Book Reselling Guide

Why Books Are Great for Beginners

Low cost: Source for $0.25-$2 at thrifts and library sales
Easy research: Scan ISBN, instant price data
Cheap shipping: USPS Media Mail starts at ~$3
No authentication: Unlike luxury goods, books are straightforward
Unlimited supply: Library sales, thrifts, estate sales everywhere
Long tail: Books stay in demand for years/decades

Scanning Apps

Your phone is your most important tool. These apps scan ISBNs and show prices:

App	Cost	Best For
ScoutIQ	$14-40/mo	Serious sellers, fastest scanning, profit estimates
BookScouter	Free	Beginners, compares buyback prices
Amazon Seller App	Free	If already selling on Amazon
eBay App	Free	eBay sold comps, no subscription needed

💡 Pro Tip: Start with free apps. Only upgrade to paid scanners once you're doing volume and the time savings justify the cost.

High-Value Book Categories

Textbooks

STEM subjects (science, engineering, medical) = highest values
Check edition - old editions worth $0, current editions worth $$$
Best time: Aug-Sept (fall semester) and Jan (spring semester)
Access codes are often one-time-use and worthless reselling

Non-Fiction Niches

Technical/Professional: Programming, law, medical, engineering
Art & Photography: Coffee table books, exhibition catalogs
Cookbooks: Vintage, celebrity chefs, niche cuisines
History/Military: Specialized topics, unit histories
Business: First editions of classics, signed copies

Collectible Books

First editions of popular novels
Signed copies (verify authenticity)
Vintage children's books (pre-1970)
Limited editions, special bindings
Books banned or controversial

Where to Source Books

Library sales: Best source. Annual sales can yield 100+ books per trip. Often $1 or less per book.
Thrift stores: Goodwill, Salvation Army. Hit the book section weekly.
Estate sales: Personal libraries can be goldmines. Negotiate bulk prices.
Garage sales: "All books $0.25" = music to a book seller's ears.
College move-out: End of semester, dorms and apartments near universities.
Book buyback rejects: Some sellers give away what buyback sites reject.
Free piles: Little Free Libraries, "free" boxes on curbs.

💡 Library Sale Strategy: Join Friends of the Library for early access. Bring boxes. Have your scanning app ready. Move fast - other sellers will be there.

Amazon FBA vs Merchant Fulfilled

Factor	FBA	Merchant Fulfilled
You handle shipping?	No - ship to Amazon	Yes - ship each order
Storage	Amazon warehouses (fees apply)	Your space
Prime eligible?	Yes	No
Best for	Fast-selling, higher-priced books	Slow sellers, low-priced books
Fees	Higher (storage + fulfillment)	Lower

Rule of thumb: FBA for books selling $15+ with good sales rank. Merchant fulfilled for $5-15 slower sellers.

Shipping Books

USPS Media Mail

Cheapest option for books: ~$3-5 for most books
Takes 2-8 days (slower than other services)
ONLY for books, CDs, DVDs - no advertising content
Can be inspected - don't include anything non-media

Packaging Tips

Poly mailers work for paperbacks
Bubble mailers for valuable books
Cardboard book mailers for expensive/fragile items
Wrap in plastic if using recycled boxes (water protection)

Understanding Sales Rank

Amazon Sales Rank (BSR) indicates how well a book sells. Lower = better.

Rank	Expected Sales	Recommendation
Under 100K	Sells within days/weeks	Buy if profitable
100K - 500K	Sells within 1-3 months	Buy if good margin
500K - 1M	Sells within 3-6 months	Only if high value
1M - 3M	Sells within 6-12 months	Only if very high value
Over 3M	May never sell	Generally avoid

Quick Tips

Skip fiction: Most novels are worth pennies. Exceptions: first editions, signed copies.
Check inside: Highlighting, water damage, missing pages = disclose or skip.
Sets are valuable: Complete box sets worth more than individual volumes.
No ISBN? Older books without ISBNs can still be valuable - check eBay sold.
Ex-library: Lower value due to stamps/stickers, but still sellable.
Speed matters: At library sales, grab first, scan later. Sort in the car.