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Step 1
First, if you're new to buying textbooks online it's best to stick with a major company such as Amazon.com or Half.com (owned by eBay).
Both of these companies work on a similar system and provide you with a degree of protection as a buyer. They also provide customers with an opportunity to leave feedback on sellers, which is important.
There are other good companies out there, but I'd recommend you research them with the Better Business Bureau to make sure customers have not had any problems. -
Step 2
Know what to look for with seller feedback.
Ideally, you want to buy from someone who has at least a few transactions (the higher the better) and has as close to a 100% satisfaction rating as possible. If the seller doesn't have 100%, find out why (usually sellers have the opportunity to explain or address any negative feedback they might receive).
New sellers aren't necessarily bad (everyone has to start out somewhere), but use caution if they're offering deals that seem too good to be true. Both Amazon and eBay have put filters in the seller process to prevent scams, but as a customer you should use common sense as well. -
Step 3
Verify the edition and condition of the book.
It's a good idea to have the ISBN (the 10 or 13 digit number found on the back of textbooks under the bar code or inside on the copyright page) for your books so you know you're searching for the edition that you need. Depending on the class, you can sometimes get away with buying an edition or two older--if you can find someone who's taken the class or an instructor, they can help you determine this.
It's good to shoot for at least the 'Good' to 'Very Good' range for textbooks, especially if you intend to sell them later. -
Step 4
If possible, request for a shipping and/or insurance tracking number from your seller if the book is over $40.
This is a reasonable request given the cost of the book. When I sold textbooks online on a regular basis, I had a personal limit of doing this for books $20 and over as long as I was making a decent profit on the book. If the seller does not have they'll do this in the listing, contact them via e-mail and let them know you'd be willing to pay the extra two dollars. They can change the price on their side before you make a purchase, and it's worth it for the peace of mind. -
Step 5
Selling your textbooks on Amazon.com or Half.com is a very straightforward and easy process.
You'll be asked personal information when you set up your account and will also need a bank account where your earnings can be sent. To protect the people who are buying from you, I know that Amazon holds earnings for two weeks for new sellers. This restriction is later dropped if everything goes right in your first few transactions, and you can then have the money sent to your account daily if you want. -
Step 6
To avoid any confusion, list books based on their ISBN and do a detailed check of their condition.
You want to note if the book has any marks inside (highlighting, pencil, pen), has any damage or wear to the cover or pages, and overall be as detailed as possible in your descriptions. If a book seems borderline between two different conditions (for example, between 'Good' and 'Very Good')always go with the lower of the two (Good)--this will save you a lot of hassle long-term. -
Step 7
As a seller, be sure to use an e-mail address you will check on a regular basis.
Part of being a good seller is making sure you get people their books quickly, and this is extremely important when dealing with textbooks people need for class. Although you're given two business days to mail out a book, it's a good courtesy to mail it out as soon as you can. -
Step 8
If you find you enjoy selling, you can network with your friends and classmates--helping them buy and sell their books on a commission basis.
This can be a fun side business if you have the time, and people appreciate it--especially when the college bookstore is selling books very high and paying little when they're returned.
Comments
godfather25 said
on 10/15/2009 Great article on selling and buying used textbooks online.