About Selling Your Textbooks (2024)

To get a quote for a textbook, click on Sell Your Textbooks.

Type the ISBN number, located on the back of the book you wish to sell, and enter it in the field Get Quote. Click Get Quote to see how much we will pay you for your book. If you agree on the price, we will provide you with a prepaid label so you can send the book to us without shipping fees. Once we receive your book, we'll send you a check for your total sale if it is in an acceptable condition.

You must have at least $10.00 worth of books to sell in order to participate. A price quote is based on expected future demand for the book and current stock availability.

As someone deeply involved in the textbook industry and an enthusiast for book trading and selling, I've had extensive experience both as a seller and buyer of textbooks. I've worked closely with various platforms and retailers, understanding the nuances of ISBNs, pricing structures, and the logistics involved in selling textbooks.

When it comes to selling textbooks, the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) plays a crucial role. It's a unique identifier for books, enabling precise identification and valuation in the market. Platforms use this number to fetch information about the book, such as edition, publisher, and other relevant details.

Regarding pricing, platforms usually evaluate the book's worth based on multiple factors. These factors typically include the book's condition, its demand in the market (both current and anticipated), and the platform's existing stock of that particular book. Higher demand or lower stock might fetch a better price for the seller.

Upon entering the ISBN into the designated field, the platform uses algorithms to determine the potential selling price. If the seller agrees with the quoted price, the platform often provides a prepaid shipping label to send the book free of charge, streamlining the process.

Additionally, most platforms have minimum requirements for the total worth of books to be sold. This requirement ensures that the effort put into processing and shipping the books is cost-effective for both the seller and the platform.

Once the book reaches the platform and undergoes inspection to ensure it meets the defined condition standards, the seller receives payment. This payment is usually in the form of a check or store credit, depending on the platform's policies.

Ultimately, selling textbooks involves a combination of understanding ISBNs, estimating book values, adhering to minimum sale thresholds, and following specific procedures laid out by the platform or retailer.

If you're considering selling textbooks, it's advisable to check multiple platforms to compare quotes and choose the best option for your specific books, considering factors like ease of transaction, offered price, and reputation of the platform for fair dealings.

About Selling Your Textbooks (2024)

FAQs

Is it worth trying to sell old textbooks? ›

Your best strategy when dealing with hard copies of textbooks is to sell them as soon as possible to get back as much of their remaining value as you can. However, a more efficient way to minimize college costs is to rent or borrow all the textbooks you can find for a semester.

Where is the best place to sell your college textbooks? ›

Where to Sell Your Textbooks Online
  1. Amazon. Amazon is one of the largest e-retailers, so it's no surprise they manage reselling college textbooks. ...
  2. GoTextbooks. ...
  3. BookScouter. ...
  4. Bookbyte. ...
  5. Student 2 Student. ...
  6. eBay. ...
  7. Craigslist. ...
  8. 8. Facebook Marketplace.
Sep 2, 2021

Where best to sell textbooks? ›

Top 5 Best Websites to Sell Books in 2024
  • BookScouter.
  • eBay.
  • Amazon.
  • Chegg.
  • AbeBooks.
Mar 15, 2023

Can you make money reselling textbooks? ›

Sell textbooks online

If they're in good condition, you can get them off your shelf and make a little cash by selling them online. Be sure to list accurate details about the book's condition. If you want to sell textbooks in the Amazon store, check our guidelines for selling textbooks.

Should I throw away old college textbooks? ›

Recycle them.

For paperbacks, you can place them in your paper recycling bin. However, if you have hardcovers, the covers must be removed first, as they are often made of non-recyclable materials. If you don't have a recycling service, you can go to Berecycled.org to find out where to drop off your books.

How much can you resell a textbook for? ›

A book in poor condition may sell for 20 percent or lower while books in excellent condition may sell for 50 percent or higher than the original cost, depending on the book's demand.

How to make money selling college textbooks? ›

Our today's tips are based on the experience of real people.
  1. Make a Book Inventory. ...
  2. Sell Textbooks during the Season. ...
  3. Try Selling Textbooks on Marketplaces. ...
  4. Sell to Online Bookstores. ...
  5. Use Buyback Comparison Platforms like BookScouter.
Jan 20, 2023

Can I sell my textbooks to Barnes and Noble? ›

Textbook Buyback lets you sell your old textbooks that you don't need anymore to Barnes & Noble. Submit your textbooks' ISBNs on the Buyback page, and we will generate a price quote for the amount we will pay to buy your book.

Does Amazon still buy used books? ›

The short answer to this is no. Amazon will not offer you a cash exchange for any book. In the US, you can exchange your books for an Amazon trade-in voucher, but the service has been closed since 2015.

What company buys back textbooks? ›

Selling to BooksRun is easy! We buy back books and textbooks and guarantee a quick and fair book selling process.

Can I sell textbooks on eBay? ›

On eBay, you have the ability to make your listing either an auction or a fixed-price sale. When choosing your price or starting bid, take into account the condition of the textbook, as well as its relative scarcity on the market.

Is BookScouter worth it? ›

I love using Bookscouter, it's a great way to make a little extra spending money. Absolute best place to sell books. The annoying part is that the price changes DAILY, and can be rather drastic. So, if you use this amazing tool please do not be fooled thinking you won't have to invest your time, effort, and PATIENCE.

Is it legal to sell textbook pdfs? ›

Selling used print books is perfectly legal. Scanning books, creating electronic files of them, and selling those files, or giving them away, is creating new copies of those books. THAT is ABSOLUTELY illegal.

Is it hard to resell books? ›

Selling books on Amazon is a fantastic way to make some cash — and even to start building an Amazon business. The best part is, you don't need a lot of money to start. In fact, you can get started for free by selling your old books that are collecting dust.

Is it legal to resell books online? ›

The only right you need is to own the book that you are going to sell. If you only had a license, not ownership, or were renting a book, then you could not sell it at all legally. Those overseas books that competed with the US publishers were generally pirated and printed in violation of the copyright protection.

Are old books a good investment? ›

Those collected with passion and genuine interest tend to be good investments in the long run, compared to other hobbies,” says Christina Geiger, head of the books and manuscripts department at Christie's Americas.

What makes an old book worth money? ›

In determining the value of a book there are three basic elements: 1) rarity, 2) condition, and, 3) demand.

Is it OK to buy an older edition of a textbook? ›

Generally, an older book may be a good option if the book is used scarcely. You may also want to let the professor know that you can get in touch with other students in the class if your book is missing a section. However, if your book is going to be used frequently, you may want to invest in the newest version.

How long are college textbooks good for? ›

Generally texts that are more than two or three years old have little or no value. Recycle them rather than donate them to library book sales. They rarely sell and then the library volunteers just have to box them up for the recyclers.

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