Selling On The Internet

I am amazed at how difficult it is to set up an account and sell books on the Internet. It’s not so much the regulations involved, more how difficult certain sites make it just to register, as if they really don’t want you to use their site, don’t want to earn their (often exceptionally high) commission.

We’ve been through it all on Amazon and eBay. And, to be quite frank and honest, I am simply fed up with both of them. One hundred percent. Fed up doesn’t mean that I do not intend continuing: it is madness for a small business to lock itself out of potentially lucrative marketplaces, but I do not see our future on either one of these platforms. We will, eventually, be listed on Amazon, and the unwary can buy our publications there, but it will never be a main source of income, a stalwart of our business. Their policies, their obstructions have made it so.

And then there are other sites which make it easy, which assist, which do not smother you in forms and irrelevant regulations. One of these is Etsy, where we opened our shop today, and where we are able to offer our books at the price they are meant to be sold at: € 3.50 plus postage. The fees we need to pay make this possible, and show up the grasping demands of the giants. With one simple set-up we are able to sell our books throughout the world. Amazon and eBay (which isn’t really a suitable area, but still…) demand separate accounts or long and complicated procedures to get the same effect.

Of course, our own Shop is still there and always will be, there is nothing better than selling direct!

Love & Kisses, Viki.

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