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Selling books?

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Hi, I am decluttering and have some books that can go. I was wondering if anyone knew the best place to try and sell them - can they be sold on Ebay or Amazon? And has anyone used Green Metropolis?
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Comments

  • Reverbe
    Reverbe Posts: 4,210 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I have used Green Met for a number of years now but its not really worth it IMO anymore. When I joined you got 3 quid per book and while postage was 60p or so you could make a decent profit.Now postage is nigh on 2 quid ish for even small paperbacks. Green Met are STILL only giving you 3 quid per book. They take 75p in admin charges even tho you print the emails, contact the seller, pay for postage and P&P and list the titles yourself.

    Ive been advised that Amazon can be more profitable or even to find a local bookseller who buys.

    MY books are in perfect condition - being mostly unread due to prizes or unwanted gifts etc and its not really worth my while to persist with GM.. I have had a few books on there for YEARS.Ebay is good if you are prepared to do all the faffing that comes with a sellers account etc.. Other folks here can advise you on that route or Amazon also.
    What Would Bill Buchanan Do?
  • gizmodo_2
    gizmodo_2 Posts: 1,859 Forumite
    I would check ebay and see what others have sold for. I sold a couple of sets recently for money that was worth the hassle. But I found most of my books were in abundance on ebay already and not selling (which is understandable really when you can pick them up at a carboot for a pound or less), so really not worth the time so I took them to a charity shop.

    Like Reverbe says the postage is the killer really.
    Baby Giz born 6/2/11
  • eleanor73
    eleanor73 Posts: 1,615 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Depends on the books. Amazon is great if they are text books/unusual/non fiction. If they are bestsellers steer clear of Amazon as you won't even make your postage back. My bestsellers I donate to a women's community project or Oxfam.
    Since starting again after beanie: June 2016: Child development DVDs, Massive Attack tickets. July: Aberystwyth trip, hotmilk nightie. Aug: £10 Hipp Organic vouchers, powerpack. September: Sunglasses. October: £30 poundland vouchers.
  • bizzylizzy
    bizzylizzy Posts: 642 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    At the moment, they are mostly text books, but form the last 2 years of DDs studying, so should be current for new students. I'll have a go on Amazon, just don't want to get stung by the postage costs!
    Thanks for the quick replies : )
  • Reverbe
    Reverbe Posts: 4,210 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Lizzy for future reference a better deal I am looking into is sites such as readitswapit. This is more suited to fiction etc and TBH have only had limited success myself there. This is mostly cos ppl dont seem to want the books I'm offering tho I do offer a wide choice and when ppl want mine they offer only vampire books or romantic fiction in return- 2 genres i dont touch with a bargepole . :( But at least you are getting something in return.
    What Would Bill Buchanan Do?
  • bizzylizzy
    bizzylizzy Posts: 642 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Any tips on working out postage for books? I am trying list on Amazon...... gulp
  • Allegra
    Allegra Posts: 1,517 Forumite
    And for an alternative pov re readitswapit..... For fiction you can't get rid of any other way (most fiction paperbacks got for 1p on Amazon nowadays, by the time postage/fees get taken off, you are actually out of pocket for anything bigger than the thinnest, tiniest paperback), even readitswapit is not worth it anymore - by the time you have posted your book (which takes time and effort as well as money), the book you get in return will cost you more than 1p plus P&P on Amazon. I used RISI for years, but the latest increase in postage charges finally put an end to that.

    I am lucky enough now to have a book exchange where I work, which means I can get rid of any carp I am done with, and help myself to whatever is of interest, then deposit it back once I am finished with it. Works better than the local public library, as the titles on offer are often more current and varied ;)

    Textbooks though are good to sell on ebay or Amazon - we got rid of all our old ones and make a few quid that way. I also heard that cookbooks are good to go on ebay, but when it comes to those, I am a buyer and not a seller, so can't really confirm either way ;)
  • Allegra
    Allegra Posts: 1,517 Forumite
    bizzylizzy wrote: »
    Any tips on working out postage for books? I am trying list on Amazon...... gulp

    Digital scales and the Royal Mail website. Weigh the book (plus the wrapping, as that can sometimes tip you over into the next category up) and then check how much the parcel of that weight will cost to post.

    http://sg.royalmail.com/portal/rm/PriceFinder?catId=23500532&gear=pricingcalc&forcesegment=SG-Personal
  • bizzylizzy
    bizzylizzy Posts: 642 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Thanks so much for that link, it is just what I needed!
  • This forum will be best placed to help you http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=40
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