How to Get The Most Money Out of Selling Your Used Textbooks Online
Textbooks for college courses can be a costly expense, but are a necessary investment for your secondary education. If you are not keeping your textbooks after the course or need money to purchase more textbooks, reselling them online can be a viable option. The online marketplace gives you wider exposure, but the prices can be competitive. To get the most money out of selling your used textbooks online, try to purchase the most recent edition of your textbook and in the best condition. Since publishers create a new edition every few years, you have a better chance of retaining full resale value for your textbook if you purchase the most recent edition. If you purchase a used textbook, select the best used textbook on the shelf.
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Instructions
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List your books online immediately after you use them. The value of your book decreases rapidly with the publication of newer editions of your textbook. If your older-edition textbooks are no longer used by professors, you may not only have to sell it for less, but also have a hard time selling the book -- or not be able to sell it at all.
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Maintain the condition of your textbook. Whether you purchased your textbooks new or used, handling the book with care can ensure a good resale value. Make sure the pages are not folded, book bindings broken and pages torn. If you know you are annotating your book, write and highlight in areas where the text is still legible.
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Research for online textbook resale websites that offer exposure and low listing or closing fees. Reputable websites such as Half.com, Amazon.com and eBay.com offer a marketplace for sellers to list textbooks, manage inventory and track sales and payments. Half.com and Amazon.com do not charge listing fees, but take a percentage of the listing price if the item sells. Listing fees and closing costs can take away from your overall profit margin and should be considered when finding a good listing host.
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Research prices for your textbooks and compare them with other textbook resale websites. Take into consideration the condition of your book when you compare the prices. If you want to get rid of your textbook quickly, list your textbook a dollar or two under the lowest resale price.
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Tips & Warnings
Use free listing sites such as Craigslist, which does not charge a listing fee or closing cost. Always be careful when soliciting and selling to customers through Craigslist.
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