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Finally dejunking! Have a lot of books - what to do?

21 replies

Fragglewump · 05/07/2013 08:40

I'm a book junkie and have wayyyyy too many - I think I once read or dreamt that there's a music magpie type thing for books. Is it true? Has anyone used it? Thanks.

OP posts:
Betty5313 · 05/07/2013 11:27

I can't help with the music magpie thing, but we give our old books to the local library. Most of them go into stock, those that don't they sell for funds. they are always very grateful!

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 05/07/2013 11:29

be careful if you take them to charity shops - I usually end up buying 2-3 new ones for every bag of 10 I take in.

Mintyy · 05/07/2013 11:30

I think you can sell used books on Amazon.

HalfSpamHalfBrisket · 05/07/2013 11:53

Green Metropolis? But you can't send a load off in bulk - you deal with individudals who want to buy your books.
So it's faff, and if you are de-junking, I'd be tempted give the lot in bulk to a charity shop or school fete just to get it out of your house.

ouryve · 05/07/2013 11:55

We usually take them to charity shops, or school fairs, but some market stalls have book exchanges - not that that helps you get rid entirely!

FreshWest · 05/07/2013 13:21

There is a website called We Buy Books and another called Zapper.
I have used both but it depends on whether you have books which are very popular or not as they're more interested in less popular ones.
We Buy Books

Zapper

Fragglewump · 05/07/2013 13:37

Thanks for all your help. I'm seriously thinking I could do with joining a 'books anonymous' group to deal with my book compulsion. Would anyone like to share how many books they have so I'm not alone? I'm off to count now....

OP posts:
wonkylegs · 05/07/2013 14:21

I can't count ours as I've just packed them to move but it's serious numbers, DS has almost 400 alone (he counted his whilst we were packing) I managed to weed out a whole 10 to send to the school fair book stall but the rest are coming with me. I have a kindle too which I love but it's not the same.

GROOVEYCHICK · 06/07/2013 10:25

i have too many to count
on my chest if drawers there 20
by my bed i have 30
also there are 3 books deep on 3 shelves And 10 on top but none are read yet
i pass them on as soon as i have read them
dh has 4

superbagpuss · 06/07/2013 10:27

I had far too many but to fit in DC I had to lose a bookcase, still mourning my books now

superbagpuss · 06/07/2013 10:27

however I did manage to pass a load to my mum so do check on Fb - have a coffee and take a book party

londone17 · 06/07/2013 13:22

I have about 1000

lozster · 06/07/2013 16:40

I checked out we buy books, zapper and amazon trader. In short, we
Buy books may well buy books but they didnt want any of mine! I had a mix of biographies, novels, academic texts but none were accepted. I went to amazon trader and managed to sell a grand total of five. The ratio of acceptance was about 1 in 20. You need to be careful as your book has to be an exact match in terms of edition and publisher and meet criteria such as not having a name in it. I had to withdraw one text of mine after thinking it was accepted as this criteria only came up on checkout. Novels only get about 25 - 40p and so few are wanted you might struggle to justify the effort when oxfam can sell them on for a couple of quid. My five books came to £11.96 mainly due to one medical text book. You print out a free post label for Royal Mail then send them off. Packing is hard and the postage was £15 on my parcel which probably explains why they are so selective!

lozster · 06/07/2013 16:45

I have heard that you can also sell by weight too.... I stopped buying books a few years ago and just use the library except when travelling when I treat myself. Sadly, I think the printed book has had its day......

sandiy · 06/07/2013 17:42

If you don t want them and don t need the money use free cycle someone will be round for them in no time I broke my habit that way.

specialsubject · 06/07/2013 18:24

try your local schools if they are academic stuff - even if they don't want them, they may well be able to point you at someone who does.

MiddleAgeMiddleEngland · 06/07/2013 21:51

Would your local homeless shelter/women's refuge like any of them?

Charity shops are usually grateful for books. The Co-op supermarket in town has a table where people leave books, there's a collection tin for a local charity so you can make a donation if you take a book. Seems to work well.

We probably have a two or three thousand books but do weed them out from time to time and take them to a charity shop.

mikkii · 06/07/2013 22:01

We have a hospice book shop near my office that just sells books.

finleymoon · 06/07/2013 22:06

Hi, do you have a cash 4 clothes near you? At my local one they pay for books 5p per kilo, not a lot I know but I really had so many that the charity shops wouldn't take them. Its so simple there just take bags of books put them on their giant scales and they calculate the price. We made no money really but the convenience of it suited. I think they go to be sold on. HTH

CaptainJamesTKirk · 07/07/2013 08:49

The league of friends in your local hospital would be grateful for them! :)

Mumzy · 07/07/2013 08:52

Take them to Oxfam bookshp or find a National trust property with an attached bookshop

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