Selling Textbooks From Home: What to Know

By Alicia Geigel on November 25, 2020

When the semester begins, we all dread that grim reality that must be faced: buying textbooks. An unfortunate part of the college experience, buying college textbooks will more often than not, burn a hole in your wallet and only get used for a semester, making the reality even harsher to face.

When it comes to finding college textbooks, the struggle is real. At the beginning of the semester when the professor hands out the syllabus and materials you’ll need for the course, we all pray that the textbooks won’t be astronomically high- the problem is, they already are. In fact, college textbook prices have risen 1,041 percent since 1977. It all falls down to who controls the publishing and selling process, and unfortunately, publishers and even universities themselves having been raising these prices for one reason: they know students will pay up. Nicole Allen, a spokeswoman for the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition states, “They’ve been able to keep raising prices because students are ‘captive consumers.’ They have to buy whatever books they’re assigned.”

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Though buying textbooks is inevitable, at the end of the semester you can easily make the money back through selling back your books. Thankfully, technology has made the process so much easier through selling your books online. There are several different avenues to take when it comes to selling back your used textbooks, whether it be through popular choices like eBay, or specific textbook buyback sites like Chegg or Textsurf, or even localized options like Facebook Marketplace or LetGo.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, navigating the world of selling online is perhaps more important now than ever before. As an increasing amount of students are displaced from college dorms and campus as a whole, more students are looking online to find resources for the semester, especially college textbooks.

Are you a current or graduated college student? Have you been staring at a pile of textbooks, not knowing what to do with them after your semester ended? Do you want to make at the very least, some of your money back? This comprehensive guide will give you all the information you need about selling your textbooks from home, from the best tips to keep your books in great condition to the most effective ways to sell your textbooks through various avenues online!

Getting the Best for What You Have

Before you just go and set the price of your textbooks online, be sure to take the time to carefully research what each textbook is selling for. Some book that you may think has little to no value may actually be worth more than you could have imagined! Let the internet be your number one tool for determining the price of your book(s). Jane McGrath of Money.HowStuffWorks.com notes, “a quick search on Amazon.com, for instance, will give you an idea of what a particular used book is selling for. Chambal.com is another good resource. It lets you plug in the author and title or ISBN and will present you the lowest going prices across many different Web sites.”

As you will see later, there are also plenty of buyback sites that have specific tools to tell you what your specific book is selling for across the online selling market, making it easier for you to dictate your price. While you use these tools, note that prices vary on a few things such as condition (used/new) and edition, so be sure to be aware of this when evaluating your book!

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Condition is Key 

Nowadays, the most common way to get money for your textbooks is to sell online. Amazon and eBay typically are popular places to sell used books, but they are definitely not the only ones. When selling your books to different sites online, the condition of your book is going to be the most important detail.

McGrath comments on this stating, “[book] conditions range from ‘new’ to ‘poor,’ with other descriptions such as ‘like new’ and ‘acceptable’ somewhere in between. Of course, you don’t want to hurt your chances of selling a book by describing it in worse condition than it is. But you also don’t want to hurt your credibility as a seller by describing it in better condition than it is.”

If you decide to sell your books online, just remember that you are responsible for shipping the item. In some cases, depending on the site, they will send you a prepaid label to ship (making the shipping free), whereas if you sell on Amazon or eBay, you are likely to be responsible for the costs.

One of the first things to do when you get a textbook is observe its condition. Some textbooks are practically falling apart with notes, highlighter lines, and crinkles out the wazoo — in this case, you most likely did not spend a whole lot on books like these. Additionally, a Book Sox cover can prevent the exterior of your book from being scuffed and scratched, further protecting it and maintaining its good condition!

Some textbooks, on the other hand, are in almost perfect condition with very little wear, and this is the textbook you need to guard with your life. Avoid taking notes, highlighting, etc. in these books because it will decrease their value when it comes time for you to resell them. If you find yourself wanting to take notes, use post-it notes; they peel off easily and will keep your notes in the book without ruining the pages! Authors Adam Dachis and Arvin Dang of Life Hacker suggest, “If you don’t want to buy a bunch of disposable stuff, you can reuse your sticky notes by cutting them into thin strips and use them as document flags instead.” The bottom line here is the better condition your book is in, the more money you are likely to get out of it.

Another factor that can draw attention to your textbook listing is scanned pages. Sometimes (a lot of the time) we don’t want to carry around a heavy textbook to class, and rather, use our electronics to read our textbooks. If you have the ability and time to do so, scan your textbook pages so you can make them accessible online to the person who purchases your book. Having the alternate form of your book can potentially increase its value and further appeal to people looking to buy from you. Scanning pages can also help you keep your textbook intact and in better condition, as you can keep it safely at home rather than carry it back and forth to school!

