dispose” of unsold books is to donate. The library or even Goodwill will give you a receipt for your donation and the tax deduction does better than offsetting my initial investment. I like donating to the library particularly–book lovers unite!