Half.com vs. Amazon

**Telephus44** · 09-25-2004, 04:46 PM

I have been selling old textbooks and a few other misc. items on Half.com for almost a year now. When they announced that they were closing Half.com, I decided that I would stick it out to the end and then relist all my items on Amazon.

Now that they are no longer closing Half.com (got the email about it yesterday) I'm wondering if I should stick with Half.com or move to Amazon anyways? I have mostly textbooks. If anyone has any experience selling textbooks on both and has a preference, I'd love to hear it. Any suggestions or comments?

**Goodwin17** · 09-25-2004, 06:38 PM

Hi Sara,

I moved mine to Amazon when I first heard that Half was closing. I've sold a lot recently, and I feel like I'm more successful on Amazon. I'm even selling books I never thought I'd sell.

**doodlebug** · 09-26-2004, 10:55 PM

I don't sell books but I do buy quite often and I always buy from Amazon, I've never bought books at Half. I just always think of Amazon when I want books. So it might be that others are like me and you'll do better with Amazon. Just a thought!

**kimmee** · 09-27-2004, 12:23 AM

I also Buy at Amazon - I trust their sellers and I feel it is the more likely place to have what I want. Just for your selling info...
Dana_(doodlebug) Thomas looks like my Shtinkee!!

**kaykwilts** · 09-27-2004, 10:38 AM

I list my stuff on both. When an item sells on half.com or vice versa I immediately go and unlist it where I have it listed so I don't sell the same item twice. There are some items that I can't list on Amazon because people price them too low for it to be worth my time. After Amazon's commission I have to make a little bit for it to be worth my time. Amazon's cut is a little larger than on half. I've never purchased anything used off Amazon but do it all the time on half.com. Usually I can get it for a cheaper price at half.com. Amazon charges a higher shipping rate.

**dolphin** · 10-24-2004, 01:34 PM

Ok, this is news to me about half.com not closing. I just listed on ebay in June and sold some books but not nearly what I would have liked to have sold.

I mostly have reading and how-to books to sell. I stopped listing them when it seemed I wasn't making more than a dollar or two off of the books.

I didn't even realize I could sell them on Amazon! I thought that was only for business'.

Think I will check into half and see what it's all about.

I am also one who only thinks of Amazon when I want to buy a book.

**Ellise** · 10-24-2004, 04:59 PM

I don't sell either but I do buy and it's usually from Amazon.com

**Telephus44** · 10-24-2004, 09:01 PM

In case you're curious - here's what I did.

At least for what I sell, Half.com takes 15% and Amazon takes $.99 PLUS 15%. Since I sell a lot of $1 and $2 books, it really didn't seem to make sense to move to Amazon. I listed 2 books, both priced in the $6-$9 range. I did sell one, the other I recently unlisted because I am moving and can't fulfill orders now.

Personally, I enjoy selling on Half.com more - I think that they have better communication with the sellers and that their pricing structure is a little more reasonable. I also like that Half.com will let me go on "vacation mode" rather than unlisted and re-listing my inventory.

As a buyer, I have always found books, CDs, DVDs cheapest on Half.com. Particularly textbooks. As I am mostly trying to declutter my library and not out to make a ton of money, I'm going to stay with Half.com. I'm sure Amazon probably has more traffic, but I'd rather stick with Half.

Sara