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EcommerceBytes-Update, Number 9 - March 04, 2000 - ISSN 1528-6703     Previous | | Next

Half.com - An Innovative Model for Buying & Selling Books, CDs,...

By Ina Steiner
EcommerceBytes.com

March 04, 2000
 



Half.com is a site where you can sell your used, mass-produced items like books and CDs. Everything is at least 50% off. There are no listing fees, but sellers are charged a 15% commission upon the sale of their item; Half.com charges buyers shipping charges, but it appears that it only gives sellers a portion of that fee.

Here's how it works. Once you've placed an order for an item, Half.com notifies the seller of the item you've purchased. Then it emails you as soon as the seller has confirmed that the item will be shipped. After your item has been sent, Half.com charges your credit card. (No seller ever has access to buyers' credit cards.)

Half.com sends checks to sellers up to twice a month, depending on how much you sell. The check to sellers will be for the amount sold minus a 15% commission, plus an allowance to help cover your shipping costs. You can leave feedback for sellers (seller ratings). Half.com does take action in the event of fraud.

"Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets" hardcover book (list price $17.95) was available on Half.com for $8 on March 5. (I checked eBay, and there were multiple copies, one for $8 with no bids, and other copies with higher bids!)

If you've used Half.com, let us know what you think of it - go to http://www.auctionbytes.com and click on the General Feedback Message Forum button.

About the author:

Ina Steiner is co-founder and Editor of EcommerceBytes and AuctionBytes.com and has been reporting on ecommerce since 1999. She's a widely cited authority on marketplace selling and is author of "Turn eBay Data Into Dollars" (McGraw-Hill 2006). Her blog was featured in the book, "Blogging Heroes" (Wiley 2008). Follow her on Twitter at @auctionbytes and send news tips to ina@auctionbytes.com.


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