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I'm always looking for ways to expand my bookselling business on Amazon.com, and within the past year I've dabbled in foreign-language books. After a rocky start, just recently I stumbled onto a new way of discovering which of these non-English books are in demand.
Every few weeks, when business is slow, I take a drive to an out-of-the-way bookstore where the prices on used copies are low, usually $1 to $3. Last winter, I realized that I had combed through every shelf in the store except for one - the foreign-language shelf
So, I took a deep breath and gambled on a few dozen foreign language books. I grabbed armfuls of fiction, nonfiction and children's books in Spanish, French, German and Italian. It was a crapshoot. I couldn't recognize most of the titles, and I based most of my buying decisions purely on the physical appearance of the book - whether it looked "expensive" or not.
What a fiasco. Nearly every book I'd picked was practically worthless; not one gem in the whole bunch.
And that was the last time I gave much thought to non-English books. But things changed last month, when I got a chatty e-mail
from a bookseller in Germany. This bookseller just happened to mention the "Buyers Waiting" list on
Amazon's German site.
Of course, I knew about the "Buyers Waiting" list on Amazon.com - where buyers specify the price they're willing to pay for an unlisted book. But a Buyer's Waiting list specifically for Amazon's German site? I had never suspected anything of the kind. I had always assumed that buyers from all over the world came to Amazon.com to place pre-orders for books they couldn't find.
But after a bit of poking around, I discovered that all of the major Amazon international sites - Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany - have their own Buyers Waiting lists, specific to those local Marketplaces.
For years, I had been downloading
Amazon's U.S. Buyers Waiting list.
And on my own Web site, I summarize the most valuable outstanding orders
here.
Now, I was amazed that I could download the Buyers Waiting lists for all those international sites using my same Pro-Merchant log-in and password. All I had to do was modify the URL to match each international site:
Canada - .ca
France - .fr
Germany - .de
United Kingdom - amazon.co.uk
So the complete URLs for the international Buyers Waiting lists are:
Canada
France
Germany
UK
How can we use these lists? Well, just like the US lists, they're a great guide to which books are most in demand by mainstream online book buyers. And who knows? Perhaps you can find some arbitrage opportunities by finding titles that are wanted for a premium overseas but inexpensive in America.
A good portion of the pending orders on all these sites are for English books. (Is this because a high proportion of Amazon's customers are Americans living overseas, or are English books just this popular everywhere?) And while each international list has a decidedly different flavor, there are some basic similarities. Just as on the U.S. Buyers Waiting list, there's a smattering of "collectible" books wanted, but most of the big bucks involve niche nonfiction technical books.
Here's a rundown of the top 25 highest-priced Buyers Waiting titles on the UK, French, and German Marketplaces. Below the non-English titles you'll find a translation in parentheses.
Such Things Are Known [Hardcover] by Burdick, Dorothy
Price (UK pounds): 1300
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Acceptable
Mindfield [Hardcover] by Thomas, Gordon
Price (UK pounds): 760
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Acceptable
The Complete History of Middle Earth by Tolkien, Christopher
Price (UK pounds): 600
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Like New
Mindbenders: Psychochemical Weaponry & Government Mind Control Experiments...
Price (UK pounds): 600
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Acceptable
The Kinematic Design of Flight Simulator Motion-Bases by Advani, Sunjoo Kan
Price (UK pounds): 580
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Metamagix: Or the Algebra, Geometry and Optics of Magic Squares [Hardcover] by
Price (UK pounds): 500
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Exile [Leather Bound] by Tarle, Dominique
Price (UK pounds): 410
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Good
Exile by Tarle, Dominique
Average price (UK pounds): 410
2 buyers waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Good
I Me Mine [Leather Bound] by Harrison, George
Price (UK pounds): 364
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Good
An Etymological Dictionary of Pre-thirteenth Century Turkish [Hardcover] by...
Price (UK pounds): 360
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Irische Texte: Mit Uebersetzung Und Woerterbuch (Celtic Language & Literature...
Price (UK pounds): 350
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
On Amazon US:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0404182305
Mind Control and the Assassination of President Kennedy [Hardcover] by Russell
Price (UK pounds): 300
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Acceptable
Musical settings of British romantic literature: A catalogue (Garland reference
Price (UK pounds): 300
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Very Good
Biological Coherence and Response to External Stimuli [Hardcover] by Frohlich
Price (UK pounds): 300
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
The Printz-Prince Family by Printz, Charles T.
Price (UK pounds): 300
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Winston S. Churchill Vol 5: Companion: Pt.3: The Coming of War, 1936-1939...
