KYLIE TRAVERS
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Simple guide to selling used books.
How to find what to buy, where to
sell plus tips and tricks to make it a
profitable side business.
Which books sell &
where do you find
In my experience, nonfiction books sell best, especially
them?
finance, business, cooking and parenting books. To know
which genres will work for you, try the following:
1.) Check eBay sold listings to see which titles have been
selling and for how much.
2.) Take note in forums you frequent to see what books are
talked about, but also where members buy their books so
you to know what to buy and where to sell them.
3.) Check books bloggers are talking about and what their
readers say about the book.
4.) Check which books are selling well online at sites such
as Amazon, those that sell well and don't have a lot of
copies for sale are the ones to look for. 5.) See which textbooks are used and popular at schools
near you. Find wanted ads through school newsletters or
classifieds. You can also find out book list for various
courses and keep your eye out for those books.
If you have specialist knowledge in certain areas this can
really help when sourcing books as you might know more
about which books are popular in your area of expertise
and their prices, even if they are no longer in print. I do this
with hairdressing books. My best purchase was a book I
paid $25 for and resold for over $85. Where to source your
books
I started with selling off books I already owned plus books
for friends and family. It was easy, so I found ways to
source more books and turned it into a side hustle.
1.) Second hand/thrift or ‘op’ shops
Usually less than $1 in the bargain basement areas or buy
on days where they have "fill a bag with books for $2” or
50% off everything sales.
2.) Garage/yard sales
Often 10cents or less, garage or yard sales can be a gold
mine. Be friendly, don’t expect a discount, but also don't be
afraid to ask how much for the lot.
3.) Online
Buy from one site and resell on another. I have done this a
bit with eBay and selling on private book sites. Classified
sites are often good places to find bulk lots of
books for a very low price too. 4.) Closing down sales
If a shop is closing down you can grab a bargain, especially
if you buy in bulk.
Where to sell books
1.) eBay – get a picture, write a description and off you go.
2.) Amazon – look up the book you want to sell, click on
sell yours, list it accurately, and once it sells post it. Check
postage before listing, as posting from Australia to USA is
very expensive, but if you live in the USA this is an easy
way to sell your books.
3.) Fishpond ­ an Australian and New Zealand site, much
like Amazon, which I strongly recommend against, but
others love. Books are more expensive in Australia, so you
can get a higher price. They add in $4.99 for postage but it
is added to your total before fees come out. Search for your
book, click on 'sell yours', then when it sells you will be
emailed. Click to confirm and post it. You will be paid in 2
weeks.
4.) Craigslist – is a classifieds site, which is easy to list on,
but you can apparently get a lot of time wasters.
5.) Gumtree ­ or any classified site (quicksales, trading post
etc.) or book site in your area. Look up the
books you are thinking of selling, see how much they are
going for, if they have sold and how many are listed. Place
an ad and wait to see if anyone contacts you.
6.) Facebook – create an album with all the books you are
selling and let family and friends know, or list them in
buy/sell/swap groups in your area.
7.) Email – write a list with all the books you are selling,
including links to them on book sites if you like, so people
know exactly which books you are selling then email
friends and family.
8.) Schools ­ textbooks can be sold directly through schools
Extra tips
1.) Size matters. Postage costs can be extreme for larger
books. Go for ones that are small enough they can be
posted as a letter. 2.) Systemise. Create a system or use accounting software
to track which books you have, how much they sell for,
what fees were involved etc.
3.) Quality over quantity. Look for books in excellent
conditions. Old, tatty books are harder to sell and their
value is lower. 4.) Be realistic. Just because one book sold at a high price,
doesn't mean all books will sell for the maximum amount
you hope for. List a realistic price and be prepared for some
books to take a while to sell. 5.) Be accurate. A description should outline exactly what
condition the book is in so there are no surprises for the
buyer. 6.) Have fun with it. You can make a few hundred or a few
thousand a month with this side business, why not have fun
while you're at it?
For more tips on ways to make and save
money, other side business options and tips
on every area of life, check out
www.kylietravers.com.au