Linda, you asked about selling books on Amazon. If you shop on Amazon you've probably noticed the "New and Used" links. If not, go to a book listing and take a look. For example, if you go to Inca Moon. You'll see that Amazon sells it new for $37.00, but used copies start at $24.99.

If you click on the Used link, youÂll find three copies in varying conditions. The highest price is for the copy in the poorest condition. ThatÂs because the highest price is always at the bottomÂthe first seller to post his book. Why he thought he could sell a used copy in not very good condition for way more than double the price of a new one is beyond me. But there it is. The next seller (middle listing) came along and listed a "Like New" copy for a much more reasonable price. Another mystery is why the third seller (top listing) listed his copy for the same price as one in better condition, but online selling is full of little mysteries!

Anyway, the top price is always the lowest, or one of the lowest. The way it works on Amazon is that everyone tries to get a book sold by beating the existing best price. The prices on some books go all the way down to a penny. I donÂt know how (or why) sellers can do this, but IÂm not interested myself. Plenty of the books I sold on eBay went for $5, but these days if I donÂt think I can get at least $8, I donate the book to the library book sale or the animal shelterÂs thrift shop.

On the right side of the screen is the Price at a Glance box. In the box it says "Have one to sell?" and a Sell Yours Here button. If you click on that button youÂll get easy directions for listing your book. No photos to take. All youÂll need to do is name your books condition, describe the condition (naming any good point or bad), set your price, and say whether or not you agree to provide faster shipping (for an additional fee) if requested. The listings stay up for a period of time (I forget how long), and if the book doesnÂt sell by the end of that period Amazon will ask if you want to renew the listing. ThatÂs about it. Amazon collects the money, takes its cut, and direct-deposits the rest into your bank account once a month. They will email you to let you know the total.

Of course, books arenÂt the only thing that Amazon sells. You can sell all sorts of things. A friend of mine sold her computer on Amazon, for instance.

Let me know if you have any questions. I started writing this in the middle of the night when one of the dogs woke me up to go out. :-)

Susan