How to Make Money Selling Used Books
Selling used books is a great way to supplement your income in your spare time. Successful book sellers sell used books through Internet auction sites, garage sales, used bookstores, and word of mouth advertising. Researched information--combined with a general history of books and authors--is the best foundation for selling used books and earning an decent income.
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Things You'll Need
- Collection of used books
- Computer
- Calculator
- Brown wrapping paper
- Shipping tape
- Address labels
- Permanent marker
Instructions
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Locate used books by visiting garage sales, used book stores, book sales, estate auctions, and resale shops. Search for used books on discounted Websites such as Ali books and Abe books. Use keywords pertaining to the type of book you are looking for--such as a novel, autobiography, biography, encyclopedia, reference, or textbook. Sub-categories may include mystery, action, drama, romance, and horror. Purchase books in lots or groups---this allows for a minimum investment so you can reap a higher profit.
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Inspect the books carefully before buying. Open the front cover to look for damages like warped pages or page markings---if there is, reconsider the purchase. Check for missing or ripped pages. Make sure the binding in the book is secure to the pages. If the book comes with a cover, make sure it is free of stickers, writing and excessive tearing. If purchasing online, call or email the seller with your questions before purchase.
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Determine the value of your book by performing an online appraisal at PBA Galleries. A local antique appraiser can also give you a fair value if the book is vintage or antique. If you feel there is a significant profit margin, proceed to sell the book.
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Prepare to list or sell the book by generating an item description. Include the title of the book, the author, publisher, and year the book was published. State a suggested retail price and then the price you are willing to sell the book for. The more specific your description is, the more likely it is that someone will pay top dollar for your book.
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Accept an offer for the book. You will need to know the address of the recipient for an accurate shipping calculation. Determine the shipping amount by weighing the item and then calculating the weight on the USPS Website. If taxes will be applied, be sure to apply the tax along with the book price and the shipping. Inform the recipient of the exact amount. Prepare to ship the book out via media mail by packaging, taping and listing the buyers address on the package.
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Receive the payment for the book via PayPal, by check, credit card, cash, or COD. Ship out the item through a postal service or deliver if necessary.
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Track all book sales on an Excel spreadsheet. Be sure to include the costumers name, date the item sold, name of the item, taxes,shipping expenses, and method of sale.
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Tips & Warnings
Offer a discount on shipping for those who purchase multiple books---this will also draw buyers in. Keep track of all helpful sites that explain book and author history by bookmarking and creating folders to separate genres and types. Search eBay for popular books that are selling. Books for teens and early child ages are money makers with parents on a budget. Special editions or classic sets are often well sought after by collectors. Store all books in a dry location away from direct sunlight and moisture.
Never ship out or give away a book without receiving money first.
Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.sxc.hu
