|
|
|
|
TomFolio.com Takes Lead as Most Popular Sales Venue For Used Books
|
| |
Republished from the Journal of International Booksellers
|
| |
www.intlbooksellersassociation_TomFolio
Journal of International Booksellers
April 1, 2010
by Marilyn Bookman
TomFolio.com, a cooperative of professional booksellers of used and rare books, has taken the lead as the world's most popular bookselling website. With a database of millions of books and thousands of booksellers from around the world, the organization has drawn in a variety of customers. As president Will Fischer put it: "We attract librarians, students, collectors of modern first editions, scholars who are researching and writing their own works, authors of all genres, and just about anyone that may be interested in topics as wide-ranging as railroad history, construction and do-it-yourself books, and topical subjects such as conservation and the environment." The sheer variety of subject matter handily 'shelved' for browsing can be seen at TomFolio's main category page -- http://www.tomfolio.com/bookcategories.asp --, where there are over 3,000 subcategories, anything from fly-fishing to canoeing, from gardening to agriculture.
"We're currently celebrating our 10-year anniversary, and we didn't expect to arrive at the forefront of the market so quickly" said Fischer. "The downturn in the economy is actually helping our co-operative model. As sales have dropped most private companies can no longer offer the same level of support to booksellers, and have actually increased fees to maintain profit margins for shareholders. So we aren't surprised at the disgust voiced against large players in the industry that have steadily increased their rates across the board -- from basic listing fees, to credit card processing fees, to fees for commissions on each sale. Our book co-operative doesn't operate that way. The only way in which fees can increase is if our members vote for it. We are in fact looking into lowering our fees as more members come on board, so that's just one of the benefits of belonging to a bookseller co-operative. The larger the membership the lower the rates. Not rocket science, to be sure, and we're glad our colleagues are realising it."
Given the success of the co-op model, I had a few more questions for the busy president:
Q: What are TomFolio's immediate plans for the future?
A: I'm glad you asked that for we've just completed a number of things on our immediate to-do list. So let me start with that. We needed new server capacity, so we added that. As the need arises -- soon, no doubt -- we'll increase server capacity again. We thought it would be a very nice perk for any seller who lists or joins TomFolio to be allowed not just a TomFolio website but also a personal website where they have near-full control of content and design. So we did that. Many members have expressed their gratitude in saying that the websites alone are worth the price of admission (the monthly listing fees). Several members mentioned we should have Google Analytics built into those websites so any seller with a Google account is able to track visitors to their websites. We instructed our webmaster to comply with those wishes of our members, and she swiftly introduced analytics to the websites. Various committees are working hard writing and compiling new content for the website, so new content is being added daily. All the various committees have their own to-do lists, and I couldn't list all of them if I tried to. This is a very exciting time for us.
Q: We won't mention names here, but one large auction site in particular is increasing their fees dramatically, and sellers there are closing their accounts en masse. Do you think TomFolio will also attract sellers that have dealt almost exclusively through auction?
A: We've already seen some evidence of this with new subscribers. There's little doubt at the disenchantment -- anger even -- levelled at online auctions desperate to keep up profits for their shareholders, who in most cases aren't many people at all! It's a distressing time for many people in the trade, and for 10 years we've worked hard to offer them a remarkably good alternative they are fortunately discovering now. A word of caution here, however. TomFolio doesn't allow just anyone to join the co-op. Much of the frustration many sellers have with existing large bookselling venues can be summed up in two words: megasellers and resellers. The former often offer books at $.01 but charge very high postal rates. Their listings also lack description, or a generic description is provided -- something like "acceptable, book may or may not contain highlighting.", etc. The others -- the resellers -- don't even own the stock they list, but rather pirate other bookseller listings and add a huge mark-up on the price. Both of these types of sellers can have millions of books for sale, and the co-op allows neither of them to join. They are unprofessional and it is our opinion that any organization or bookselling venue that allows these types of sellers on their websites is also unprofessional. To put a check on these kinds of shenanigans, all stores who list on TomFolio must agree to a Code of Ethics, which can be found here: http://www.tomfolio.com/tomfolio/ethics.asp
Q: The TomFolio website certainly looks impressive. Can you tell us just one new feature that we can look forward to seeing in the next little while?
A: We don't have anything to hide; no one will mind me saying that an author pseudonym feature will soon be a major new addition. That should attract another large influx of not just new buyers, but also of sellers who will quite rightly be impressed with the amount of work that can be accomplished when booksellers own and control their own multi-dealer website; when sellers work together toward a common goal, a goal that does not have profit as the only underlying motive.
Q: If I was one of these disenchanted booksellers you mentioned, how would I go about joining the co-op?
A: There are a number of steps, not the least of which is agreeing to the Code of Ethics already mentioned. I will only add that member volunteers have put all the requirements for joining together in one handy spot, which is here: http://www.tomfolio.com/JoinTomFolio.asp . Rest assured that upon your successful application you will be part of a real community of booksellers and not a simple cog in a machine operating at the whim of a private owner who never consults with you about content or changes to a website which you, at least in part, earn your living from.
Thank you for the interview.
"Thanks for the opportunity!"
|
Here
|
|
