Selling used textbooks has become less stressful and manageable compared to several years ago. However, if you want to make lots of cash selling used books, you need to know how to go about it. You need to get your hands on the blueprint of success, and that’s what this guide will provide you.
Believe it or not, there’s a strategy for selling used college textbooks. If you’re new to the bookselling business, this is the right guide for you. Here’s everything you need to know.
What To Do Before You Sell Used College Textbooks
Just like putting a used car on the market, you’ll get a reasonable price for your textbooks if it’s in good condition. Bookselling sites, including bookstores, understand that students make notes in the margins, highlight paragraphs, and even dog-ear pages. But too much of it can render the book useless, making it less valuable.
So before you sell your used books, try to clean the pages as much as you can. But make sure it doesn’t cause the textbooks to further damage. Then, when the next semester begins, use painter’s tape to protect the cover and bindings of the books.
If it’s your textbook, avoid writing directly on the pages. Instead, make notes on adhesive papers. That will help your book maintain its quality condition and attract a higher price when the time comes for you to sell.
How To Sell Your College Used Textbooks
1. When To Sell Your College Textbooks
One of the crucial things to keep in mind is to know when to sell your textbooks. How much money you get depends on when you display the books on the market. Most students are interested in buying used books when classes are about to commence.
You might not get much profit at the end of the semester since classes have ended. As a general rule, the value of used textbooks falls during the summer. And then the sales increase when school reopens.
So what you have to do is sell your books just before the semester begins. Waiting until you graduate or waiting a few years before you sell your books might not get you the profit you need. Keep in mind that the used textbook’s price can decrease over a long period, mainly when publishers release newer editions.
Getting The Timing Right Is Everything
We’ve told you what you should generally know in the above section. It’s now time to go deeper. Remember that you’re not the only one selling your used college textbooks. When the semester ends, everyone rushes to get rid of their books from completed classes.
When the course is finally completed, students get some sense of finality, and what usually follows is selling their books. However, when many students sell their books simultaneously, the market becomes flooded with the same books.
Resellers can get overwhelmed, and when that happens, they usually refuse some books or reduce the price offered considerably. So it’s ideal to sell your textbooks before people need them.
As explained in the previous section, the semester’s starting is typically ideal, especially if you decide to sell to the students directly. Usually, when you sell your books when the semester is over, nobody buys them. You can wait for a month or two and try again.
2. Select The Right Reseller
It can take trial and error to get the right reseller for your books if you don’t plan on selling your books directly to students. Some bookselling companies can refuse to purchase your books or give you low quotes. Other companies can offer much more.
So you have to do your research to find the one that brings the best value. Numerous vendors have minimum buyback amounts. So sometimes, it’s ideal to choose a vendor like BookDeal.com that’s willing to purchase numerous books instead of a vendor that offers high prices for a single volume.
Depending on the offers you get, and how many textbooks you have, you can sell your used books to numerous resellers to get the most cash. Additionally, the book titles booksellers accept tend to change over time.
So if they refuse a specific title in a month, it’s advisable to check again if they’ll buy it.
Where To Sell Used Textbooks
There are various ways to sell your books online. Some websites like BookDeal.com offer free shipping and extensive buyback vendors to choose from. The listed resellers below can give you a good deal when you sell on their sites.
- Textbookrush.com
- BookDeal.com
- Decluttr
- BookByte
- Powell’s Book
Final Thoughts
Remember that you might not get every dollar you spent on your textbooks when you sell them. However, you can be assured that you can get a bit of cash. Aside from selling books online, you can buy your books directly from students. You can use social media to your advantage.
However, always take your time to find the right reseller. That can mean a lot to your bookselling business.
