How to Sell Books on eBay (2024)

Written by joshua becker · 20 Comments

How to Sell Books on eBay (1)

I love selling books on eBay. First, it gets them out of my house. Second, I like turning my old stuff into money. And third, it’s so easy!

If you have never sold a book on eBay, I highly recommend it. eBay (as a minimalizing technique) can be very time-consuming. Taking pictures, writing descriptions, and shipping packages tend to be a hassle for only a $4 profit. But eBay eliminates nearly all the time-consuming hassle when it comes to books.

When selling books, all you need to enter is the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) located on the back of most books. eBay automatically registers all the information about the book (title, author, description, etc.), leaving you to enter just a one-sentence summary and your shipping cost. Not to mention, shipping books is simple (one manila envelope, please) and cheap (USPS parcel post).

I hopped on eBay today to list some books that I found in my basem*nt.

Got a shelf full of books (or a box in the basem*nt?)

Go grab a few popular titles and turn them into cash.

How to Sell Books on eBay (2024)

FAQs

Is there a trick to selling on eBay? ›

Research similar products and price your items competitively. Consider free shipping or bundle deals to attract more buyers. What pricing strategies have worked well for you? Building a positive reputation is crucial on eBay.

Are books easy to sell on eBay? ›

If you want to learn how to sell books on eBay, the first thing you need to know is that it's easier than you expect. eBay has a very user-friendly interface that allows you to create a listing in 10 minutes or less. This guide will walk you through each of the steps for selling used books on eBay.

How do I list books quickly on eBay? ›

Using a template saves time because most of the information is already filled in for you. Here's how it works: Once you describe your item and select a category for it, we'll show you listings that are selling items like yours. To get better results, use the dropdown lists to select details that apply to your item.

How can I sell a book through eBay? ›

Here's everything you need to know about how to sell books on eBay.
  1. Do Your Research.
  2. Create Your Listing.
  3. Take Photos of Your Book.
  4. Include Shipping & Return Settings and Pricing.
  5. Pack and Ship Your Book.
  6. How to Sell Books on eBay: Frequently Asked Questions.
Dec 14, 2023

What sells fast on eBay? ›

Starting a print-on-demand business is a great option if you want to start an ecommerce business with minimal upfront costs.
  • What is print-on-demand?
  • Top-selling eBay categories.
  • Smartphone accessories. Phone cases. ...
  • Clothing. T-shirts. ...
  • Clothing accessories. Hats. ...
  • Home decor. Wall art. ...
  • Fitness products. Sports bras. ...
  • Pet products.
Dec 26, 2023

How to sell 100 items a day on eBay? ›

How do I make daily sales on eBay
  1. Each day, add additional items to the list.
  2. Try a campaign for eBay promoted listings.
  3. Use keywords to drive traffic.
  4. Fast and free shipping is always available.
  5. Get rid of bad ratings.
  6. Become a Top Rated Seller on eBay.

Do books sell faster on Amazon or eBay? ›

Many factors come into play, but here are my general thoughts. Typically, Amazon FBA is where I look to sell used books first. FBA is more profitable (even after higher fees) and sell faster than every other platform. There are a lot of textbooks that I am restricted from selling anymore, and I list them on eBay.

How much does eBay take from a book sale? ›

Final value fees by product category
CategoryFinal value fee % + per order fee
Books & Magazines Movies & TV Music (except Vinyl Records)14.95% on total amount of the sale up to $7,500 calculated per item 2.35% on the portion of the sale over $7,500
10 more rows

Is it worth trying to sell used books? ›

Learning how to sell used books is a great way to declutter your space and earn some extra cash for old titles you don't plan to read again. It can also be profitable to sell books, such as textbooks and old or in-demand novels so you can make money to buy new books.

How can I make my book sell faster? ›

How to sell the first 100 copies of your book
  1. Build a following early on. There are lots of different strategies for selling books. ...
  2. Write well. Good writing is subjective. ...
  3. Give books away. ...
  4. Get those reviews. ...
  5. Give your first book away for free. ...
  6. Create a website. ...
  7. Write a lot. ...
  8. Spend time on your book's cover.

Does eBay charge a fee for selling? ›

We charge two main types of selling fees: an insertion fee when you create a listing, and a final value fee when your item sells. The amount we charge depends on the item's price, the format and category you choose for your listing, any optional listing upgrades you add, and your seller conduct and performance.

Is there a best time to list on eBay? ›

Generally, the best times to list an item are when most people will be browsing the Internet. For most potential bidders, this will be in the evenings, when people are home from work or school.

What's the best way to sell a book? ›

Tip #1: Find the Best Places to Sell Used Books Online
  1. BookScouter. The first thing you should do is go to BookScouter. ...
  2. Amazon. If you like more complicated ways, you can go directly to Amazon and try selling your books there. ...
  3. eBay. ...
  4. Etsy. ...
  5. Decluttr. ...
  6. Powell's Books. ...
  7. Half Price Books. ...
  8. Local Bookstores and Book-Buying Markets.
Sep 29, 2022

What app do I use to sell books on eBay? ›

The eBay mobile app makes it easy to create, edit, and monitor your listings. You can also relist items and provide tracking information on the go. The eBay app is available for both Android and iOS, so you can respond quickly to questions from bidders or buyers.

Is it legal to resell a book? ›

§ 109(a)) gives the owners of copyrighted works the rights to sell, lend, or share their copies without having to obtain permission or pay fees. The copy becomes like any piece of physical property; you've purchased it, you own it. You cannot make copies and sell them—the copyright owner retains those rights.

What should I not do when selling on eBay? ›

8 Mistakes to Avoid When Selling on eBay
  1. Not Taking Original Photos. ...
  2. Not Listing the Product's Flaws. ...
  3. Not Responding to Messages and Offers. ...
  4. Miscalculating Shipping. ...
  5. Not Selling Internationally. ...
  6. Setting the Wrong Auction Start Price. ...
  7. Forgoing Product Categories and Description. ...
  8. Forgetting to Leave Feedback.
Mar 1, 2022

What eBay sellers should not do? ›

14 Items You Should Never Sell on eBay
  • Illicit items. Let's just get the obvious one out of the way. ...
  • Food. ...
  • Furniture or heavy items. ...
  • Liquids. ...
  • Items that require authentication. ...
  • Anything alive. ...
  • Items subject to recalls or legal safety standards. ...
  • Handmade items.

Why can I only sell $500 on eBay? ›

We'll review your account every month and adjust the limits automatically based on your sales volume and the feedback you've received from buyers. Remember, your active and sold listings count toward your monthly limit. We may end any listings that you have created over your existing limit.

How to sell on eBay for dummies? ›

How to sell on eBay for beginners in 7 steps
  1. Sign up for an eBay account.
  2. Set up your seller account.
  3. Create a listing.
  4. Optimize your listing.
  5. Select shipping and delivery.
  6. Connect eBay to your Shopify store.
  7. Promote your listing (optional)
Nov 20, 2023

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