In my last post I revealed my personal eBay niche for the very first time – my very own money making niche on eBay!
and I demonstrated how I make great profits by simply buying books online and flipping them intact on eBay!
In this post I will demonstrate the far more lucrative money making method of selling the original plates (illustrations) removed from books that are out of print.
Step One
Similarly to method #1 the first step is to run a completed listings search on eBay for my niche keywords “Cecil Aldin”
Unlike method #1 we are not looking for sales of intact books, we are looking for successful sales of plates that have been removed from books (a gallery image showing a matted/mounted print is a good indication the item originates from a book)
This is an excellent example:
NOTE: Click on ALL images to enlarge!
Step Two
The next step is to examine the seller’s description for clues to the source of the print
This seller tells us that the print is a bookplate “from the spectacular book – An Artist’s Models published in 1930”
Step Three
The next step is to return to our book search and price comparison website – addall.com to search for the title
We are looking for the cheapest copy (the condition of the book is not critical so long as the plates are unmarked)
This bookseller’s description doesn’t confirm how many plates the book contains but a quick glance down the other seller’s descriptions will usually provide this vital piece of information
We can now calculate the cost per plate of $5.31 ($85 divided by 16) which will help us to decide whether or not this book is a good investment.
Step Four
The final step that I recommend is to return to your eBay completed listings to see if any further plates from the same book have sold recently. It is always safer to base your buying decisions on an average eBay sale price calculated from several successful sales.
In this particular case, the same eBay seller had sold several other plates from “An Artist’s Models”
The average eBay sale price is $25.80 ($29.37 plus $27.13 plus $20.90 divided by 3)
Do remember to take into account your costs (mat kit, rigid envelope, eBay and PayPal fees) before making your buying decision.
I reckon that there is an average net profit of $15 per plate after taking ALL costs into account which represents a potential profit of $240 for the whole book.
Is this an acceptable profit for the work involved?
Obviously the answer to this question varies with the individual but do remember that you only have to write one eBay auction title and description for each book and then simply change the image for each individual plate.
Once the initial research is done and you have sourced your book I reckon that your total time investment including scanning the plates and creating the auction listing is around 4 hours maximum (With a little practice you can mat and pack a plate in around ten minutes!)
Book Research and Sourcing
Of course, it is researching and sourcing the RIGHT books that is the most challenging part of this business model but don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!
I have put together a highly detailed and comprehensive course that will transform you from novice to expert in this niche!
Introducing> The Cecil Aldin “Instant Expert” Course
click the link to find out more
Talk soon!
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How do I use my Voucher Code (Pieces Make Profits) to Purchase the
Cecil Aldin Instant Expert course ?
Hi Charles
I have sent you an email!
Stuart
I’d rather print the images as needed as they are ordered on ebay.
I have several thousands of public domain images that would make great framed wall hangings.Do you think this is a workable idea.or maybe you could suggest something better.
Thank you for your amazing blog.Your an inspiration to us all.
Regards,
James
If I was to buy the program, does it tell you where to fine the print, then buy the print or book, then resell it on ebay?? The print that is. I get it but again I don’t.
I am a little confuse in a sense.
Hi Toni
My Prints Make Profits ebook provides an overview of the business model and shows you how to carry out the research to identify your own profitable print niches.
For a quicker, easier start you should check out my Proof guides. I provide fully researched niches with the actual book titles that you can buy today plus typical eBay sale prices so you have a good idea how much money you can make.
Sorry fat finger syndrome. That the coverless book to the print shop. It took about two minutes to have it cut perfectly. Thanks for all your advice Judy kid_rancher.
Hi Stuart, I always read you emails because they have such a wealth of tips, and great information. Here is a tip for you and you following! A great way to cut the pages out of PD books is to take the book to the print and have them use their large paper cutting device. Simply remove the cover of the and their machine do the work of cutting the pages out all at once. I got min out out in about two minute for FREE . Just s tip you may want to pass on to your readers. Judy kid_rancher.
Stuart thanks for sharing. I have purchased Prints Make Profits and a proof set and I am ready to go. The book/source does take a little practice so I am looking foward to your next post. I do want to be clear myself though, your instructions in PMP are crystal clear. It just takes some doing to get the hang of it.
Thanks again,
Ric
This is great – a real business that sells real products, unlike so may ‘internent business opportunities’ out there.
Keep up the good work.
Looking forward to the next post about this.
I bought Print Sorcery but never did anything with it. I think I need to give it another go through and figure out the steps of “how” because as a bookseller I am in contact with thousands of old books and this would be a logical step for me.