My PA book has been selling on EBay and I never receive the money

Duped said:

I have noticed for the past 2 years that my book has been selling on Ebay in quantities as high as 25 a time,

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Really?! That's fascinating. I browsed through a couple of your posts and couldn't find a title for your book. Can you post or PM a link?

Duped said:

The King's Quinto: The Life and Times of Sir Walter Raleigh 1552-1618.

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Your search - "The King's Quinto" site:ebay.com - did not match any documents.

I searched complete auctions and got

0 items found for "the king's quinto"

Found it on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Kings-Quinto-Walter-Raleigh-1552-1618/dp/1413708285/ref=sr_11_1/102-5094101-5180110?ie=UTF8

Perhaps they didn't sell at all, perhaps the listings just expired. If someone is selling copies that they order from Ingrams directly (and perhaps from other places - I'm not sure how it works) then you'd be able to track those sales on the Ingrams site. (a search of the NEPAT would show you how to do that). Not sure how you'd be able to find out if they ordered from PA. I believe this topic (selling PA books on eBay) has also been discussed on the New NEPAT and certainly the old one. You might do a thread search to confirm.

BrianTubbs said:

http://www.amazon.com/Kings-Quinto-Walter-Raleigh-1552-1618/dp/1413708285/ref=sr_11_1/102-5094101-5180110?ie=UTF8

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Which doesn't provide any record of sales made through eBay.

Dawno said:

Perhaps they didn't sell at all, perhaps the listings just expired.

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In which case, they would still show up under "completed listings." I'm not doubtful that such sales have existed; I just want to see them for myself.

I'm certainly not an eBay expert, so if something was posted for sale and never sold, then is it still a 'completed listing'? I've seen threads to old eBay auctions that when I went to eBay to check them there's not a clue they were ever there...but I could be doing it wrong...just curious.

Dawno said:

I'm certainly not an eBay expert, so if something was posted for sale and never sold, then is it still a 'completed listing'?

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Yes. The seller still pays listing fees, and it stays up viewable for 30 days, which is why you can't find some of those older links You have to have an account and log in to see completed listings. When I was a retailer, I used eBay's average prices for pricing certain collectibles, and checking the final price on completed listings is more accurate than using the prices of auctions still active.

If you want to know who is selling them, go to the seller listed, ask him a question like "Where do you get your merchandise?" Or "Do you own a bookstore?"

I just checked...your book isn't on ebay, its on amazon? I'm not sure where you found it on ebay.

ah - thanks Lloyd - that's good info to know!

Do keep an eye on eBay. If you see your book for sale again, don't be afraid to ask where they got a copy. If it's just a single copy, then it may be a used book store or person reselling a copy, in which case you are not due royalties.

alot of times ebay has ebay stores...which can include small book stores and small outlets...they are not selling ON ebay but are linked as an ebay store and get hits for being on the same subject matter...

Could it be that the seller is actually selling virtual books? That they aren't ordered until someone buys them?

Mine's been on and off eBay since it came out in May of last year, being supposedly sold by one or more entrepreneurs. Nothing ever comes of it. I think they just list 'em to see what they can sell, then they buy one if it does and mail it out. It's always higher, by far, there than if someone just bought one on Amazon - or, gods forbid, from PA itself.

Someone's selling one of my ARC's on ebay. Which makes my publisher crazy, since it says 'not for retail sale' right on the cover. The seller is touting it as a collectible. <snort> Me, doesn't really bother me, someone else will get to enjoy the book. But the pretty illustrations aren't in the ARC. I know of at least two others that were sold.

I also had someone else 'selling' my book, but I think they were phantom copies they 'had' four, but didn't sell any.

PS - if you go and buy the ARC, I'll send you a bookplate. Signed, of course.

Duped said:

The item number for The King's Quinto was 130028122499

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I said I didn't doubt it, Duped. I just wanted to see the details--the bids (if any), where the seller was, and all that.

Withdrawing the item before it ends would explain why it wasn't in the completed auctions list; it wasn't completed.

Sure, shoot me an e-mail at [email protected].

Okay, my google fu shows that Paul2or3 has 3 current or recent auctions featuring PublishAmerica books (he doesn't use the space between the words).

Shipping ranges from $8 to $12 on these books. As is common in eBay auctions, the point is to at least break even on the purchase price and then make your profit in the shipping fees.

He claims to have 25, 54, and 10 available. I think he's making up a number and planning to order to meet demand. I can't imagine why a bookstore would have 54 copies of a POD book on its shelves. Even if they had stocked up for a booksigning, they shouldn't have more than 25 or so.

The first book, Great Gas Mileage, shows a retail price of $12.95 (for a 60-page "book"), which Paul2or3 is offering for $8.05, plus $8.02 shipping. With his bookstore discount, he's probably keystoning.

Edit: Paul2or3 also has Great Gas Mileage listed as a children's fiction book.

Maybe Paul2or3 is someone working for PA? Could be, he has some way of making these books if they want them? Possibly someone who has a PDF and can order these made for a cheap price? I'm not sure...I'm reaching.

Jo Scott said:

Maybe Paul2or3 is someone working for PA? Could be, he has some way of making these books if they want them? Possibly someone who has a PDF and can order these made for a cheap price? I'm not sure...I'm reaching.

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His other auctions show a wide variety of books. With an eBay ranking of over 16,000, it's pretty clear "he" is a bookstore (and probably has 2-3 people using that login).

Listing something on ebay and selling are two different things. The seller is using his own method of drop shipping, meaning he doesn't have any of your books in hand, but if he sells one - he'll order it.

Then you'd get your commision.

Unless he has the pdf and can have it printed out by his own printer.

I said early on that it may be a bookstore, I'm guessing it is, he/she may be listing books they have had in the past or on the computer to just see if anyone wanted them. If they don't sell, the seller has to repost them and it may cost him so much...I've never sold on ebay and don't know if you pay or not? I been scammed once on ebay and once I had a great buy...it depends.