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How do you sell your pre-read books?

20 replies

Earthymama · 11/10/2008 14:29

I've got overflowing shelves and NEED to sort myself out.

I'm reluctant to give them all away. Any ideas of the best way to sell them quickly and with little fuss?

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Earthymama · 11/10/2008 14:30

PS am sorting as we speak so will be back soon

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TheDevilWearsPrimark · 11/10/2008 14:32

A local second hand bookshop? They often give you a proce per metre, and usually very little.

Amazon is good but takes time.

Tbh it's not worth the hassle, better to give them to charity.

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katch · 11/10/2008 14:40

I agree with TDWP - selling them individually is so time-consuming, and by the metre hardly sounds worth the effort. It's difficult when you've spent so much money on them, but I suppose they've given you their value, iyswim, so someone else might as well benefit, and you get a warm glow and good karma.

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Earthymama · 11/10/2008 23:16

I always give them to charity and friends and family, but am suffering cash flow shortage!!

Had decided today that charity is the way!!

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ScottishMummy · 11/10/2008 23:18

dont sell.i give away to charity shops,or leave on bus etc hope someone pick up and read

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geraldinetheluckygoat · 11/10/2008 23:26

I either give them to my friend, or ebay them.

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headintheclouds · 12/10/2008 22:11

Ive just joined this website -www.readitswapit.co.uk its great for swapping books with others for the postage price- you arent going to make any money from it but you do get a book back from the other swapper-basically you register all the books you want to swap, swap with someone who has a book you want-simple-I joined a week ago and have completed 6 swaps already. Its very exciting waiting for your'free' book to arrive(Im a bit sad-just love receiving parcels ,even when I know whats in them!). Its pretty hopeless if you want to declutter your book shelf but great for getting the books you want to read for your own used books.

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beansmum · 12/10/2008 22:19

I'm doing a big clear out just now. I have been selling textbooks, cookbooks and big glossy coffee table type books on amazon. Made LOADS of money. Paperbacks I can't bear to part with and am just storing in my mum's loft. duplicates or ones I am never going to read again are going to oxfam.

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wotulookinat · 12/10/2008 22:32

I've got rid of a few things on www.swapshop.co.uk but it's not a quick way to get rid. How about listing them on here, maybe in the for free section and people can pay for postage?
Headinthecouds, that website sounds good - I shall have a nosy at it
Or failing that, Freecycle?

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RambleOn · 12/10/2008 22:34

green metropolis. Make about £2 per book if you're careful with making your parcel small and light to get a good postage rate.

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Lucycat · 12/10/2008 22:35

ooh yes readitswapit is great!

I've been doing it for a couple of years.

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Flibbertyjibbet · 12/10/2008 22:42

With readitswapit, do you have to do direct swaps? Or is it like a big pool where you might get some back or you might not?

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Pannacotta · 12/10/2008 22:44

You could try greenmetropolis.com, I use it to buy but its not bad and they donate to charity for each book bought/sold.

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rosmerta · 12/10/2008 23:33

I've used greenmetropolis to sell a few things, but just use the money to buy more from there so don't really make anything.

Flibbertyjibbert, it's a direct swap with one person so you send a book & you get a book back. If someone wants to swap with you, you look at their book list & you can decided whether you want to swap with one of theirs or not.

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Earthymama · 13/10/2008 00:10

I am worried that my eclectic reading choices will cast me in a bad light...currently reading Elizabeth Taylor but am v fond of G.Heyer and N Roberts

Also I like to KEEP my good books and get rid of the rubbish.

DD says that DGS school is having a book sale so I'll do the right thing and donate them (worries abour being judged on Kelly Armstrong, vampire, werewolf type things I also like)

I'll have to buy some proper novels to donate

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ScottishMummy · 13/10/2008 20:41

i must check out the readitswapit thanks

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FlossCampi · 13/10/2008 21:57

Another swap site is BookMooch - similar concept to ReadItSwapIt, but instead of a straight swap you receive points for your books which you can then exchange for other books.

Personally, I find the system works better for me (I get a lot of swaps rejected on RISI as my tastes are a bit eclectic and hardly anyone is interested in my inventory!).

BUT BookMooch does have quite a lot of American members, so there is less choice of British fiction that hasn't crossed the pond. Also very few Americans will post internationally since they got rid of any kind of "surface mail" (even though you do get more points for posting books overseas).

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wotulookinat · 14/10/2008 21:19

I'm just posting here to make sure this thread stays in my active convos - so many good sites being recommended!

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nuttymum303 · 23/10/2008 18:04

I have been a member of RISI (readitswapit) since July 2006.

I absolutely adore this site xx

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FlossCampi · 23/10/2008 21:55

For those inclined to giveaways, BookCrossing is also worth a look. DS1 found a BookCrossing book under a tree in St James' Park which I thought was rather cool. I find it hard enough to part with mine as it is though....

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