How can I register as a bookseller?
Our mission at AbeBooks is to help people find and buy any book from any bookseller anywhere. We provide you with essential services and opportunities not available to booksellers through any other listing service – AbeBooks is the best venue in terms of price and value for selling books on the internet.
You will first need to set up an account on AbeBooks if you do not already have one. If you have an account, please click [Sign on] at the top of the website to sign on to your existing account. After signing on, simply click [Sell Books].
To create a new account:
1. Click [Sell Books] located in the red bar at the top of our website
2. Read about the advantages of becoming an AbeBooks seller
3. Click on [SIGN UP NOW to become an AbeBooks Bookseller]
4. Go through the Registration Check-list
5. Click on [SIGN UP NOW to become an AbeBooks Bookseller] at the bottom of the page again and you will be directed to the Registration form
6. Enter the required information in the fields indicated by an asterisk *
7. Click on [Save & Continue] at the bottom of the page
Once you have created your account or signed on, you may continue to our online application. The online application follows the steps outlined below:
1. Bookseller Details & the AbeBooks Agreement
2. Acceptable Payment Methods
3. Banking Information
4. Shipping Rates
5. Credit Card Information for fees
6. Welcome to AbeBooks
Step 1. Enter your Details & Read and Accept the AbeBooks Agreement:
Please enter your information in the fields indicated by an asterisk ‘*’.
This includes your contact information, your preferred currency & terms of sale, shipping terms and inventory management software. After entering your information, click [Save & Continue].
You will then be presented with the AbeBooks Agreement, which has two components:
The Bookseller agreement and the AbeBooks Guide, which has three sections:
- How AbeBooks Works - an explanation of how AbeBooks Web Sites work
- Code of Conduct - outlines the standards expected of booksellers
- Performance Standards - the criteria upon which your participation will be measured
We encourage applicants to read the entire agreement and review the “Fee Schedule” before clicking the [Yes, I Agree With The Above] button. You can now enter your VAT registration (click [Skip] if you are not VAT registered) and then move on to the next step to "Choose Payment Options".
Step 2. Acceptable Payment Methods:
In addition to credit card payments, which are processed by the AbeBooks Payment System, you can select other payment methods you wish to accept. These will be displayed as possible payment options to buyers when they purchase from you.
To select your Acceptable Payment Methods:
1. Select the payment methods you accept such as cheque, money order or PayPal
2. Click the [Continue] button at the bottom of the page
Step 3. Enter Your Banking Information:
In order to facilitate timely payment of funds to our booksellers, we require current bank account information. There is no risk involved when entering your bank details as we will only credit you and never charge your bank account, as we do not have such facilities for direct debits. To add your bank details:
1. Select the [Bank Country] from the drop-down list
2. Enter the [Sort Code]
3. Enter the [Bank Account Number]
5. Enter any additional banking information you wish to provide
6. Select your choice of Payment Currency
7. Click [Add Banking Details]
Note: The sort code and account numbers are located on the bottom of your cheques. If you are unsure as to which information is required, please contact your financial institution for clarification.
Step 4. Review and Accept the AbeBooks Shipping Matrix:
These are the rates that buyers will see and the amounts that AbeBooks will reimburse to you. You will need to accept these rates in order to complete your registration as a bookseller. Once your account is opened the rates can be adjusted. Once you have viewed the AbeBooks shipping matrix click on the [Accept] button.
Step 5. Credit Card Information:
On the first Friday of each month, you will receive by email a statement from AbeBooks detailing applicable fees. If a balance is owing, this will be charged to the credit card you have saved to your account. (If you do not have a credit card, please skip this section).
To enter your credit card details:
1. Click [Credit Card Details]
2. Enter your account details
3. Click [Add Card]
Step 6. Welcome to AbeBooks:
Once all of the above information is submitted, we will review your application and send an email to confirm receipt. Once we have received your application we will contact you to finalise the registration.
Thank you for your application! We look forward to welcoming you to our online bookseller community soon.
