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Original poster

Usborne books would you buy from a door to door seller ?

16 replies

hedwiggity · 19/05/2014 18:09

Hi all just looking for some advice here, i have been offered a position selling usborne childrens books door to door in my area for about £6-£10 each if i were to knock on your door and ask if you would like some books what would you do ? it is £100 to set up with 100 brand new books so i don't want to make the investment without making it a success otherwise i've lost money i can't afford to lose

OP posts:
Canus · 19/05/2014 18:17

I never buy anything at the door, or donate to charities that way.

Usbourne books are often sold through school fairs and toddler goups too aren't they? So you'd have lots of poeple being sick of the sight of them.

I wouldn't bother. Most people buy books through Amazon or Abe Books these days anyway.

Smartiepants79 · 19/05/2014 18:19

I wouldn't buy at the door I don't think.
Usually see usborne book sellers at school fair.

Chocotrekkie · 19/05/2014 18:19

Are the books cheaper than the book people/amazon. If not then I wouldn't buy. Sorry.

Door to door selling of kids books is going to be a hard slog. I went door to door last year to get a petition signed (everyone who I got was desperate to sign it) and I would say only maybe 1 in 5 houses had someone home.

So 500 houses - 100 home. 80 of them don't have kids /kids to buy for.
So 20 houses to make a possible sale - 10 of them are skint. 5 of them aren't interested in kids books as they have got loads.

5 houses out of 500 - even if you make £10 from each of then that's £50 for a long hard slog of a days work.

The maths might be a bit off but you get the idea.

Now if you could sell them in a play group/tumble tots type place or a big workplace canteen you might be onto something.

Ohwhatfuckeryisthis · 19/05/2014 18:21

Don't do it. I did DK years ago, never made a bean and was always hassled to improve my sales. (I didn't know there were 3 agents in our little town) and I personally don't like usbournes house style

FaFoutis · 19/05/2014 18:22

I wouldn't buy them.

Original poster
hedwiggity · 19/05/2014 18:25

well the rep said i can do church sale and book parties too id be more than happy to do that £50 seems great lol i get £113 every 2 weeks on JSA and i'll do any work for the money right now

OP posts:
WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 19/05/2014 18:25

No, I wouldn't. I very rarely buy at the door, the only exception might be for something I would have been buying anyway. I have bought them at parties and from stalls at fairs etc, but only the odd one.

PaulinesPen · 19/05/2014 18:26

No. I never buy things at the door.

Chocotrekkie · 19/05/2014 18:27

If your self employed selling books they class it as employment and will stop your jsa.

This is how a lot of people end up at food banks - you will get no jsa and if you don't sell any books then no money coming in.

iseenodust · 19/05/2014 18:27

I like some of the Usborne books but wouldn't buy at the door. I don't want to hear the sales pitch, I want to flick through the books and I don't want a stranger sitting in my house while I do that.

Original poster
hedwiggity · 19/05/2014 18:28

I think i look more at the kleeneze and leaflet distribution then i'll tell the lady i'm not interested plus with kleeneze you don't have to pay anything upfront

OP posts:
DocDaneeka · 19/05/2014 18:31

No Amazon is easier and has a no fuss returns.

I wouldn't be arsed with you I'm afraid and don't buy from doorstep sellers on principle.

Original poster
hedwiggity · 19/05/2014 18:33

i know they will class is as employment and id give it everything i've got im desperate for any kind of job at the moment i can't stand being unemployed its not how i was raised to be i want to go out and graft for my money

OP posts:
DeWee · 20/05/2014 11:24

I think you'll do well to make 50 on door to door selling. I read it as you might get 50 income before taking off expenses. Lets say you get 25% on the books-that's now down to 12.50 before any other expenses-maybe some pay by card, and that gets taken off, some of the houses are far enough that you drive, so need petrol... I suspect you may make as much being employed to leaflet drop, and that's far less hassle, and no upfront money either.

I am another who would not buy from the door. Sorry.

mercibucket · 20/05/2014 11:30

i used to do this

you will not make any money

you only make money thro your team. so you dont sell, you recruit people to sell (like the person who is recruiting you)

i enjoyed it but as a hobby not a job. and def not door to door!

whatsagoodusername · 20/05/2014 11:31

I might buy children's books from door to door sales (book fiend). But I'd have to be home. And I'd have to have the cash on me, because I wouldn't give you my card details.

And I'd buy one, perhaps two. If it was at a church sale, or book party, or some such place, I could easily spend £50. Or more. Even though then I'd have to cart them home.

So I'm not sure that it would be worth your time to go door to door - spend all day going around to empty houses and get only a few sales.

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