Bookseller Digest UK

Improved storefronts for AbeBooks booksellers

Since launching in April 2009, the AbeBooks Booksellers storefronts have attracted many new visitors, thanks to their excellent exposure on some of the biggest search engines.

To further encourage their use by customers and to allow for easier navigation of your catalogues, two new features have been added: an advanced search feature and a direct link to the complete list of your offers.

The link "List this Seller's Books" gives the buyer quick access to your full list of books. The buyer can then refine their search or classify books according the criteria of their choice.

The Advanced Search function allows buyers to search from your inventory using all fields of advanced search including binding, signed copies, first editions, etc.

Sellers are encouraged to share their storefront address with their customers, to keep them updated on any new updates.

More information on customising your storefront can be found in our help pages.

New Sort Order "Lowest Total Price" on all AbeBooks websites

In July 2009 we announced the test run of a new sort order function of the search results on AbeBooks.com.

The Search Results are no longer sorted based on the book price only, but are now sorted according to the total price (book price and shipping cost). Buyers can still, by default, select UK sellers to be shown first and can also save their search preferences in their AbeBooks accounts.

Based on successful test results, the new sort order has been implemented permanently on AbeBooks.com.

We have now begun to test the new sort order function on all other AbeBooks websites. Currently, half of the visitors to the European AbeBooks websites can select the new sort order function by price (book price plus shipping cost). The shipping charges displayed are related to the sellers shipping matrix, based on the country of the buyer.

To change your shipping costs and delivery times visit our Seller Help Pages for detailed instructions.

On the hunt for interesting new offers?

Collectors and antique dealers are constantly searching for unique books recently listed for sale.

A new search function now allows you to search for books newly listed on our marketplace. Now you can limit your search to include new listings from the last 24 or 48 hours on AbeBooks.

For example, a search result using the keyword "space travel" reveals 35 hits. (There are currently well over 7,000 offers with that keyword.)

This new feature allows dealers, specializing in specific genres of books, to quickly and efficiently buy items for their own unique clientele.

Collectors can now make targeted searches, without having to go through results they've already seen.

Try it out!

Catherine Smith Joins the AbeBooks Team

You may have recently noticed a new name on the Bookseller Digest!

Earlier this month I joined the AbeBooks team, succeeding Sarah Marshall, in the role of Sales & Account Management. In this position I will be responsible for the communication with our UK sellers, working to recruit new sellers, and organizing events and other projects.

Originally from Toronto, Canada, I hold a degree in Political Science and Corporate Communications. Before moving to Germany I worked in marketing and communications within the Canadian bookselling industry.

My favourite authors include Jane Austen, Paolo Coelho and Michael Ondaatje, but I enjoy reading just about anything!

I'm looking forward to keeping you posted on the Bookseller Digest and getting to know you and your businesses better!

HomeBase 3.0 Beta 2 Released

We are very happy to announce the release of a new test version of HomeBase 3.0 Beta. We have reviewed all of the feedback from booksellers and many suggestions have now been incorporated into the newly updated Beta version of HomeBase 3.0!

Before downloading HomeBase and trying it out, we would strongly advise you to go through the Read Me page which explains exactly what a Beta version is and gives more information about the known issues with the program.

Rundown of the main features:

• Price Comparison and ISBN look-up tools
• Easy to use upload to AbeBooks
• Multi-select Edit and Delete
• Quantity field
• Import and export in various file formats (including Amazon Book Loader and UIEE)
• Accepts 13 digit ISBNs

If you wish to download and try out the new Beta version of HomeBase 3.0, please note that it is not necessary to uninstall the previous version of HomeBase 3.0 Beta. Simply download the new HomeBase 3.0 Beta from the link below, double-click on the file to install it and follow the steps until the final confirmation. Your data will be automatically imported and your options retrieved.

You may want to take the opportunity to have a look at the new features and improvements included in the latest release. More details can be found on the download page.

Download HomeBase 3.0 Beta 2 now!

You can consult our extensive help pages that are now available online for HomeBase 3.0 Beta. As always, if you have any questions or require any assistance, our Customer Service Team will be happy to help.

New Price Comparison tool available through your AbeBooks account!

When you create new listings, it is often useful to check if there are other copies available on AbeBooks and at what price. By doing so you can ensure that the listing you create is attractive in relation to those that it will appear with.

In order to make this process easier, we have added a Compare Prices link to the Inventory Management page:

1. Sign on to your Members Menu
2. Click on the link "Your Books" and then "List and maintain your books"
3. Search for the book that you would like to use the Price Comparison for and click "View Items"
4. Click "Compare Prices" underneath the price of your chosen book

A page will then open with the lowest and the highest prices currently found on the site for books which match the book you have searched for.

Tips and tricks:

• To widen the scope of the comparison, we would recommend that as few fields as possible are filled in the search table. To see how the system has searched for comparable books and amend the criteria, click on the link "Refine Results" and change the search criteria.

• Similarly, if you are using this tool at the time of creating your new listings, we would recommend that you compare the price before entering the book description (eg. click on Compare Prices straight after entering the Title and Author)

New Order in Search Results on AbeBooks.com

You may have already noticed a different look and feel to the AbeBooks.com search results...

We are currently testing a new feature that displays the search results with the lowest total book price including shipping first, rather than the current sort order which is based on the lowest book price only. 

The style of test we are using is called an A/B test, which means that 50% of our users will see the new price plus shipping sort order in the search results and the other 50% will see the usual search results.

If you are logged into your account and have specified a country, the shipping rates displayed will be calculated based on the rates from the bookseller's country to yours. Previously shipping rates displayed in the search results were just to the bookseller’s country.

We hope the results of the test will help us to make informed improvements to the website in the future which will help you to sell more books.

High Value Orders and Security on AbeBooks

Every day valuable and unique books are ordered over AbeBooks. We like to inform you of the most expensive sales each month through this blog and on the front page of the Rare Book Room:

Top 10 Most Expensive Sales for June

Top 10 Most Expensive Sales for May

Top 10 Most Expensive Sales for April

Orders of high priced items are especially important for booksellers on the site and for AbeBooks. Therefore, we have introduced various security measures to support the secure and successful clearance of your orders.

Before we forward high value orders to you, they are submitted to security checks. As a result, you do not have to worry about accepting and processing any high value orders you receive.

When these orders are cancelled after clearance, it is frustrating for the buyer, the bookseller and for ourselves. For this reason, we look into all of the high value order cancellations made on the website on a daily basis.Through this measure, we can solve any technical difficules and answer questions on order processing very promptly. Where possible, we also try to help booksellers to receive this sale again and successfully process the order.