Price (UK pounds): 260
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Thermochemical Properties of Inorganic Substances by Knacke, O.; Kubaschewski
Average price (UK pounds): 260
2 buyers waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Very Good
Peter Beard: Art Edition, No. 251-2500 (Taschen Artist) [Hardcover] by Beard...
Average price (UK pounds): 260
2 buyers waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
The Scientific Letters and Papers of James Clerk Maxwell: 1862-1873 v. 2...
Price (UK pounds): 250
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Neurosurgery: Three-volume Set [Paperback] by Wilkins MD, Robert H...
Price (UK pounds): 250
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Encyclopedia of Educational Research by American Educational Research...
Price (UK pounds): 250
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Burke's Irish Family Records [Hardcover] by Massingberd, Hugh Montgomery-
Price (UK pounds): 250
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Jun Takahashi and Madsaki - Intermission [Hardcover] by
Price (UK pounds): 250
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Councils and Synods: with Other Documents Relating to the English Church: Part
Price (UK pounds): 250
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Green Equinox [Hardcover] by Mavor, Elizabeth
Price (UK pounds): 245
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Good
Beyond Caring [Paperback] y Graham, Paul
Average price (UK pounds): 239.5
2 buyers waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Very Good
Jar Paris: With Canvas Bag by Rosenthal, Joel
Price (Euros): 800
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: très bon état (Very Good)
Jewels of Jar, The [Hardcover] by Rosenthal, Joel
Price (Euros): 800
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: très bon état (Very Good)
La statuaire fang gabon [Reliure inconnue] by Perrois
(The statuary fang Gabon [Unknown binding]
Price (Euros): 700
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Indifférent (Any)
Rene boivin joaillier
Rene boivin jeweller
Price (Euros): 600
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: bon état (Good)
Sterle by Jutheau Viviane
Price (Euros): 500
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: bon état (Good)
Coreennes...
Price (Euros): 500
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Indifférent (Any)
Grand dictionnaire Ricci de la langue chinoise (coffret de 7 volumes) [Broché...
(Large Ricci dictionary of the Chinese language )
Price (Euros): 500
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: bon état (Good)
Album dictionnaire des auteurs de la pléiade [Reliure inconnue] by...
(Album dictionary of the authors of the pleiad [unknown Binding])
Price (Euros): 450
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: très bon état (Very Good)
Introduction to the Coinage of Parthia by Sellwood, David
Price (Euros): 400
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Indifférent (Any)
Arts-décoratifs à bord des paquebots français, 1880-1960 by Vian, Louis-René
(Art-decorative on 1880-1960, French steamer board)
Price (Euros): 400
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: bon état (Good)
Robotics Cybernetics and the Construction of Movement by Bernstein, Nicholas A.
Price (Euros): 350
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: état correct (Acceptable)
Manuscrit Vaudry de Saizenay : Tablature de luth et de théorbe de divers...
(Manuscript Vaudry de Saizenay: Fingering chart of lute and théorbe the various
ones)
Price (Euros): 300
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: état correct (Acceptable)
120 chateaux et manoirs en cotentin by J.Barbaroux
(120 castles and manors in cotentin)
Price (Euros): 300
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Indifférent (Any)
Traité mat.med.homéopathie by Duprat
(Treaty mat.med.homeopathy )
Price (Euros): 300
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Indifférent (Any)
Le cheval belge. sa caractéristique et les conditions de son élévage.
(The Belgian horse. its characteristic and conditions of sound élévage)
Price (Euros): 300
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Indifférent (Any)
Coordinate and Regulation of Movements [Hardcover] by Bernstein, N
Price (Euros): 300
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Indifférent (Any)
La porcelaine des Compagnies des Indes à décor occidental [Unknown Binding] by
(Porcelain of the Companies of the Indies with Western decoration )
Price (Euros): 250
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: bon état (Good)
Balenciaga [Hardcover] by Jouve, Marie-Anderee
Price (Euros): 250
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: bon état (Good)
Airports by Fischli, Peter; Weiss, David
Price (Euros): 235
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: très bon état (Very Good)
Gio Ponti by Frateili, Enzo; Vigano, Vittoriano; La Pietra, Ugo
Price (Euros): 200
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: bon état (Good)
Formes et couleurs: Les clés du succès en céramique dentaire by Ubassy, Gérald
(Forms and colors: Keys to success out of dental ceramics)
Price (Euros): 200
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: état neuf (Like New)
La Bible de Jérusalem (1 CD-Rom) : Version 5 - PC-Mac by
(The Bible of Jerusalem)
Price (Euros): 200
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: très bon état (Very Good)
Eine Fabrik in Melsungen =: A factory in Melsungen by Nageli, Walter
Price (Euros): 200
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Indifférent (Any)
Insectes
(Insects)
Price (Euros): 200
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: très bon état (Very Good)
Femmes secrètes by Newton
(Secret women)
Price (Euros): 200
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Indifférent (Any)
VERKEHRSRECHT digital (VRS): Entscheidungen aus allen Gebieten des...