What requirements need to be met to participate in your service?
Whether you are a professional bookseller with a shop or a private individual selling your collection you can list on AbeBooks. As long as you accept the bookseller agreement and adhere to the standards that we strive to keep on AbeBooks, we are happy to have you on board.
How much do we charge?
If you are a European bookseller located outside of the UK, click here for the AbeBooks fees in Euro.
Monthly Subscription Rates:
For a reasonable monthly subscription fee, which is calculated according to the amount of books you list, your books will be listed worldwide on AbeBooks.co.uk, AbeBooks.com, AbeBooks.fr, AbeBooks.de, AbeBooks.it and IberLibro.com (our Spanish website):
| Number of Books | Monthly Fees |
| 0 - 500 | £17 |
| 501 - 4,000 | £25 |
| 4,001 - 10,000 | £28 |
| 10,001 - 20,000 | £35 |
| 20,001 - 30,000 | £53 |
| 30,001 - 50,000 | £83 |
| 50,001 - 100,000 | £120 |
| 100,001 - 150,000 | £175 |
| 150,001 - 500,000 | £250 |
| 500,001+ | £350 |
Transaction Fees:
Upon a successful sale via the AbeBooks shopping basket, a sales commission of 8% on the total item amount (book price + shipping + extra charges) is incurred. The minimum sales commission is 30p per book; the maximum sales commission is £22 per book. When processing credit card payments, AbeBooks will charge an additional processing fee as follows:
For orders placed on the AbeBooks.co.uk and AbeBooks.com websites, a 5.5% fee is charged on any total item amount below £275. If the total item amount exceeds £275 a 3.5% fee applies to the remaining total item amount.* Orders placed on the AbeBooks.de, AbeBooks.fr, AbeBooks.it and IberLibro.com websites will be charged at 3.5% for the total item amount.
*E.g. For an AbeBooks.co.uk or AbeBooks.com order totalling £500:
- The first £275 of the total item amount incurs a 5.5% processing fee
- The remaining £225 of the total item amount incurs a 3.5% processing fee
Please Note: The prices quoted above do not include VAT. According to EU regulations, AbeBooks charges German VAT (19%) on sales fees and commissions. If you are VAT registered please enter your VAT registration number in the appropriate field when applying for a bookseller account in order to be exempt from the VAT charge.
How can I pay AbeBooks?
We are flexible in your payment method; we can accept Visa, MasterCard cheque or bank transfer. When you pay us via credit card you enter in the details online and we automatically charge your card each month. This is the quickest payment method. If you prefer you can also pay us via cheque or bank transfer. You will need to await the first Friday of every month and then send us the amount due on your email invoice.
If you wish to pay by Visa or MasterCard, you can set up your payments by entering your credit card information online via our secure server:
1. [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.com bookseller account
2. Select [Your Personal Information]
3. Select [Add or Update your credit card information (for fee payments only)]
To pay via bank transfer please quote your account number as a reference. Your account number can be found at the top of your AbeBooks statements. Our bank details are also contained in your AbeBooks statements.
To pay via cheque please quote your account number on the reverse, make payable to "AbeBooks Europe GmbH" and post to:
AbeBooks Europe GmbH
Ronsdorfer Str 77a
40233 Dusseldorf
Germany
Thank you in advance for your payment. Contact us if you have any questions about how to pay.
How much do we charge?
