When most people think of selling online many times, they automatically think of eBay. While eBay is still the largest online auction marketplace, its main competitor Amazon is also a great place to sell merchandise. This is especially if you are selling any type of used media such as books, music, and movies. Here are some important things to know to make a profit selling on Amazon.

1. Since people who shop on Amazon are generally looking for the best deal, it’s important to be able to compete to offer the lowest price or at least be very close to the bottom. That means you will have to buy very cheap items.

2. The best places to find used media at very low prices that you can sell on Amazon are thrift stores and garage sales.

3. If you’re looking for books, you’ll have to be picky about what you buy. The kind of books that do well on Amazon are topical. Examples of good subjects that do well are business and finance.

4. If you’re looking for music to sell, your best bet is to stick to greatest hits or compilations.

5. Another area where cost reduction is important is with shipping supplies. Since your markup on the actual product is sometimes low, you can make up for it by making a profit on shipping. Amazon compensates you with a shipping credit. If you buy your mailing and printing supplies at a wholesale discount store, you should be able to make a profit between your shipping credit and your expenses.

6. If you sell more than 40 items a month, upgrade to professional merchant. There is an additional $1 fee for each item you sell that is not charged to any professional merchant, so it saves a lot of money for high volume sellers.

By following my suggestions when selling used items on Amazon, you will be able to increase the profits of your business.