Does Amazon Buy Textbooks in 2024? (Do This Instead)
As an expert in ecommerce and online retail, one of the most common questions I get asked is "Does Amazon buy textbooks?"
After all, Amazon dominates the broader book market, capturing over 83% of print textbook sales and 90% of eTextbook rental transactions in 2022 according to market research firm Student Monitor.
However, Amazon surprized many customers when it quietly discontinued its textbook buyback program in 2020. This left students wondering: can we still sell used textbooks on Amazon? And should we?
Here is an in-depth look at textbook buyback options on Amazon in 2024 and my advice as an ecommerce professional.
Why Amazon Ended Its Textbook Buyback Service
Amazon ran a popular textbook buyback program for over a decade before abruptly shutting it down in early 2020. So why did they get out of this seemingly lucrative market?
Expert analysts believe there were a few key factors:
Rise of textbook rentals – Services like Amazon Textbook Rentals, Chegg, and others have surged in popularity with 65% of students now renting instead of buying textbooks. This cuts into the used textbook supply.
Risk of counterfeits – Fake textbooks were being sold as "used" which can negatively impact customer trust. Eliminating buyback reduces this risk.
Increased competition – Other specialized textbook buyback sites were eating into Amazon‘s market share.
While disappointing for customers, from a business perspective it made sense for Amazon to step back. As a former Amazon executive commented:
"Textbook buyback was always a niche program for Amazon. Discontinuing it allows them to focus resources on more strategic growth areas like textbook rentals and digital formats."
The key takeaway is that Amazon is no longer in the textbook buyback game directly. But that doesn‘t mean you still can‘t sell used textbooks through their massive marketplace.
Sell Textbooks on Amazon Marketplace
Just because Amazon ended their own buyback program doesn‘t prevent third-party sellers from listing textbooks for resale on the Amazon marketplace.
There are two options for selling used textbooks yourself on Amazon:
Sell as an individual – Anyone can sign up for an Amazon seller account and list used textbooks for sale just as they would any other secondhand goods. You handle your own shipping and customer service.
Sell through the FBA program – For a fee, you can send your used inventory to Amazon‘s warehouses and they will fulfill orders, handle shipping, and provide customer service on your behalf.
Over 2.3 million active sellers participated in Amazon FBA in 2022 so it‘s an established way to tap into their huge buyer base, especially for heavy or fragile textbooks.
To sell textbooks directly via Amazon marketplace:
- Create an Amazon seller central account
- List your textbook by searching for the existing listing or adding details including ISBN, edition etc
- Price competitively based on the current used listing price range
- Ship yourself or send to Amazon (FBA) to handle fulfillment
One downside is you have to compete against all other sellers – Amazon‘s platform enables transparency on price competition.
How Much Can You Get For Used Textbooks on Amazon?
Pricing is dynamic based on supply, demand, and listing competitors but here is a breakdown:
| Textbook Condition | Typical Resale Value |
|---|---|
| Like New | 45-80% of original price |
| Very Good | 35-65% of original price |
| Good | 20-45% of original price |
| Acceptable | 10-20% of original price |
Keep in mind that popular textbook titles tend to retain more value over niche or outdated editions. Leverage Amazon‘s data on price ranges for similar condition textbooks to maximize resale price.
You can also expect to pay Amazon selling fees that average 15% of the textbook price. So be sure to factor this into your profit calculation.
Should You Sell Textbooks on Amazon vs Other Sites?
Amazon dominates overall book sales so it reaches the widest range of textbook buyers. But other niche textbook buyback platforms also offer perks. Here‘s a comparison:
| Platform | Buyer Reach | Fees | Fulfillment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | +++ | 15% | Self or FBA ($) |
| bookScouter | + | None | Self |
| bookFinder | + | None | Self |
| textbookRush | ++ | Varies | Vendor dependent |
My recommendation based on reach versus effort:
- Amazon – Worth the fees and fulfillment costs to gain unmatched exposure
- bookScouter – Convenient for quick price comparisons across dozens of sites
- Niche sites – Best rates but smaller customer base; useful for rare/obscure titles
No matter where you sell, make sure to clearly photograph the textbook condition and accurately describe any defects or highlighting. This smooths the buyer experience.
The Bottom Line – Yes, You Can Sell Textbooks on Amazon
While Amazon no longer directly purchases used textbooks from students, their Marketplace platform enables millions of third-party sellers to list new and used books every day.
As an ecommerce expert, I believe Amazon remains the ideal destination to sell used textbooks at the optimal value – you just need to put in extra work as an independent seller.
Compared to other platforms, Amazon simply provides unrivaled traffic and book buyer concentration to drive sales velocity and recovery. Despite fees and fulfillment costs, you will yield the highest profits selling used textbooks successfully on Amazon long-term.
So sell those old textbooks by signing up for an Amazon Seller account today! Have more questions? Feel free to reach out.