(Traffic law-digitally (DVD): Decisions from all areas of the...)
Price (Euros): 99
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Acceptable
Illustrated Lancia [Hardcover] by Trow, Nigel
Price (Euros): 99
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Cult of the Deity Vajrakila: According to the Texts of the Northern Treasures...
Average price (Euros): 99
2 buyers waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Eisenthron [Hardcover] by Martin, George R. R.
(Iron throne)
Average price (Euros): 98
5 buyers waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Very Good
Mathematische Statistik, 2 Bde., Bd.2, Asymptotische Statistik by Witting...
(Mathematical statistics, 2 Bde., Bd.2, iterated statistics by Witting)
Price (Euros): 95
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Good
Arbeitsunfall und Berufskrankheit. [Hardcover] by Mehrtens, Gerhard; Valentin
(Industrial accident and occupational illness)
Price (Euros): 95
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Very Good
The Culinary Chronicle, Bd.3, The Best of New York & Paris by Messer Hausch...
Average price (Euros): 95
2 buyers waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Good
Bw Ottbergen. Ein typisches Bahnbetriebswerk der Dampflokzeit by Huguenin...
(German Federal Armed Forces Ottbergen. A typical engine shed of the steam
locomotive time)
Average price (Euros): 95
4 buyers waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Berliner Möbelkunst by Stiegel, Achim
(Berlin furniture art)
Average price (Euros): 94.33
3 buyers waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Die Wildbienen Baden-Württembergs. Teil 1: Lebensräume, Verhalten, Ökologie und
(The game bees of Baden-Wuerttemberg. Part 1: Habitats, behavior, ecology and)
Price (Euros): 90
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Tübinger Atlas des Vorderen Orients (TAVO), Beihefte, Bd.72 : Studien zur...
(Tübinger Atlas of the front Orients (TAVO), supplements, Bd.72: Studies to)
Price (Euros): 90
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Flowers of Crete by Fielding, John; Turland, N.J.; Matthew, Brian
Price (Euros): 90
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Good
Handbuch der Kakaoerzeugnisse by Fincke, Heinrich; Fincke, Albrecht; Lange...
(Manual of the products of cocoa)
Price (Euros): 90
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Acceptable
Kreativität und Kompetenz. Das Trainerpaket zum Herrmann Modell by
(Creativity and authority. The coach package to the gentleman Mr. model)
Price (Euros): 90
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Historsches Ortslexikon für die Niederlausitz. Bd 1: Die Kreise Luckau, Lübben
(Histor local encyclopedia for the Niederlausitz. Bd 1: The circles Luckau,
Lübben)
Price (Euros): 90
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Grosses Budo-Lexikon. Enzyklopädie der Kampfkünste by Velte, Herbert
(Large Budo encyclopedia. Encyclopedia of the combat arts)
Price (Euros): 90
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Zeugnisse aus unheilvoller Zeit : Ein Kriegstagebuch über die Ereignisse 1939...
(Certifications from dire time: A war diary over the events 1939)
Price (Euros): 90
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Stirnradverzahnung by Linke, Heinz; Schreier, Gerhard
(Spur wheel teeth)
Price (Euros): 90
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Hochleistungssegeln. Schnelle Rümpfe - schnelle Rigs - schnelle Rennen.
(High speed sails. Fast one of trunks - Rigs snaps - quick a running)
Price (Euros): 90
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Good
Textiler Hausrat by Zander-Seidel, Jutta; Seidel, Jutta Zander-
(Textiler furniture)
Price (Euros): 90
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Acceptable
Brückenbau mit dem Taktschiebeverfahren. Entwurf und Ausführung. [Perfect...
(Bridge construction with the clock sliding procedure. Draft and execution)
Price (Euros): 90
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Risikomanagement im Energiehandel [Hardcover] by Bergschneider, Claus...
(Risk management in the energy trade)
Price (Euros): 90
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Good
Akupunktur. Tradition, Theorie, Praxis by Richter, Klaus; Becke, Horst
(Akupunktur. Tradition, theory, practice)
Price (Euros): 90
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Any
Geschichte des Peloponnesischen Krieges. Griechisch - Deutsch by Thukydides
(History of the Peloponnesi war. Greek - German)
Price (Euros): 90
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Very Good
Pests and Diseases of Potatoes: A Colour Handbook by Wale, Stuart; Cattlin, Mr
Price (Euros): 90
1 buyer waiting
Minimum acceptable condition: Good
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