FAQ - Frequently asked questions

Where do you get your books from?

I mostly source my books from op shops and garage sales. Some of my books come from deceased estates and I occasionally buy through online auction sites. I have been known to buy books from fairs or fetes.

Do you accept donations?

Donations are lovely and are taken carefully in the manner in which they are donated.

Can I see you at any fairs or fetes?

You might spot me at fairs or fetes. I enjoy downtime with my family and you never know when you’ll find that book worth thousands of dollars. I generally won’t have a stall though.

Are you only online?

Yes, I only sell online.

Do you sell at school fundraisers or markets?

No, I don’t sell at school fundraisers. I do occasionally sell at markets.

Why is the dollar value of gift vouchers more than the price charged?

 This is to ensure the recipient gets value for money. I can make up other denominations as needed.

 Do you use an online shop software like e.commerce?

 I currently use CubeCart which allows flexibility for the customer.

 Do you keep your stock at home?

All of my business is kept at home, including all stock.

Do you manage and process all orders?

I manage and process all orders myself to ensure you get the best service and to ensure you get the books you’ve ordered.

How do you organise your orders and postage?

When an order has been paid for I write out a posting label with the details of the books and where it is stored on the reverse. I then find the books and organise them for posting.

Posting is an art and I’m still perfecting it. I put all books in a freezer bag with a Suz’s Space bookmark and seal it with tape. I then sandwich them in cardboard, taping the parcel carefully to stop the books moving. Some parcels will also be wrapped in bubble wrap before having a final wrapping in brown paper or a pre-paid satchel. If the order is big enough I will pack them in a box with extra packing.

Do you get time to work with all those fabulous books around you?

Excellent question. I find I actually read less now I have so much to read. I’m far more choosy with the books I read, but I also read more books recommended by others than I used to. I do find I ‘read’ more audio books than I used to as I ‘read’ them while I’m working or doing housework. Except for shortish books such as those in the Chalet School series. I found myself reading two of them instead of listing them, but they did get listed later that day.

Are you inspired to write yourself?

I would love to be able to write, unfortunately, I’m not one of those people lucky enough to have the skills.

Do you have a shop?

 I don’t have a physical shop. I work solely from home in order to keep the costs down and pass on the savings to my customers.

Do you help others to find specific books?

 Yes! Members to Suz’s Space are able to upload the books they are looking for and I will circulate this list around my friends as well as downloading them to my palm so I have members’ lists with me at all times.

Do you repair damaged books?

I generally don’t repair damaged books. To do that successfully you need certain skills and training which I don’t have. If the book is cheap I will just throw it out. If the book is worth a substantial amount I will sell it as is at an appropriate amount, the damages will be listed.

Do you sell artwork?

No, I do not sell artwork. You would need to go to someone who appreciates art.

Do you sell audio books?

Yes, I sell audio books. As I only sell pre-loved books I ‘read’ all audio books prior to selling to check that they are in good enough condition for sale. It gives me a good excuse to listen to a new author.

I recently bought a box of audio books from the USA. Many of them were brand new and still sealed. I will be listing these ones without checking them.

Do you sell DVDs and VHS?

I will sell the occasional DVD. Suz’s Space is a family friendly site and therefore everything will be labelled with the rating. There will be no X rated movies on Suz’s Space. I’m even hesitant to list M rated movies so it will depend on the content of the movie.

Do you sell self help stuff?

I am happy to sell self help materials.

Do you cater for children?

Yes, I have many categories for children. I am constantly referring to my own teenagers for help in categorizing children’s books. Some of the books have been listed as they liked them so much.