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Original poster

It's not really worth trying to sell on my unwanted books, is it?

37 replies

lucysmam · 02/06/2021 10:28

Music Magpie doesn't want any of them & Ziffit's offering around 30p per book. That's an awful lot of books to make up their minimum of £5 to send to them.

I've no way of getting them to a charity shop, but doubt they'd want or need more books anyway.

I feel guilty at the thought of recycling them but cba with the thought of FB Marketplace or similar :(

They can stay a while longer.

OP posts:
Wowcherarestalkingme · 02/06/2021 10:30

Have you got one of those community libraries in the telephone boxes you could donate some to?

AntoinetteCosway · 02/06/2021 10:34

WeBuyBooks works out OK if you're selling a bunch - last time I did it I filled two boxes and got about £50, which was worth it!

Original poster
lucysmam · 02/06/2021 10:34

No, nothing like that.

I briefly thought about leaving them out the front but I live in the sort of area where there'd end up more pages strewn about than read.

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PegPeople · 02/06/2021 10:35

Are you on a road that gets quite a bit of footfall. We often have people near us who put boxes of books out front with a sign saying free. It seems an easier way of thinning the book mountain than lugging them to a charity shop who inevitably don't want them clogging up the stock room.

Original poster
lucysmam · 02/06/2021 10:36

@AntoinetteCosway thank you, I'll have a look at them now.

It seems such a shame for them to either just sit here (I have pulled out the ones I'll re-read), or go in the blue bin.

OP posts:
PegPeople · 02/06/2021 10:36

Ah cross post, that's a shame as it really does seem the only way of getting rid of them these days.

sansou · 02/06/2021 10:37

Charity shops/donation centres definitely want books. Ring up - some require an appointment slot to drop off, some don’t. I have been clearing out my garage recently and have dropped off about 15 boxes of books (over several trips).

RampantIvy · 02/06/2021 10:39

Can you offer them for free on your local Facebook pages?

Palavah · 02/06/2021 10:40

Why do you assume charity shops won't want them?

Badgertadger · 02/06/2021 10:41

Try webuybooks.co.uk. They pick up for free and you can see how much you'll get by putting in the ISBN on the website.

Original poster
lucysmam · 02/06/2021 10:42

I don't drive to be able to drop them off in boxes sansou. That'd be a lot of trips on foot/by bus. I don't mind walking, but not with piles of books at a time.

I'm not sure if any near-ish to me collect though, I'll have a google for phone numbers & ring to find out.

OP posts:
cookiecreampie · 02/06/2021 10:43

@RampantIvy

Can you offer them for free on your local Facebook pages?
This. Or Gumtree/ Shpock or The Nextdoor App. I've got rid of books this way.
PegPeople · 02/06/2021 10:43

@Palavah

Why do you assume charity shops won't want them?
Most of the charity shops around here were reluctant to take books pre pandemic and now none of the want them. I suspect its the same for many charity shops. They simply would much rather use their limited space to store items that will make the charity more money. Books sadly often do not make a great deal of money for charities and take up a lot of stprage space.
ClashCityRocker · 02/06/2021 10:44

A lot of people round here put them out front in a box with a sign saying 'free' for other people to take. Probably helps if you're on a busier street rather than a cul de sac.

SoupDragon · 02/06/2021 10:45

A couple of local primary schools have those big charity bins outside their gates. They accept donated books. I plan on taking my unwanted books there.

BIWI · 02/06/2021 10:47

Do you have a neighbourhood WhatsApp group? Ours, every so often, does a Saturday or Sunday book giveaway - people put out boxes of books they don't want, and anyone in the neighbourhood can come and help themselves.

A great option if you can't get to a charity shop.

roadwarrior · 02/06/2021 10:56

You could sell them on Amazon or Ebay.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 02/06/2021 11:04

Ask on FB if anyone wants them. Our charity shops won’t take books so I’ve stopped buying them and swapped to Kindle so no waste.

KeflavikAirport · 02/06/2021 11:32

I use Momox. Otherwise try BookCrossing, You put a label in your book and leave it somewhere for people to find, and then you can see how it travels on around the world.

YouLookSoCool · 02/06/2021 11:40

I've given books away free as a job lot on Freecycle or Freegle.

LepusLepus · 02/06/2021 11:44

last time I had a clear out of books I contacted my local library who were more than happy to take them all.

RampantIvy · 02/06/2021 11:51

I donated all the children's books that DD didn't want to keep to her old primary school library.

user1471471475 · 02/06/2021 11:57

There are charities that will collect them from you. We've used www.icollectclothes.co.uk/donation-info
Before and they collect books along with clothes etc

Cormoran · 02/06/2021 12:17

I donated mine to the refugee community center where I volunteer and anyone could pick what they wanted to take home. They were very grateful for the books. It is in many ways an essentials they can’t afford.
Maybe there is a refugee center near you. Those poor people have lost everything, they have nothing.

Seesawmummadaw · 02/06/2021 12:19

Hospitals or community centres sometimes take them. Or doctors surgeries.

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