Got this question from Sharon in Chicago: “How much can I make selling books on Amazon?” Be careful how you price your books. For e-books priced between $2.99 and $9.99, you’ll get 70% in royalties. Anything above or below that range drops your royalties to 35%. For paperbacks, you’ll get 60% of the list price (minus printing costs, which depend on page count, size and color). What a novel way to make a living!
I wasted 36 hours trying to do it myself
So many of the calls, emails, messages and DMs I get are about privacy and security. I can’t remember the last time I had a full day where no one asked me some version of “How do I get all this info about me off the internet?”
It’s not just you. It’s me, too. After finding my personal cellphone number available on a free people-search site last year, I made it my mission to scrub everything online about me. There are literally hundreds of companies and sites that collect personal info, and they make it extremely hard to get your data removed. Why? Because they profit from selling your data — and mine.
I called the series Opt-Out Tuesday. We put together articles, newsletters and radio segments promoting it. I shared the steps in my nationally syndicated columns. And yet …
I didn’t make a dent
To be fair, we heard from a ton of people who had success following our instructions and removing their info. In fact, the big people search site networks got so peeved, they changed the steps to remove your data after one of my articles went viral.
I spent 36 hours emailing the scummy sites, filling out forms, making calls and even sending letters by USPS. I gave up when I had no real progress. That’s when I researched services to do this for me. I tried three, and I ultimately picked Incogni.
It took me about 3 minutes
Creating an account was easy, and I was immediately opted out of 27 databases, with 47 more requests sent. Now we’re talking about hundreds of sites I’m opted out of with no extra work on my end.
All you have to do is create an account and then enter your name and address. These sites require this info to remove your data — so you’d do that whether or not you use Incogni. Bonus: You can add up to three addresses and three phone numbers, too, so they can catch all the sneaky records.
Then, you grant Incogni permission to reach out on your behalf. After you finish the setup process, you’ll see a list of sites you’ve been removed from and pending requests.
Selling your car? Erase this first
Your car stores your home address, call history, and even credit card info. Before selling it, make sure your personal data doesn’t go with it.
🚀 Own a piece of SpaceX: Earlier this month, SpaceX tested its Starship for the seventh time, and the upper half of the rocket exploded over the Turks and Caicos. Folks there are finding pieces on the beach and selling them on eBay. Sellers are asking for anywhere from $200 to $5,000 for a chunk of the debris (paywall link).
What retro video game console is selling on eBay for the most right now in the U.S.? Is it the … A.) Sega Master System, B.) Nintendo Virtual Boy, C.) Super Nintendo or D.) Atari Jaguar CD?
$100 million
The value of a one-square-mile parcel in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park that’s now protected from development. The state has considered selling the plot — a migration path for pronghorn and elk — to luxury developers. The nonprofit Grand Teton National Park Foundation raised about one-third of the cash; the rest is from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Say hello to the new Dark Web: The encrypted chat app Telegram was founded by two Russians and has over 700 million active monthly users. It’s also home to Huione Guarantee, the largest illegal marketplace selling personal data and tools linked to pig-butchering schemes. One founder recently told a French court they’d “improve its moderation procedures” for Telegram. Sure. Between November 2024 and now, crypto scams on Telegram have increased by over 2,000%. Stay away.
Hertz is selling Teslas at low prices — what’s the catch?
Used Teslas are hitting the market for cheap, but there’s a hidden cost you need to consider. Here’s what you need to know before you buy.
The state of our country: Scumbags are selling merch glorifying the UnitedHealthcare CEO killer. Amazon had the decency to pull “Deny Defend Depose” shirts, but they’re still on eBay, apparently because they don’t break any rules. Really? Trolls review-bombed the McDonald’s where the guy was caught, too, calling workers rats and snitches. What is wrong with people?
Your DNA could soon be up for sale
You spit in a tube, and now 23andMe is thinking of selling your data after a massive hack tanked their value. So much for learning your ancestry. Meanwhile, Gen Z is going #desperate on LinkedIn, and Mazda’s charging $10 just to use remote start.
💊 Killer online pharmacies: Cybercriminals set up online pharmacies selling counterfeit pills disguised as prescription drugs. Adderall, Xanax and oxycodone knockoffs were laced with deadly synthetic opioids like fentanyl. At least nine people have died. Please, please stick to real pharmacies for all your medications.
🧬 Your DNA, for sale: 23andMe’s stock is close to being delisted, and the entire board of directors has quit. Now, the CEO says she’s open to selling the company, including the DNA of 15 million customers. Imagine insurers using your genetic predispositions to calculate your risk. Ugh. Log in and delete your account ASAP. Here’s how. I told ya not to use this service so many times for so many years …
🤫 Secret pricing strategy: Selling stuff on Amazon? Use the “charm pricing” trick — set the price just below a round number. Research shows folks perceive $9.99, for example, as much lower than $10. Bonus tip: Put expensive items next to affordable ones to make them seem like an even bigger bargain.
🏠 Buying or selling property? Scammers are targeting you. A sharp title company owner just stopped a fraudulent sale. The first clue: The seller’s driver’s license was from West Virginia, but the property tax bills had been sent to the Bahamas since 1978. They asked the seller to video chat to confirm, and the seller, a woman who said she was deaf, turned out to be a looped AI video. Here’s what the faker looked like.
How to sell your iPhone safely
Ready to upgrade to the iPhone 16? Here’s your guide to selling your old iPhone and getting the most out of it!
Selling your wares on Amazon? Amazon’s new Amelia AI assistant helps third-party sellers with advice, queries and account issues. It can also assist you with prepping for the holidays or getting a quick overview of your sales and inventory reports. Find Amelia in Seller Central. It’s in beta and available to select users for now.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Car companies are tracking your driving
Are you a speed racer? You’re being watched. Major car companies are watching how you drive and selling your data to third-party brokers. Plus, discover secret codes to protect your family from scams and why the FCC is cracking down on illegal jammers.
3 easy eBay tips for beginners
Got stuff you don’t need? Turn it into cash by selling it online. Here’s how to make your listing stand out!
Hackers are selling old routers to spies
They’re using these routers for denial-of-service (DoS) attacks and spamming inboxes. Meanwhile, a man’s been cyberstalked by a former roommate — nightmare stuff. Plus, Microsoft got hacked, and OpenAI is launching a search engine.