November 17, 2020 - 1:49am
Selling books Inc Cresci
Hey,
So I'm someone who's been baking a long time and have amassed a large collection of books. I'm downsizing though and have rather a lot of bread (I used to work in a community bakery) and assorted other baking books, including Cresci (which is both utterly gorgeous and out of print) the art of leavened dough. It certainly would make a lovely Christmas gift, even if it's to yourself ?
I'm not sure of the best place to try and sell these, any ideas? I can absolutely photograph and list them here if there is any interest of course.
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For something like Cresci I would local options first - Facebook marketplace or craigslist. Pricing it fairly would be complicated - it was very expensive to begin with and the current asking price is stratospheric. Other used books can be sold on Amazon or eBay, but you will lose 25-30% in fees.
Yes, it's difficult, I bought it new. I'm struggling to find it online even second-hand to compare. Have you seen it anywhere recently?
It's in as new condition. Seems after trying on my local Facebook that it's to specialist for our village ?
There's a search aggregator called bookfinder.com that allows you to search for used books. The asking price for a copy of Cresci is over $1000 nowadays, but as you may guess asking is different from getting. I, for example, as much as I appreciate the book, would not pay such a price.
Re: small market: people are often willing to travel a considerable distance to get something they truly want. I'll stress my point again - I sell online, a lot, have been for quite a while. I would be really hesitatant about listing a $1000 book, I think the risks are simply too big.
Ah, I'd not heard of that before. I'll check it out.
Yes that's a terrible price, such a lot for one book, I know it's rare, but still. May I ask you what you might hope to pay/achieve?
I've popped a post with pictures on the sales forum and I'm going to have a think.
It's a very complicated question. I am not sure what the original price in Europe was, but here it was originally sold for $200, and I am not sure I would have jumped on that deal - I've became aware of the book many years ago, and it may have still been available back then, I simply don't remember.
Also, keep in mind that there is a second edition out there, it came out 5-8 years ago, it's dual language, English/Italian, and it does not have all the recipes of your edition and I think it's a smaller format than yours. I've never seen it, as it was never offered here in the US, but my Israeli friend has got it.
Regardless of how you sell, a written inventory will be of great benefit.
In a word-proc or spreadsheet, record:
Title.
Author.
Format: hardcover v softcover.
edition (this is very important. For instance Bread Baker's Apprentice.)
Last copyright year.
Condition: New, like new, very good, good, acceptable, reader's copy. See Amazon for what those mean.
Note markings, underlining, stains, dings and dents, spine condition, rips and tears, owner's name written in. Note if it's signed by author. See Amazon used market for examples.
Has dust jacket or does not have dust jacket.
The above are what many/most purchasers are going to ask, so be prepared. Putting all that in the listing/ad will save you from having to answer the same questions over and over.
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Then do some research on ebay, Abe Books, and Amazon used market to see going prices for books that match your books' conditions.
(Amazon used market: go to the book's main page, then under the price, there is a link to "Used" listings.)
Good luck!
Thank you so much!
Is the Massari book still available?