How to Earn Money as a Book Scout

You have a ton of books lying around the house, and you'd like to get rid of them. On the other hand, you don't want to donate them to a thrift store or the public library. Having a yard sale is out of the question because you just don't have the time or energy to organize it. Instead of letting the books continue to collect dust, sell them to a book-buying website. You can even earn steady money as a book scout for companies that seek used books. Working as a book scout won't make you rich, but it will provide you with some some quick cash. Here are some tips to get you started.

Things You'll Need

• Used books
• Bubble wrap
• Boxes or large insulated envelopes

Instructions

1. Register with a book-buying company such as Cash 4 Books or CKY Books. These are just two of many companies that purchase books from people. The companies pay for shipping as well. Sellers are only responsible for mailing the books safely so they arrive undamaged.

2. Look through your personal bookshelves to locate any unwanted books or textbooks. You might be surprised to find how many unwanted books are cluttering your house.

3. Locate the ISBN. The ISBN is the 10- or 13-digit number on the back of the book located beneath the book's bar code.

4. Enter the ISBN in the appropriate field of the book-buying website. Most book-buying websites have a feature that automatically searches the ISBN and immediately determines whether the company is willing to purchase the book. Companies that purchase books from people look for specific types of books--usually nonfiction. They rarely buy paperbacks and usually don't want outdated textbooks. Most companies also refrain from purchasing a great deal of fiction.

5. Visit used bookstores, library sales and yard sales to snag more books to sell to the book-buying company. You can find cheap books in a variety of places around town. Spend a Saturday afternoon haunting book sales to find more books to sell to a book-buying website.

6. Work with a partner. Your partner stays at home and logs onto the book-buying website while you go to the used book sale and hunt for books. Use your cell phone and call your partner when you find a potential book. Read the ISBN to your partner. The partner enters the ISBN into the website to see if the company wishes to buy the book. He also can see the amount the company is willing to pay for it. If you have to spend .25 cents for a book, and the company will offer you at least $2, buy the book.

7. Print out a shipping label from the book-buying website and pack your books. This will allow you to ship the books free of charge. Use bubble wrap and clean newspapers to protect the books during shipment.

Tips & Warnings

• When browsing in the bookstore, use a PDA or cell phone with Internet access. This will allow you to check the ISBN without leaving the store or yard sale. Websites such as A Seller Tool help you set up a portable way to check ISBNs when you're not near a computer.

• Avoid purchasing books with torn pages, water damage, mold, or an excessive amount of ink markings and highlighting.

• Don't buy books with missing pages or worn bindings.

• Stay away from books that smell of cigarette smoke or other unpleasant odors.

• Try to find books with original jacket covers or the book-buying companies will pay less than their quoted price.

Resources

• Book Scouter
• A Seller Tool
• Cash 4 Books
• CKY Books