Where To Sell Used Books Online And In-Person
Selling your used books can be an easy way to declutter and earn some extra cash. With so many options available, from online marketplaces to local stores, choosing the right sales channel for your books requires some research. This comprehensive guide explores 15 top places for selling used books online and in-person.
1. Amazon Marketplace – The Global Platform
With over 300 million active users, Amazon Marketplace is the largest online venue for selling used books. Listing your books on Amazon grants access to their massive global audience and established logistics network.
To sell on Amazon Marketplace, you‘ll need to create a Seller Central account. Listings require professional images and detailed descriptions. Amazon charges variable fees based on the book‘s price and shipping option. While fees can add up, the unparalleled exposure and streamlined fulfillment make Amazon a top choice for serious sellers.
2. eBay – Flexible Listings & Auction-Style Sales
eBay is another heavyweight online marketplace where you can sell books easily. Listings allow great flexibility – insert detailed descriptions, conditions, images, and set your own pricing. Books can be sold at a fixed price or auction-style.
While eBay charges insertion and final value fees per sale, they‘re generally lower than Amazon. eBay also appeals to deal-seekers, so pricing books competitively can stimulate brisk sales. The platform works excellently if you have rare, antique or collectible editions.
3. AbeBooks – Specialist Marketplace for Rare & Antique Books
A subsidiary of Amazon, AbeBooks focuses exclusively on book selling. It‘s aimed at book lovers and collectors, with over 100 million titles listed. If you have a valuable first edition or signed copy, AbeBooks connects you with buyers who appreciate rare finds.
Sellers can list books for free, only paying a commission on successful sales. The global customer base (avid readers in over 150 countries) gives your books more visibility compared to local channels. The platform also handles logistics like shipping and payment processing.
4. BookScouter – Hassle-Free Price Comparison Tool
Instead of checking prices across multiple sites, BookScouter lets you enter a book‘s ISBN to receive instant offers from over 35 online vendors. It‘s an easy way to compare buyback quotes. Once you accept an offer, BookScouter provides a prepaid shipping label.
The tool simplifies the selling process, saves research time, and guarantees a baseline price for your books. One minor limitation is that personalized inscriptions lower a book‘s resale value on automated platforms. But for selling common textbooks or fiction, BookScouter streamlines everything.
5. Textbook Buyback Sites – Targeted Platforms for Academic Books
Specialized textbook buyback sites like bookstore.co.uk, webuybooks.co.uk and ziffit.co.uk allow students to easily sell old study books. After entering your textbook‘s ISBNs, you receive quotes instantly. If accepted, some platforms provide free courier pickup or prepaid labels.
These sites purchase enormous inventories to resell at discounted rates for the upcoming semester. By targeting students, your academic books will sell quicker during peak textbook seasons. Just be aware that site credit is often paid out instead of cash.
6. Online Marketplaces Like Better World Books
Used book platforms such as BetterWorldBooks, Thriftbooks and BookFinder connect sellers to second-hand book buyers online. After creating an account, you can list your used books for fixed prices or auctions. Some sites also allow trade-ins for site credit.
These marketplaces present nice alternatives if Amazon fees seem daunting. Platforms like Better World Books also donate a share of revenues to literacy charities, so you can declutter sustainably. Streamlined fulfillment options help handle storage, shipping and payment processing.
7. Local Bookshops – Support Your Community
Support independent bookstores in your community by selling directly to local store owners. Generally, locally owned stores pay 20-40% of expected resale value based on condition, desirability and existing inventories. This cash-for-books option lets you engage with fellow bibliophiles.
While offering lower returns, you‘re keeping profits within the community. Book donations to local libraries also give back while freeing up space. Consider organizing charity book sales to benefit good causes. If you enjoy face-to-face interaction, local bookshops present a rewarding avenue for selling used books.
8. Direct Buyers – Specialized Platforms Like Ziffit
Certain platforms enable selling directly to individual buyers. Ziffit allows listing your used books for reasonable prices so fellow readers can purchase them. Alternatively, the company buys books outright if unable to match them with buyers.
Ziffit purchases over eight million used books annually for reuse or recycling. After entering your ISBNs, instant quotes help facilitate sales or trade-ins. Free mailers also assist with logistics. While the UK-based service doesn‘t have Amazon‘s reach, it simplifies peer-to-peer sales.
9. Social Commerce Groups – Buy/Sell Communities on Facebook
Local buy/sell/trade groups on Facebook have exploded in popularity. Join relevant groups covering your city or neighborhood to connect with buyers. Create detailed for-sale posts showcasing images, descriptions and prices for niche audiences.
Hyper-targeted marketing to enthusiasts on social forums grabs attention more effectively than general listings. Tagging friends who collect similar genres also helps match sellers with interested buyers. While slightly less efficient than structured marketplaces, the brand-building and networking value is unmatched.