Starting Simple

There are several different routes you can take when it comes to selling your textbooks before you start online. Localized options such as Facebook Marketplace or LetGo are simple, easy ways to get cash fast for your textbooks. Listing your textbook along with a description and appropriate price is quick and easy, and meeting with someone can take no time at all. Be sure to be cautious and follow safety measures when selling your textbook, like wearing a mask and maintaining at least a 6-foot distance apart. To take an extra precaution and make your buyer more comfortable, properly clean and disinfect your textbook to further ensure the safety of your transaction (you can disclose this in your listing as well)!

Another common option students utilize when selling their textbooks is going back to the place we all know and love: the campus bookstore. A reliable option to sell back your textbooks, using the campus bookstore can give you money fast, but maybe not the greatest amount you might be looking for. Campus stores aren’t necessarily known for giving the most money back for textbooks, as usually there are hundreds or even thousands of students looking to sell the same book and competing for prices. If you are on campus, using this option is convenient but will most likely cut down your money back in the long run.

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Buyback Sites to Take Advantage Of 

In the online marketplace, there are so many different options to pick from in terms of textbook buyback sites. All in all, you could choose just about any site that you come across, but you want to make sure that the site is legitimate and you can receive payment for selling — there are too many scams out there. These are some of the best buyback sites to take advantage of, so don’t waste time and let the dust continue to collect on your books, get your money now!

  1. With Textsurf, you can buy, rent, and sell your textbooks all in one place, and the site will compare textbook prices from the top textbook retailers in order to save you or make you money. The Textsurf site is very user-friendly and gives you an easy way to compare your textbooks quickly and effectively. On the main page of the site, there is a search bar where you can search for your book by ISBN number, which then directs you to a page consisting of competitor sites and their prices for the book. You get your money quickly and without hassle, making Textsurf one of the best out there!
  2. Barnes and Noble: You may think of Barnes and Noble as simply a store to purchase a variety of books and get a Starbucks coffee, but believe it or not, you can also sell books, like your used textbooks, to them as well! On the official B&N site, you can enter your book’s ISBN number to get a quote immediately and find out what you can make right away. You can print a prepaid label to ship out your book and expect to receive a payment within 2-3 weeks from the time B&N receives your package.
  3. CampusBooks: CampusBooks is one of the most reliable and trusted sites for both buying and selling textbooks, and for good reason! The company started in 1998, and has since been serving students for over 20 years. The “selling” section of the site is super simple and easy to follow, making for a smooth process. CampusBooks gives you a search engine to search for your book by title, author, ISBN number, etc. Then, they provide you with the most current pricing information for what your book is selling for across different selling platforms. You get a free shipping label and payment is fast with options like cash, check, PayPal, etc. If you’re looking to buy or rent a textbook, CampusBooks has you covered too!
  4. BookScouter: Another great buyback site to sell your textbooks through is BookScouter. The company has been around since 2007 and was founded as a way for students to sell their books to earn cash and pay off debt. It is now the largest referring site to a number of the nation’s largest book companies. The site compares prices across 30 buyback book vendors, giving you competitive pricing and the greatest value for your book(s). Shipping your book is free, and most sellers receive their payment the same day, if not within three days of selling their books. The timing of your payment is typically dependent on the method you choose, whether it be PayPal, mailed check, etc. BookScouter also has a mobile app, so you can sell your textbooks on the go when you don’t have immediate access to a computer!
  5. BookFinder: Like CampusBooks, BookFinder has been around for a long time. The company started in 1997 with the goal of making it easy to find any book at the best price possible. BookFinder searches inventories of over 100,00 booksellers worldwide, which makes finding your book easy and fast. Using a search engine and entering the ISBN number, you can find competitive prices across different bookstores so you can see the best buyback price. Shipping is free, and you can even sell other books like cookbooks or novels through BookFinder!
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At the end of the semester, when final grades are posted and you’re ready for a much-needed break, selling your textbooks is a great way to declutter and put some money back in your pocket! While you can use the campus bookstore to sell back your used textbooks, selling textbooks online gives you a much broader marketplace, with a large variety of options to pick from and suit your needs! Most sites give you all the resources you need, which makes the process smooth and simple. Whether you’re putting money aside for new textbooks for the following semester, or perhaps treating yourself to a gift you’ve been wanting, selling your textbooks can give you a good chunk of your money back without hassle!

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