Unless it really is completely falling to pieces, there is no such thing as an unwanted book; for someone, somewhere it will prove to be that elusive title that they have spent years searching for! So, before you consign those books that may have spent years gathering dust on a shelf in the potting shed to the recycling bin, have a go at selling them first. Not only can selling your unwanted books be a bit of fun for you and your nieces and nephews or grandchildren, it may even earn you a few pennies (or a fortune if it happens to be a rare copy of Darwin!)

Selling second-hand books

Having made the decision not to head straight for the local charity shops, the first step is to decide where best to sell your second-hand books. This very much depends on the type of books you have, paperback fiction or more collectible items; a large or small quantity; and how much effort you want to expend. Next, you need to consider where and how to sell, the local car boot sale; online or a professional buyer such as a second-hand bookshop or auction house. Having thought through the above, it is now time to market your books. We have listed below some useful hints to help you maximise your chance of success.

’’Selling used books can become one of the easiest ways to make money online. Marketing second-hand books can be an activity which profit margins far exceed 100% profit on many occasions. So then it is important to know “how to do it” because like everything in life, it has its key. Here are some strategies that can help you get an idea of how to sell a used book, online or even some of these are also effective to sell in person;’’

1. Take good pictures

If you have decided you are going to sell your books online, then remember the old adage, a picture is worth a thousand words. Display your books carefully and take your photographs in good light, using the highest image setting allowable by your chosen sales platform. Make sure that any particular features, such as author’s signatures, are also clearly photographed. Importantly, don’t forget to photograph any defects. Strangely, the latter can help sell your book as any potential buyer can clearly see what the problem is.

2. Be accurate in your description

When listing your book(s), please make sure you are honest and accurate in your description. If you have a damp stained, scruffy old copy of an Early Biggles book that has no dust jacket and you describe it as ‘fine’ then you are only storing up problems for yourself. Invariably, this will be returned, at your expense, and damage your online ranking! If you are unsure how to describe the condition, check out other similar online titles to get an idea of how books are described. Don’t wax lyrical, you are not entering a writing competition. As a minimum, you will want to list: the title; the author; the publisher; the date published and a brief description.

3. Presentation, presentation, presentation


Irrespective of whether you are intending to sell online, take it to a second-hand bookshop or auction house you are going to obtain a better price if your book(s) is clean and well presented. This definitely does NOT mean trying to carry out any repairs which, if not done professional, nearly always lead to a decrease in the book’s value. Carefully rub out any pencil annotations, which tend to be common in textbooks, (always test an area first), remove any sticky notes and straighten any dog-eared pages.

4. Research other vendors and markets



However you intend to sell your book(s) it is essential that you carefully investigate the various markets to ascertain what other vendors are offering, as you will learn a good deal about pricing, shipping rates and methods, product classifications and availability. There is clearly little point in offering your copy of Enid Blyton for £30 if there are sixty other copies of the same title being offered for £5!! When investigating other vendors or bookshops do make sure that you are comparing like with like. There is a world of difference between a 1^st edition and a book, yours, that is a thirteenth reprint!

5. Pricing



If you have researched the market carefully, you will have a fairly clear picture in you mind as to the approximate value of your book(s). However, at the end of the day a book is only truly worth what a willing buyer will pay for it. Do not be fooled by online prices, these are speculative at best and do not seldom reflect what the book or books actually sold for. Wherever possible try and check actual sale prices not offer prices. If taking your book to a second-hand bookshop or, in particular, an auction house, do not be afraid to discuss with the buyer the pricing if you consider the value being offered or suggested is on the low side.

Good luck.