Amazon Seller Fees for Books
I thought referral fees for books were 15%, but the “Amazon fees” charged for one book I am selling as an individual are 43% of the sale price. Is this normal? With the cost of the bubble mailer for the book and shipping (via Amazon), that leaves me with $2 at the end even though the book is being sold for $13 plus 3.99 shipping.
Amazon Seller Fees for Books
I thought referral fees for books were 15%, but the “Amazon fees” charged for one book I am selling as an individual are 43% of the sale price. Is this normal? With the cost of the bubble mailer for the book and shipping (via Amazon), that leaves me with $2 at the end even though the book is being sold for $13 plus 3.99 shipping.
0 replies
Seller_Hi7wbO2Kbo6bl
For a $13 book on the individual plan:
Income: $16.99
Referral fee $2.55; closing fee $1.80; individual account order fee $0.99
Fee total 5.34, leaving 11.65
Out of which you much purchase postage and packaging supplies
Seller_AXC06kcsKI1qG
Amazon has an additional closing fee for MEDIA items:
The closing fee is $1.80 per unit sold for products in the Books, DVD, Music, Software & Computer/Video Games, Video Game Consoles, and Video Game Accessories categories.
https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/GKD9U5REK5DKB38Y
Seller_AXC06kcsKI1qG
The $3.99 is a shipping credit that you can use towards the actual shipping cost.
https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/G201051980
It may or may not cover the actual shipping cost.
If it does not you need to adjust your price to cover the difference.
If you had a PRO account you can set your shipping prices.
If you ship 40 orders a month - you will save $$ with a pro account.
Seller_4zBzdtgCyS9EI
uhmm...say what?????????????????
Seller_Hi7wbO2Kbo6bl
Marketplace Facilitator is the sales tax program where the online retailer (Amazon / eBay / ABE, etc) now handle all sales tax. Sales tax is collected and remitted by the site, not the seller.
That tax you speak of is never really in your account -- it's all smoke and mirrors bookkeeping -- they pay it in and take it out -- but it is never really paid in.
At any rate -- it has zero effect on your total income for that sale.
On your $13 book you have $11.65 left after fees.
From this you purchase shipping and packaging which will probably be in the neighborhood of $7 or $8 depending on book weight and how you package.
Other than changing the closing fee from $1.35 to $1.80 several years ago, these fees have not changed.
Seller_nRFmxiQg4EGrw
No. I buy Large moving boxes from U-Haul (18x18x24). Box costs $2.40 (a bit more if you're buying just a few). Cut the sides apart, so you have 4 sheets of 18x42. Each sheet can wrap 3 small or 2 large and 1 small books.
The USPS website specifies that books are allowed, although the rules differ slightly from MM (15# weight limit, books only, must be at least 8 pages bound together). Many sellers use it; I've shipped hundreds of books using BPM; no problems,.
Well, you're selling pretty cheap books. Yes, the "closing fee" makes no sense ( I call it the "Because we can" fee), as it's not charged on any other category, but just the 99 cents will make a significant percentage of such a low priced book.
Just looking at my recent sales, I did have a book slightly cheaper than yours; $12 + $3.99 shipping. After fees and postage, I had $6.99 left, so after packing, still made over $6 on the sale. Since you are on the individual plan, same sale would have netted you a bit more than $5. If it's worth $5 for you to go to the trouble, then do it. If not, then don't.
Seller_SJRMV3s4mNrFA
Selling books on Amazon is a good way to acquire a small fortune....if you start with a large fortune...
Seller_wnc1pjYEF5ZqF
I pay about 8 cents for a 6''x9'' bubble mailer. If your goal is to turn a profit you shouldn't be paying retail price for packaging supplies.
Seller_TooxN03jE4bTC
The simple answer is to raise all of your sell prices.
