Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mature study and retraining

Talk to other Mumsnetters who are considering a career change or are mature students.

Original poster

Where to sell academic books?

23 replies

Tygertiger · 27/03/2023 07:24

I’ve just finished my MA and have a stash of research guides and academic books to sell. They’re all in the region of £30 on Amazon so I don’t want to use a company which will just give me £6 per book. Looking to get about £20 for each ideally which would reflect the price but also be cheaper for the buyer. They’re as-new condition. Does anyone have any advice of where people sell academic books? Is it just eBay?

OP posts:
beccahamlet · 27/03/2023 07:26

We buy books?

Original poster
Tygertiger · 27/03/2023 07:53

I tried there, but they’re giving me prices of £5 or so per book. It’s frustrating as I know they’ll then sell them for £20+, they’re even that price on Amazon used and new.

OP posts:
MetaDaughter · 27/03/2023 08:05

Hmm … More than three decades ago I made £200 by selling a stack of Law textbooks to Blackwall’s in Oxford.

But I’d be surprised if any company would give you £20 for a used book originally costing £30 - where would the profit be? I was going to suggest finding other students either within your institution or in your local community, but I’d feel a mite ripped off at your prices when the same item could be bought for much less elsewhere.

Unless your books are incredibly rare and famously valuable (and not just standard student texts,) I’m afraid you may have to lower your expectations.

But congratulations on finishing your MA!

MetaDaughter · 27/03/2023 08:06

Cannot believe my stupid phone denies the existence of Blackwell’s. Apologies!

ichundich · 27/03/2023 08:10

eBay or on the virtual blackboard of your university? Are there any WhatsApp groups for anyone enrolled in the degree you've just finished?

mdh2020 · 27/03/2023 08:12

some universities used to have on site bookshops that would buy back books. You can register as a seller on Amazon for a small charge and then you can list your books. The trouble is that academic books go out of date so very quickly.

Original poster
Tygertiger · 27/03/2023 08:14

MetaDaughter · 27/03/2023 08:05

Hmm … More than three decades ago I made £200 by selling a stack of Law textbooks to Blackwall’s in Oxford.

But I’d be surprised if any company would give you £20 for a used book originally costing £30 - where would the profit be? I was going to suggest finding other students either within your institution or in your local community, but I’d feel a mite ripped off at your prices when the same item could be bought for much less elsewhere.

Unless your books are incredibly rare and famously valuable (and not just standard student texts,) I’m afraid you may have to lower your expectations.

But congratulations on finishing your MA!

These books are literally £30 minimum new on Amazon (many are more) and minimum £20 used and new, plus postage on top, and often not in great condition. Mine are as-new as I look after my books and I want maximum £20 all in including postage. I’m really not trying to rip anyone off.

And I do realise a commercial seller isn’t going to give me £20 for them! My point is they will then sell them for at least that price, so if I can sell them directly a) I will make more money myself and b) the buyer will get a better price too. I’m just not sure of the market.

It was distance learning so I don’t have a WhatsApp group.

OP posts:
ratticus4 · 27/03/2023 08:16

Can you still sell as an Amazon seller? I did that with the children’s textbooks a few years ago.

LulooLemon · 27/03/2023 08:18

University bookshop. They usually have 2nd hand section.

KnittingNeedles · 27/03/2023 08:21

Many universities don't have a "university bookshop" any more.

I have sold things to students coming behind me - there are Facebook groups and WhatsApp groups and similar for students on the course where there are regular posts by people selling books and other items people may need. ABEbooks are great as a buyer, not so great as a seller.

KnittingNeedles · 27/03/2023 08:23

In my experience - as a postgrad on a distance learning course - we had an exceptionally active WhatsApp and FB group. It was the only thing which kept me sane. Or if your Uni runs a "chat" forum or similar where students can post, maybe try there?

burnoutbabe · 27/03/2023 08:25

I sold mine on Amazon but also to other students in lower year or next year on my course.

