By: Passion Vine House

Beginning Monday, November 30, 2009, we will remove "Collectible" book offers that have not been listed by sellers approved in the category. Once listings are removed, only collectible offers from approved sellers will be available for purchase in the Amazon.com Books store.

The Collectible books category was limited to approved sellers beginning on April 19, 2009. At that time, we posted an announcement indicating that we would provide at least 45 days for sellers to apply for approval to list in the category or to remove their "Collectible" book listings from the website.

I have been selling books on Amazon since day one. I like to think I was way ahead of everyone else as I first heard of Amazon in the mid 90s when they tried to rent an airport hanger close to me to store their inventory. I was such a good cheerleader for Amazon back then that I even got a Christmas present from Jeff Bezos the first year. I have been selling collectible books on Amazon since the very first day they opened the site up to individual sellers. I had bought an author signed book in the Salvation Army for a dime and was shocked and thrilled when someone on Amazon paid me $50 for it. I was hooked. I realised that if I sold collectible books I would have the edge on those sellers who were selling dog-eared mass produced paperbacks.

I have maintained an inventory in excess of one hundred collectible books at all times. All of my books are either signed by the authors or are rare first editions. My average price per book is around $75. I spend hours evaluating books as not all signed books are worth money and certainly not all first editions are of value, for example, a first edition of Sarah Palin's Going Rogue can be bought for less than $5 at the moment. I have enjoyed selling on Amazon and it has been a very profitable endeavor for both the site and myself.

Unfortunately I have watched Amazon.com go down hill over the years. I have seen sellers list the same book over and over again at the same time but each listing has a different price. I have seen numerous sellers list books for one cent but then demand exorbitant postage from their buyers. However, in my opinion the biggest offenders are the sellers who list books as 'collectible' when there is absolutely nothing unique whatsoever about their books. Just because a book looks new doesn't mean the book is collectible.

Now Amazon are cleaning up the site. Only approved sellers are allowed to sell in the collectible category. Unfortunately it is next to impossible for sellers such as myself to qualify as the format is aimed at 'big' sellers, those who own B&M shops for example. My attempt to qualify as an approved seller failed and I was advised I could list my books as 'used' which of course totally devalues my collection. My small collection is of no value to their site.

Here is another saying from my childhood, "The game is over when one side decides to no longer play". I am leaving Amazon. I am moving on to an alternative selling venue. Trouble is I don't know which one. Does anyone know of a venue that had the foresight to plan ahead to pick up the many thousands of book sellers like me who are being cut loose by Amazon.com?