Selling books for charities

Wings_of_Ambition

Looking for opinions from those connected with charity shops. I try and sell my old books on Amazon for a little bit of pocket money. Got me thinking about an idea:

When charity shops get a stack of books, I'd be prepared to take them and list them on Amazon. If, after 60 days, they havent sold, they can go back to the shop to be sold on the shelves. The charity gets the profit from anything sold (minus postage costs of course), giving them a nationwide (possibly worldwide) customer base, at no cost to themselves (Amazon dont charge fees unless you make a sale). There'd be no charge for the 'service', and if storage was an issue, I could ask the charity to store the books on the condition that they're not sold instore until the 60 days are up. Could even get them to package and post the sold items, if they have time.

Thoughts?

Wings_of_Ambition

Just another thought - would be useful if charities asked for old jiffy bags, etc, to be donated to reduce packing costs.

GiveItBack

I would go and ask in your local shops. I don't know much about it, but I believe that shops and charities can quite easily listthings on ebay etc themselves. Best place to start would be one of the shops. There can be a huge difference in the workings from one charity to another.

lamb7994

Some of the shops i manage do this on amazon already a volunteer will take them home sell them and post it on then any money ofter fees and p+p are given to the shop.

It works well and he sells alot of them so it's good for the charity and gives him something to do.


James

jobbingmusician

I used to run a string of Oxfam shops, so thought I'd answer as well.

I think this is a great idea, and local shops could use you as a part of the vounteer team to do this. I suggest you go and suggest the idea to the local shop manager. Don't be discouraged if you have a couple of knock backs, as my experience of shop managers makes me think that not all will understand what you are talking about!!! Alternatively, you could ring one of the bigger charities, such as Oxfam, and ask to speak to the organiser for your locality (when I worked for Oxfam we were called Regional Organisers) and then suggest it to them - this should overcome the potential of individual shop managers not understanding what you are talking about.

Many shops will already have a 'book volunteer' who might be resistant to this way of making money, but I do think it's the way forward.....tbh I make money regularly by buying books from charity shops and then re-selling. I'm not an expert. Sometimes I lose money, which I am happy to happen as then I have donated something to the charity rather than making a loss , but often I make a few pounds.

burbulady

Bookbarn will sell your second hand books for you, and they have a scheme in place for charities.
"Whether you have just a few books or hundreds, we will take as many as we can and sign you in as an associate member of the BookBarn without charge."
I don't know how far away you live from their depot, or whether they do pick-ups, but check out http://www.bookbarn.co.uk/selling_books.asp for more information.
B.x

carol9uk

my local oxfam sells items on my space and ebay

Wings_of_Ambition

I popped into Save The Children's local shop. Got given the number for Head Office. They seem keen on the idea and the person in charge of all the shops in the region is visiting the branch to hopefully get a system in place. So the wheels are in motion. Awaiting a call later this week, and I hope to be able to list my first batch of books before the end of the week!

Wings_of_Ambition

Just got an email back saying they weren't interested as they already had a book expert, and nobody was prepared to post and pack the books.

I felt I had to reply pointing out the value of the book expert summed up by the sign on the door requesting no further book donations!

lamb7994

i've pm you some details of someone to write to.

James

klondyke

Wings_of_Ambition wrote:

Just got an email back saying they weren't interested as they already had a book expert, and nobody was prepared to post and pack the books.

I felt I had to reply pointing out the value of the book expert summed up by the sign on the door requesting no further book donations!

I was the book person (not expert!!) in our local Oxfam. Please don't be offended when we, (or other charities) say 'no more books/toys/whatever' for the moment. Sometimes, it's a matter of health & safety, stockroom can get so full we can't move, or stuff is blocking exits. I'm all for selling on ebay, and many Oxfam shops do this, if they have space (which our branch doesn't) for a computer, desk, chair etc, or we can send items to larger branches or specialist Oxfam bookshops for ebay listing.

Problem can be in deciding, when you have absolutely masses of books (many of which, when we eventually dig down to them, are only fit for the wastebin) which ones are worth taking home to list - and, as we are not supposed to just take stuff, it all has to be written down in the branch before lugging it elsewhere - and it still might not sell!

Still there are many specialist books and also many that regional managers won't let us put on shelves as they look even slightly tatty, which would definitely sell on ebay - eg classic Penguin. Pelican etc, eve if only for a couple of quid.

Having said that, I probably will be doing some ebaying for them soon!