How to sell your textbooks for more than the bookstore offers
Bookstore buyback is quick, but it usually pays a small part of what the book is worth. The bookstore then sells the same copy to the next student for much more. Selling directly to that student means you both do better.
Sell at the right time
Demand peaks in the two weeks before classes start and in the first week of term. List your books as soon as your exams finish, so you are already there when students start looking.
Check whether your course is using the same edition next term. A new edition can make the old one hard to sell, so sell quickly if a new one is coming.
Pick a fair price
Look at what the book sells for used online, then price a little under that. Students choose a local seller when the price is close and they can see the book first.
When you list a book here, tap "Check what it sells for" and we show the current new and used prices with a suggested price.
- Like new, no writing: about 70 to 80% of the used online price
- Some highlighting: about 50 to 65%
- Worn but complete: about 30 to 45%
Make the listing easy to trust
Buyers want to know they are getting the right book in the condition you describe.
- Scan the barcode so the ISBN and edition are exact
- Add a clear photo of the cover and one of the inside pages
- Say honestly if there is highlighting, writing or water damage
- Add the course code, so students searching for their course find you
- Say whether an access code is included or already used
Sell the whole semester at once
If you have several books from the same course or year, list them as a set. Students like getting everything in one meetup, and you only have to meet once.
Reply quickly and meet safely
Most sales go to the seller who answers first. We email you when someone messages, and you can schedule the meetup in the chat. Meet somewhere public on campus and take payment when you hand over the book.
Ready to save on textbooks?