Sender: Rare book and manuscripts <EXLIBRIS-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
> A. Kevin buys book at auction for $500 and sells for $2000. Consignor gets
> $340.
> B. Kevin buys book from seller for $500 and sells for $2000. Consignor
gets
> $500.
>
> Which is better?
Uh, that would depend on which Kevin just bought that book. Was it you or
me?
The profit margin would also depend on whether I auctioned it off right away
without making a capital investment in the book, or if I paid for it and did
not sell it for a month, a year, or much longer. The oldest book in my
inventory, by the way, is a first edition of Conrad's SUSPENSE, a fine fresh
copy in a variant binding, priced at $10 (less than I paid for it). It's
been humiliating me from its perch on that shelf since October of 1987. An
auctioneer would have wilted under its steady glare by now, but we
booksellers are tough, although I admit that the initial suspense in the
expectation of selling that book is long gone. I may have to send it to
auction.
> I'd bet 400% markup is the (rare) exception not the rule if you have
> inventory of the caliber of Kevin's.
>
Yup, but a guy can dream can't he?.
Kevin
@
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