Want to make money selling used books? Here’s how I do it~

A year ago I paid big bucks for an out of print homemaking book.

I had just delivered my fifth child and was looking for some wisdom from moms who’ve “been there, done that”. As this was apparently the book to own with regards to raising large families, I shelled out the $30. When the book arrived I read a few chapters, skimmed the rest, lamented the purchase, and then let it sit on a shelf for the next 12 months.

Until now.

I recently spied that book on a dusty shelf and rushed off to turn my hard-earned money back into cash. I remembered that you might want to come along to see how I make money selling used books, so here we are 😉

Why I use Half.com

My family has used half.com for nearly a decade, buying and selling used books. We use a lot of ebooks now, but some things are still just better on paper. Lately, our half.com cart has been filled with comic books.

Half.com makes it really easy to sell books.

If you have an account with eBay you’re good to go. eBay owns Half.com and your account information can be used at both sites. Don’t have an eBay account? Sign up for one here.

How to Make Money Selling Used Books on Half.com

Here’s how to sell your used books, in three easy steps:

Step #1 – Identify the Book

First, you input the ISBN or UPC into the front page of half.com. Your ISBN or UPC code is usually found on the barcode on the back of your book. See that series of numbers squeezed next to the bar code? That’s the number you want to put into the prompt at the top-left corner of the page (where it says “Sell Your Stuff”).

Step #2 – Note the Condition

Second, note the book’s condition on the pull-down menu. Then, write down some notes or a description (optional). I’ll be noting that the book has some pen and marker scribbles on the front. Yes, I am aware of the irony of a book about large families having been scribbled on by a child.

If you really want to make money selling used books, you’ll want to make sure you are completing this section honestly. A good reputation will make future sales easier.

Step #3 – Determine a Price

Third, indicate the price you want to sell the book for. Half.com gives helpful ideas for appropriate pricing, including the average sale price and the last sale price. Super duper easy, no guessing involved.

I usually price a book slightly below the average sale price, if I’m looking to unload it quickly. For more valuable books (or if I don’t feel like packing a shipment anytime soon) I will occasionally price the book slightly above the average sale price.

Tips for Shipping Books

That’s it! See, I told you it was easy to make money selling used books 🙂 Upon making a sale you package that puppy up and ship it off. Here are some tips to make the shipping process easier:

A manilla envelope makes a great shipper. Just slide a smaller book width-wise into the envelope, then fold the excess back around the book and tape securely with packaging tape. For larger books, slide the book inside the envelope length-wise (wrap in paper first if the corners need protection).
Print your shipping label straight from the Half.com website. You’ll be prompted to pay (through Paypal) and print a shipping label when your item sells.

Quickly Sell Video Games, Movies, Textbooks, and Music Too

This is a great way to get cash for old games, movies, textbooks, and music CDs too. The process is just as quick and easy. Simply insert the UPC numbers (found on the item’s bar code) into the box in Step #1 above, and you’re off!

Easy, huh?

After it sat on the site for a couple of weeks, I finally sold the homemaking book for $40. It’s out of print, so it’s apparently a hot item.

Try out half.com and turn those unused books into cash!

Make Money Selling Used Books in No Time