Erin Huffstetler is an expert in frugal living, with more than a decade of experience in sharing simple strategies for saving money in the household.
Mastering the art of selling pre-owned books is an excellent method to clear out your living space while generating some additional income from titles you no longer wish to revisit. Offloading items like textbooks and popular novels can also yield a good profit. By utilizing online resources, you can determine the typical price range for your used books prior to putting them up for sale.
The price of most secondhand books typically falls between 20% and 50% of their initial price, depending on their condition. A book that is in poor shape might be priced at 20% or less, whereas those in excellent condition can be priced at 50% or even exceed their original price, depending on how sought after the book is.
This guide will show you the best places to sell your secondhand books both online and in your local area, along with tips to help you achieve the highest possible price.
Contents
Places to Sell Secondhand Books Online
BookScouter
When selling second-hand books, whether in person or through online platforms, an important initial action is to enter the book’s International Standard Book Number (ISBN) into BookScouter. You can typically locate the ISBN, which is a lengthy sequence of digits, on the back cover of the book, just above the barcode, as well as on the copyright page inside.
BookScouter serves as a comprehensive aggregator that reveals the prices offered by over 30 online book retailers for a specific title. To enhance your earnings, take advantage of the price history feature, which allows you to track the past selling prices of a book. This information can assist you in pinpointing the optimal times of the year when your book may fetch a higher price.
Tip
BookScouter offers a premium version with extra functionalities, but a complimentary version is available for anyone to access.
Amazon
Selling pre-owned books presents a great opportunity to start as an Amazon seller. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the guidelines and policies for listing your used books on the platform. While all non-fiction titles tend to perform well on Amazon, the most popular categories are finance and business, self-improvement, religious texts, educational books, and instructional manuals.
eBay
eBay serves as an excellent platform for selling your pre-owned books. Specialized titles often draw interest from bidders, and there tends to be a significant number of individuals searching for secondhand SAT materials or textbooks.
Decluttr
Decluttr is a digital marketplace that specializes in selling mobile phones, video games, CDs, DVDs, and various tech products. You can effortlessly sell a wide range of books, including children’s literature, paperbacks, and textbooks, and receive an instant quote. Additionally, shipping is provided at no cost.
BookDeal
BookDeal is an excellent platform for selling pre-owned textbooks. This online marketplace is well-regarded for streamlining the buying and selling experience for books, making it both quick and convenient.
AbeBooks
AbeBooks is a global enterprise established in 1996 that specializes in the online buying and selling of second-hand books, encompassing rare collectibles and art pieces. It operates as a subsidiary of Amazon. While the platform requires a fee for usage, users can enjoy the first two months at no cost.
Powell’s City of Books
Powell’s Books stands out as a leading destination for a wide range of literature, including fiction, nonfiction, and academic texts. Established in 1971, this independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, has grown to create a vast online marketplace that connects readers and sellers from around the globe.
Textbooks.com
If you have a large collection of textbooks to sell, consider including Textbooks.com in your list of platforms to promote your used items. Although it has a history of ownership changes and some customer service challenges, many students are still on the lookout for affordable textbooks. Additionally, you might want to explore other reputable websites for selling your used textbooks, including Valore, Chegg, and Barnes & Noble. College bookstores are another option for selling your textbooks, although they typically provide the least favorable buyback prices.
SellBackYourBook
This digital marketplace allows users to buy, sell, and rent a wide variety of books, including novels, children’s literature, and much more. Simply provide the details of your book to receive a price estimate, ship the book at no cost, and receive your payment through a check or PayPal.
Booksrun
Booksrun is an online platform dedicated to the buying and selling of second-hand books. One of its standout features is its commitment to sustainability, as all packaging is crafted from recycled or entirely recyclable materials. Additionally, through its membership initiative, customers contribute to tree planting with each order, resulting in over 25,000 trees planted to date. Booksrun also provides complimentary shipping and a quick payment system for sellers.
Cash4YourBooks
Cash4YourBooks purchases books for cash, focusing exclusively on bulk transactions, particularly from estate sales. Their expertise lies in acquiring personal academic libraries and non-fiction works. They do not accept individual book sales. To initiate the process, simply photograph your collection, send the image, and you will receive a quote.
