How Can They Afford This.

[Caran]

I have just bought a book from Amazon. It is a reference book about 2.5" thick. Ok it's not a modern one, 9 years old. Cover price is £14.99.
I bought it for 14p! Postage was £2.80. What do they get out of selling at this low price. This isn't a one off, I have seen lots like this before.

[Rockrose]

Could be old stock, maybe the book has been reprinted.

[sunny-dave]

They're making (about) £1.50 on the postage to add to the 14p.

[ Amazon sets the minimum postage at £2.80 for books from Marketplace sellers - regardless of the actual cost ]

[Caran]

I didn't know about minimum postage charge. Even so seemed to be a bargain.

[puzzled54]

Sometimes it’s nice to know that your old unwanted stuff goes to someone who actually wants it rather than sending it to a charity shop

[Cloverjo]

SunnyDave//dave They're making (about) £1.50 on the postage to add to the 14p. [ Amazon sets the minimum postage at £2.80 for books from Marketplace sellers - regardless of the actual cost ]//

Amazon then takes 15% back off for its fees and more. The seller would have made buttons.

I sold a book today through Amazon that the customer paid £5.80 for including postage. After Amazon’s fees and the courier charge I get about 80p.

[Cloverjo]

In answer to Caran, small sellers like me sell books that we know people want despite us not making any money. The big sellers get better rates from Amazon, and possibly couriers too.

[jno]

I give my old books to charity shops, which will probably try to sell them at 50p or £1. I get nothing, the shop maybe makes £1, out of which it will have to pay its own overheads, and risks making nothing at all, and volunteer staff get nothing. Selling through Amazon at least means someone who wants the book gets it, the seller gets something, postal/courier people get something and Amazon gets rich.

Over to you as to which is the better system, really.

[Cloverjo]

Amazon’s fees are ridiculous.
But still I sell through it and buy from it. [Sigh...]
At least Jeff Bezos’s latest ex-wife is planning on doing some good with her vast share of his fortune.