10. Craigslist & Kijiji – For Local, Cash-Based Transactions
Local classifieds platforms Craigslist and Kijiji can match your used books with neighborhood buyers. Categories like ‘books for sale by owner‘ on Craigslist draw local readers seeking deals. This facilitates quick, cash-based sales from your porch or theirs.
However, due to anonymity and lack of buyer/seller protections, always exercise caution when transacting. Public meetups and verified payment methods are recommended. While not without risks, classified ads certainly unlock convenience if hoping to sell books locally for cash.
11. eBay Classifieds – Hybrid Online & Local Sales
eBay Classifieds combines the marketplace structure of eBay with location-based services matching sellers with nearby buyers. Local book enthusiasts exploring listings are notified if the seller resides in their community.
After creating an account, snap some smartphone images before drafting your listing. eBay Classifieds bridges the wide exposure of ecommerce with the familiarity of classifieds. Cash sales can be arranged locally while still benefiting from eBay‘s brand effect and fee structure.
12. Amazon Local Selling – Nearby Buyers Through Amazon
Amazon also faciliates local used book sales through features letting you specify willingness to arrange local pickups when listing. This setting alerts nearby buyers on Amazon Marketplace to coordinate logistics.
After specifying your location and acceptable regions to meet local buyers, eligible listings will display a ‘local pickup available‘ badge. Amazon‘s community of enthusiastic readers can discover your books, then coordinate pricing and dropoff locations through Amazon‘s messaging system.
13. Peer-to-Peer eCommerce – Direct Social Selling
Peer-to-peer social commerce platforms directly connect sellers with nearby buyers to enable local used goods transactions. Apps like VarageSale, Nextdoor and Facebook Marketplace allow listing books for hyper-targeted exposure.
Optional delivery through the platform or self-arranged dropoffs provide flexibility. Granular filters by location and interests helps you zero-in on enthusiastic bookworms eager for fresh reads in specific genres. Direct relationships foster personalized interactions and word-of-mouth referrals.
14. Flea Markets & Garage Sales – In-Person Selling Venues
Flea markets provide vendors with booth space for selling second-hand goods to public crowds, while garage and yard sales invite buyers onto private property. Both avenues present opportunities for monetizing used books.
Flea markets offer built-in foot traffic yet require renting space. Where legal, selling books on your lawn during garage sales provides a more convenient option. While these old-school tactics seem dated, their social, transactional and profit potential remain undiminished decades later.
15. Book Swaps – Non-Monetary Exchanges
If profit isn‘t a motive and you simply want your books to find good homes, consider book swaps with friends or local book clubs. Sites like PaperBackSwap also organize book exchanges where members trade titles for credits without cash changing hands.
Swap events help declutter shelves when certain books fail to sell quickly online. They also provide chances to socialize and discover new authors recommended within communities. While not a sales method per se, swapping unwanted books can refresh your inventory with exciting reads.
How Do I Determine The Value Of My Used Books?
Research similar book conditions and listings on Amazon Marketplace or AbeBooks to gauge real-world resale prices. Scarcity, desirability and physical state influence pricing. Check recent sold listings for the same edition to identify price ceilings based on actual buyer willingness.
What Fees & Costs Apply When Selling Books Online?
Selling platforms like Amazon and eBay charge listing fees plus sales commissions. Expect to pay 10-20% total expenses. Shipping costs also factor in unless free mailers are provided. Carefully assess overhead expenses relevant to each marketplace.
What‘s The Best Way To Prepare Books For Resale?
Clean covers, inspect pages and mend minor damage prior to photographing your book. Capture multiple high-resolution interior/exterior images showing identifying details. Draft an engaging description emphasizing your book‘s strong points and distinguishing attributes.
Can I Sell Damaged Books?
Water-damaged or moldy books are non-sellable. But books with bent covers, broken spines, highlighting or margin notes can still appeal to some buyers if priced low enough. Clearly showcase damage in descriptions and images while pricing accordingly. Some marketplaces even specialize in distressed books.
Are There Tax Implications For Selling Used Books?
In most jurisdictions, selling used personal items for less than $600 annually doesn‘t trigger tax obligations. But exceeding that self-employment income threshold requires claiming profits and potentially charging sales tax in certain states. Research location-specific tax laws for guidance.
Selling pre-loved books requires sifting through various online marketplaces, private buyer channels, community initiatives and in-person venues to identify optimal settings custom-fit for your needs and inventory. Choosing between established ecommerce sites hinges chiefly on fee structures, fulfillment/logistics mechanisms and audience reach. For maximum control and profit retention from high-value collectible books, niche sites and direct buyer platforms help secure fair prices. Those simply wishing to declutter shelves while benefiting charity can opt for book swaps or donations to libraries. Ultimately, aligning personal priorities around pricing, community engagement or convenience simplifies the decision-making process when selecting your selling format.