Monthly Subscription Rates:
For a reasonable monthly subscription fee, which is calculated according to the amount of books you list, your books will be listed worldwide on AbeBooks.co.uk, AbeBooks.com, AbeBooks.fr, AbeBooks.de, AbeBooks.it and IberLibro.com (our Spanish website):
| Number of Books | Monthly Fees |
| 0 - 250 | €15 |
| 251 - 500 | €25 |
| 501 - 4,000 | €37 |
| 4,001 - 10,000 | €42 |
| 10,001 - 20,000 | €53 |
| 20,001 - 30,000 | €80 |
| 30,001 - 50,000 | €125 |
| 50,001 - 100,000 | €200 |
| 100,001 - 150,000 | €275 |
| 150,001 - 500,000 | €350 |
| 500,000+ | €450 |
Transaction Fees:
Upon a successful sale via the AbeBooks shopping basket, a sales commission of 8% on the total item amount (book price + shipping + extra charges) is incurred. The minimum sales commission is €0.40 per book; the maximum sales commission is €32 per book. When processing credit card payments, AbeBooks will charge an additional processing fee as follows:
For orders placed on the AbeBooks.co.uk and AbeBooks.com websites, a 5.5% fee is charged on any total item amount below €400. If the total item amount exceeds €400 a 3.5% fee applies to the remaining total item amount.* Orders placed on the AbeBooks.de, AbeBooks.fr, AbeBooks.it and IberLibro.com websites will be charged at 3.5% for the total item amount.
*E.g. For an AbeBooks.co.uk or AbeBooks.com order totalling €500:
- The first €400 of the total item amount incurs a 5.5% processing fee
- The remaining €100 of the total item amount incurs a 3.5% processing fee
Please Note: The prices quoted above do not include VAT. According to EU regulations, AbeBooks charges German VAT (19%) on sales fees and commissions. If you are VAT registered please enter your VAT registration number in the appropriate field when applying for a bookseller account in order to be exempt from the VAT charge.
What are the benefits of becoming an AbeBooks bookseller?
The benefits of listing with AbeBooks are:
Your books will be listed worldwide - just one subscription and one upload.
With just one upload your titles will be listed on all AbeBooks web sites worldwide - AbeBooks.co.uk, AbeBooks.com, AbeBooks.de, AbeBooks.fr, AbeBooks.it and IberLibro.com (our Spanish website) - thereby reaching customers worldwide in a very simple way!
The world is your customer:
- AbeBooks is the worldwide number one among new, used and antiquarian book platforms and marketplaces
- In total, between 20,000 and 25,000 books are sold daily via AbeBooks
- A considerable amount of these sales are foreign customers ordering from British bookseller members
- The most important international markets for British booksellers are, amongst others, the USA and Pacific Rim as well as neighbouring European countries
- By participating in international trade you are not restricted to such profit limits as experienced at a national level
Secure credit card processing:
AbeBooks will process all credit card payments on your behalf and carry the cost of fraudulent purchases made using credit cards. We will credit you weekly for these sales by Electronic Funds Transfer to your bank account. For this service we charge a 5.5% processing fee per transaction, which is included on your monthly invoice statement.
Access to the AbeBooks international affiliate network:
Alongside operating its web sites, AbeBooks has an ever-increasing network of partner web sites over which your books are sold as well. Known names such as Addall.com and WHSmith are just some to mention.
Have only a few books to sell?
Are you a collector, author or independent publisher? Do you have less than 150 books to sell? You may find that a more direct approach to selling your books can reap better rewards. According to the type of books you wish to sell, consult the options below and take advantage of what AbeBooks can offer.
· Valuable Books - Contact booksellers using AbeBooks who may be interested in listing your particular books through their account or buying them directly from you. Find yourself a specialist dealer or one of your local booksellers through our Booksellers search page.
· Second-hand books - Use our BuyBack programme! Our partner bookseller buys back over 1,000,000 titles including textbooks, trade books, best sellers, cookbooks, coffee table books, and even out-of-print books, and shipping is FREE!
· Writing/Publishing your own books? - Contact your local AbeBooks bookseller to see whether they may be interested in selling your books on your behalf or buying them directly. You may consider referring your publisher to AbeBooks to propose putting their entire catalogue online, including your book/s.
· Want to manage your own AbeBooks bookseller account? – We would be happy to welcome you to the community! To ensure you are prepared and to give your business the best possible start on AbeBooks, please read through our information pages before starting the bookseller registration form.
Need more information?
