which book selling site makes the least commission off the sale of your book?

Question

which of these book selling sites makes the least commission off the sale of your book? (that way you profit the most)
the sites are ebay, amazon maketplace, or half.com
any other sites you know off are much appreciated

Sorry, but i didnt mean I was a novelist. I am just a causal seller who wants to sell his student textbooks on the most profitable site for me? (techinically its no profit but i want to get the best resale price so i dont lose as much money)
sorry for making my question not too clear, but thanks for your detailed response, i really learned alot about publishing :)

Answer 1

You have it backwards. You make commission off your book. And it is your publisher who sets the commission not the seller.

Let me explain to you. In traditional publishing, your publisher will;l set the price of your book at 6 times the cost of producing it. Generally with a hardcover book that will come to about 24.95, That is an average price these days. Your commission is 10% of sales - which would mean you make $2.49 per book.

The average first print run for a new author is about 15,000 copies. That means if you sell all 15,000 books, your commission is $37.450 less the 15% your agent gets. If your agent is good, they will get you a 50% advance of that $37,350 or 8r $18,750 less the agent's 15% - netting you $15,973.75 before taxes. If your book sells 7,7501 copies, you start earning $2,49 less 15% for the agent plus taxes for every book you sell up to the total run of 15,000.

As a result, many authors hire a marketing firm using their advance to try and push their book so they can hit those magic numbers where they actually start earning money. The advance becomes an investment in the future sales of the book. Very few publishers go out on a limb and offer any advertising budget for a first time novelist. In my experience, they talk about it, but it never happens.

If you sell all 15,000, a good agent can get you a better deal for a second print run. If you fail to sell 7,500, you owe your publisher a refund of the part of the advance that didn't sell. If your books wind up on the bargain table, you make ZERO profits no mater how many copies sell.

Now, let's take it even further. Let's say Costco or BJ Warehouse decides to carry your book. They sell books for about 50% off the cover cost. Your book now sells for $12.45. But since it still costs the same amount to print, YOU the author take hit. The difference comes from your share of the profits. The benefit is that your book is available to more people and can potentially sell more copies, which would increase your profits - even though you are making less per book.

The same goes for any site where your book is discounted - that discount comes from your share.

Another thing you should know is that if your book is positioned in a large bookstore on one of those tables inside the door as a "Featured Book", your publisher pays for that space and guess who pays the bill? You do.

You really have to learn to advocate for yourself. You need to learn as much about the publishing business as you can.

And this just applies to traditional publishing with a traditional publisher. The situation with a vanity publisher is MUCH worse. Pax - C

Answer 2

Wow......persiphone must have worn out her fingers typing that one.

About your question. I've heard some complaints about how Amazon has recently change their fees.
Read the fine print.
Ebay takes a percentage, and there is shipping cost which is usually paid by the buyer, and affects the final cost to the buyer, which may make your books less attractive to them.