The semester’s over. Finals are done. Now, what do you do with all of the textbooks you had to buy? Maybe you used them daily, maybe they never left your dorm. Either way it’s time for them to go. When you list a textbook for sale, keep these tips in mind.
Give detailed, thorough descriptions.
When you try to sell a textbook, the site you are using will ask you to provide a description of the book. Rather than just leaving this blank or entering the oft-used “great condition!” be detailed and thoughtful. If there is slight wear on the cover, say so. If there is highlighting, how many pages it is on? Are the pages all clean, present and smooth? Is the binding tight? Does the book have supplemental material, such as a CD?
The more descriptive you can be the more credibility you gain with a buyer. People want to know exactly what they are buying. Conditions such as “like new” and “good” have guidelines, which vary by site, but that doesn’t mean everyone follows them. If two books are listed as “good” and are close in price, a buyer will go for the book with the more complete description.
Offer multiple shipping options.
Students often wait until the last minute to buy their texts. Thus, they might find they need them sooner than the six to eight weeks typical of media mail. Offering expedited shipping makes your text stand out from the rest. Customers will know they can receive your textbook much sooner. Plus, it doesn’t cost you more because the buyer is reimbursed for shipping.
Price reasonably.
Don’t expect to get all of your money back or to make a profit off of what you initially paid for the textbook. Remember that your item is used and therefore automatically worth less than a new copy. Be grateful you’re making a little bit of money off of what would otherwise be sitting in your dorm gathering dust.
Look at the prices for the copies that are already listed. If the highest is $35, don’t make yours $55. A buyer isn’t going to purchase the most expensive copy, regardless of how detailed the description is. Similarly, if the lowest is $35, don’t make yours $10 unless you’re really trying to get rid of it.
Also look at how many copies of your textbook are listed. If there are many, you might have to lower your price to make it more attractive than all the rest. If there are only a few, you can price yours higher since a buyer only has a few options to choose from.
If a book has been listed for a while but hasn’t sold, go back and check your copy’s price compared to the prices of other listed copies. Now that some time has passed, yours may need adjusting.
Get good feedback.
Whenever you make a transaction, most sites will require you to leave feedback on the transaction and on the buyer/seller. According to half.com, buyers are more likely to purchase from someone with a good reputation. A positive rating tells potential customers that you are trustworthy because others have dealt with you and had a good experience.
You can do many things to receive good feedback. First, ship quickly. The minute you realize you’ve made a sale, package the book and ship it out as soon as possible. Always try to have it out before the site’s recommended date. Second, communicate with the buyer. Send them a message letting them know you received their order and that you’re shipping it as soon as possible. Tell them when you ship it and encourage them to contact you with any questions. Do whatever you can to let your buyer know that you are trustworthy, responsible and professional. Third, be honest. When you describe the item for sale, be forthcoming and open. If you lie and say your book is intact when actually chapters seven and nine are missing, people will gouge you in their feedback. This lowers your rating and thereby affects how future prospective buyers view you.
Receiving good feedback is critical. No one is going to make a purchase from someone who received a negative rating and comments such as “shipping took months,” “seller lied about the condition of the item,” or “Worst. Experience. Ever.”
Use these tips for selling your textbooks, or other items, online and start making sales today.
For more information about selling textbooks online visit half.com or amazon.com
Kristen Sikora - Kristen is a freelance writer. She received her bachelor's degree in journalism and religion from Ashland University in 2008.
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