How to Sell Used Textbooks for Cash
Textbooks are expensive to purchase, and it's challenging to sell them for the same price you paid for them. If you're vigilant about your selling options, though, you'll most likely find a way to get a decent amount of money for your used textbooks.
Instructions
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Take good care of your textbooks so you can list them in excellent condition when it's time to sell. Use book covers to protect them from scratches, and don't write or highlight on the pages. This will make them worth much more than a book in poor or fair condition.
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Bring your books back to the store where you purchased them, if possible. Most college bookstores will buy back textbooks, but at a lower price than you bought them for. You can ask to check how much they're worth before deciding whether to sell them there.
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Set up an account on a website specific to used textbook sales, such as Half.com or Amazon.com (See the "Resources" section for links). These sites take only a small percentage of your sales and allow you to list your textbooks at any price. If someone purchases one of your books, you will be notified and expected to ship it out, and the website will deposit the money directly into your account.
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Use the "Marketplace" function on Facebook to post a description of the textbook and its price. As long as you are in your school's Facebook network, other students can browse through textbook listings and easily contact you if they're interested.
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Post ads for your textbooks under the "for sale" and "books" listings on Craigslist. This may work better if you live in a large city or region with lots of college students.
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Spend time on your listings to make sure potential buyers have all the information they need to make a purchase, such as the edition of the textbook as well as its condition. Specify the good things about the book, such as "no markings on the pages," or "never opened, perfect condition."
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Be realistic about the prices you set. A sky-high price won't get you any sales, but you don't have to list it at a very low cost unless it is in poor condition. Browse other sites to get an idea of how much the book usually sells for.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Diane Szulecki
