Let’s be honest: of all the books that are currently in your home, how many are you still interested in reading? And how many are merely collecting dust, begging to be opened and read after a decade?
Bookworm or not, you probably have tons of old books sitting around your house that no one’s going to read again. What was once a treasured collectible or an essential school resource, has become a problematic clutter. Even homes with a library need to declutter at some point to free up some space for modern books.
Luckily, reselling old books is a great source of passive income. Unlike other pre-loved items, old books are timeless items that do well in sales. Even with the rise of e-books, book lovers and collectors still prefer reading from something paper-based they can physically touch. Plus point, if you’re selling classics and rare ones that book publishers no longer mass-produced.
If you’re planning to resell your old, unwanted books, here are 7 tips to get started.
1. Get the right pricing
The first step is to plug in a book’s ISBN into an online tool designed for checking its value. The app Book Scouter, for example, shows how much 50+ online book buyers are willing to pay for a title. You can check a particular book’s current selling price, and come up with a price that can attract buyers.
Another book appraisal tip is to use a price history tool to see how much a particular book has sold for in the past. This may help you determine if there’s a specific time of the year when your book will sell for more.
2. Clean your books
It’s impossible to make a two-decade book look (and smell) brand-new, the same way it was after leaving the literary fiction publishers’ premises. However, a little cleaning can help transform it back to its former glory. Before putting them up for sale, get rid of any damage, dust, or mildew, and erase any writings you can erase.
3. Pay attention to the condition of your books
The condition of the book dictates its value. Unless the book is vintage, it’s not worth the damaged paper it’s printed on.
As you collect books, be mindful of their condition and treat them well. Keep them in cool, dry rooms. Give extra TLC to the books you don’t care about — these are exactly the ones you’re more likely to resell in the future.
And when it’s selling time, be honest about your books’ condition. Disclose any damaged corners, missing pages, or written or highlighted portions.
4. Sell them online via eCommerce sites
Ever heard of the phrase “your trash could be another person’s treasure”? Thanks to the internet, it’s easier to create links between you and the people who need your books. From e-commerce sites like eBay and Amazon to the marketplace side of social media, there’s plenty of places to advertise and promote your books.
Assess your local eCommerce sites, as well as the online stores that ship all around the world. Amazon, for instance, will show you the lowest price available for that book so you can match it or go lower. They’ll also calculate the expected shipping cost.
Evaluate which ones give a higher payout and convenience (packing, shipping, etc). Some stores charge fees, while others take a cut from your sales.
5. Look into your local bookstores that sell used books
Don’t want to worry about packing and delivering your books? You can dump them at a local bookstore. It’s the easiest way to get rid of old books, as long as they’re recent, desirable, and in good condition.
Generally, you’ll give them boxes of books and they’ll buy them from you. It’s that simple. But while this is the most convenient method for selling your unwanted books, it also yields the least cash. Bookstores will scan each book and determine how much they sell for, and then pay you less for them. You won’t make as much money compared to selling your books directly to customers, but you’ll surely free yourself up from the hassle of finding buyers, shipping, and packaging.
6. Hold a yard sale
Looking for a straightforward way to sell your books without third-party sellers taking a cut from your sale? Try an old-fashioned yard sale. It’s best if you also have other things you want to get rid of, like furniture and toys. To reach people outside of your neighbourhood, you may use social media marketplaces to advertise your books and let them handle the delivery costs.
You can also create a social media page dedicated to your book sale. Through this, niche buyers can easily find you and directly communicate with you.
Take catchy, Instagram-worthy pictures of your books, along with the necessary descriptions. Don’t forget to include photos of inside pages. Utilise social media hashtags, location pins, and other ways to reach more people in your niche.
Author Bio: Carmina Natividad is a passionate content writer who spends most of her time writing poems, songs, short stories, and informative blogs. To know more about literature, from poetry to fiction, check out Doire Press, an award-winning book publisher in Ireland.