Etsy
Etsy serves as an excellent platform for selling vintage books. This marketplace attracts a wide range of potential customers seeking rare, one-of-a-kind, custom, handmade, antique, and vintage products, books included.
Local Options for Selling Secondhand Books
Independent Bookstores and Book Purchasing Venues
If you prefer to avoid the hassle of packing and shipping your books, consider bringing them to a nearby secondhand bookstore, participating in a children’s consignment sale, or listing them on Facebook Marketplace. Provided your books are in good condition and in demand, you should be able to make a decent profit that justifies your effort.
Half Price Books operates 120 locations across 19 states. They offer cash for books after evaluating them at any of their stores.
Craigslist
Since the 1990s, Craigslist has served as a valuable platform for locating apartments and purchasing furniture in the local area. Additionally, it functions as an online marketplace for trading books and magazines. While the site’s design has seen little change since it was first launched, a significant advantage is its expansion to an international audience.
Craigslist typically involves cash transactions (such as Paypal, Venmo, etc.) and requires buyers to pick up items, as shipping is rare among users. Similar to Facebook Marketplace, this means you should exercise caution when arranging face-to-face meetings.
Garage Sales
Host a garage sale to clear out the books that didn’t sell through other methods. While yard sales typically don’t generate significant income from books, it’s a good way to earn some money from items that are just taking up space.
Places to Contribute Secondhand Books
Certainly, you have the option to donate your used books instead of selling them.
Libraries
Numerous libraries welcome donations of free books and determine if they will incorporate them into their collection or sell them to generate funds. Reach out to your nearby library to find out about their policies regarding donations.
Pediatric Medical Centers
Children’s hospitals often welcome donations of books, particularly those suitable for various age groups. If you possess a collection of children’s literature, early education materials, or young adult fiction, check with your local children’s hospital to see if they would be willing to accept your contributions.
Schools
You can also contribute books straight to schools that are aiming to enhance their libraries. Reach out to nearby schools to see if they are interested in the types of books you wish to donate.
Charities
Lastly, look into local or state charities that handle donated books. There could be an excellent organization nearby that either directly takes in books or helps place them in appropriate homes.
Advice for New Book Sellers
To establish yourself as a trustworthy book reseller, there are several steps you should take:
- Learn the proper techniques for cleaning books. Eliminate any signs of damage, dust, or mold prior to selling.
- Be transparent regarding the book’s condition. If there are any damaged corners or pages that are missing, be upfront about it. If there are significant markings or highlights made by a previous reader, be sure to disclose that information. Additionally, if the book has any remainder marks, which indicate it has been returned to the publisher, make that clear as well. Misrepresenting the condition won’t lead to a higher price. If the buyer receives the book and discovers it doesn’t meet their expectations, they are likely to lower their offer or even decline the purchase altogether.
- Ensure that your books are packed with care. If a book was in pristine condition when you sent it but arrives in only fair condition, you will receive payment based on that fair condition. It is your responsibility to deliver the book intact, so make sure to invest the time to wrap it securely.
- Cover the shipping expenses for your books. Volunteer to handle the shipping fees.
Locations for Selling or Donating Your Magazines
Are you looking to declutter a collection of magazines? You might want to sell them at your upcoming yard sale, or think about donating them to a local nursing home or an art instructor. If you possess issues of a magazine that is no longer in circulation, you could potentially sell them on eBay for a little extra cash. If not, recycling them could free up some valuable space in your home.
What methods can I use to determine the value of my secondhand books? Visit BookScouter to see how much different sellers are offering for your books. What is the potential value of my secondhand books?
In the best-case scenario, you might acquire your books for 50% of their initial price. Typically, you can expect to pay around 20% of the original cost. However, books that are rare, one-of-a-kind, or in high demand can yield a profit.
What kinds of books are worth reselling?
In-demand used books that are valuable for resale include textbooks, books on arts and crafts, cookbooks, sheet music, religious texts, and popular fiction and non-fiction titles.
What are my options for dealing with books that I am unable to sell?
If you have books that you’re unable to sell, consider sharing them with family and friends, or donating them to a nearby school, library, nursing home, or charitable organization.