Textbooks never sell for much. Most people want new abs postage is a ton for heavy books.

And it's now March so you'll probably need to wait for September for people to want new textbooks.

When I wanted more textbooks I would use eBay - sort by price and see what's the latest version I could get for cheapest price. Being aware that law moves quickly but these were extra textbooks to the main core ones.

CuriouslyDifferent · 27/03/2023 08:26

Amazon seller. I bought quite a few of mine on there - saved a little, saved a lot…. Depends on the books tbh, some are stupidly expensive £150 new, no other sellers, so you can get good money, others not so rare, you can get a few quid plus postage.

Peterpiperpickedapeckof · 27/03/2023 08:26

I used Amazon Marketplace for this, now quite a while ago.

or could you list them on eBay?

Original poster
Tygertiger · 27/03/2023 08:36

burnoutbabe · 27/03/2023 08:25

I sold mine on Amazon but also to other students in lower year or next year on my course.

Textbooks never sell for much. Most people want new abs postage is a ton for heavy books.

And it's now March so you'll probably need to wait for September for people to want new textbooks.

When I wanted more textbooks I would use eBay - sort by price and see what's the latest version I could get for cheapest price. Being aware that law moves quickly but these were extra textbooks to the main core ones.

Re the September thing. That’s not really how distance/PT study works. People move on to different modules at different times so they buy books throughout the year. Most of the ones I want to sell were ones I bought in April 20 for the module I started that term. I think they will sell, it’s just a case of knowing how.

I’ve looked on Amazon Marketplace but I think I have to pay a fee for that? Looks like I need to try eBay.

OP posts:
burnoutbabe · 27/03/2023 08:41

Yes Amazon marketplace is 25% fee or so.

But it's where most people go to buy the books. If you want them sold asap, use Amazon. The value just falls over time as new editions come out regularly and an older edition is worth maybe £5.

pncr · 27/03/2023 09:10

Are they current editions?

Original poster
Tygertiger · 27/03/2023 09:14

pncr · 27/03/2023 09:10

Are they current editions?

Yes, there is one which has an updated edition so I would obviously reflect that in the price (but actually my tutor preferred the earlier edition to the updated one!) but the rest are current.

OP posts:
HealthyFats · 27/03/2023 10:03

Ebay is probably your best bet. I used an online seller for convenience but definitely only got a fraction of what they will resell for. Alternatively there may be a Whatsapp or FB group for students the year below that you could access.

FraterculaArctica · 27/03/2023 10:19

I do a lot of secondhand buying and selling (though not academic books,.but I do know that sector) and in general terms it's just not possible to command that close to the new retail price. It's not just to do with the condition of the items - it's the reduced market (potential buyers have to go to lengths to track them down, have the hassle of bidding, etc. compared to a straightforward new item purchase). So unless there's a well established second hand selling route for your course or university, I do think you need to revise your expectations.

BertieBotts · 27/03/2023 12:57

Amazon or ebay, or advertise them directly on a student forum or at the university.

You do have to factor the fees into the selling price.

burnoutbabe · 27/03/2023 13:01

well you can't really factor fees into selling price.

A buyer will just buy the cheapest of that edition. you need to undercut the new price if second hand (no matter if unmarked, its still a risk to the buyer over brand new)

and the value to you of the book is nil. you need to sell as soon as possible before a new edition comes out.

Only time i would not be the cheapest price on amazon is if someone is offering for £5 say and thats way out of whack with market. Let them sell theirs, then you are next in line.

Anything around £5 (inc postage, which costs you around £3 for a textbook)- i drop off at a good charity shop that specialises in books and has a good reference sections.

BertieBotts · 27/03/2023 14:14

If you factor fees into selling price then you'll realise you can't make £20 is what I mean. But even paying 25% plus postage you'll make a good £12 on amazon if it sells at £20 which is better than the £6 OP mentioned from a book buying site.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread