Amazon.com, a massive online marketplace, hosts more than two million third-party sellers. These sellers may access up to 30 different product categories depending on their sales strategy (either individual or professional). In addition to traditional seller options via categories such as electronics and home goods, Amazon also offers special Marketplace programs that allow sellers to easily list or trade in their textbooks.

Since there???s more than one way to sell, Amazon users have a better chance of getting a fair price for their textbook.

There are benefits to each of Amazon???s textbook resale options. Below you???ll find an explanation of the two routes, as well as how each affects pricing and payment.

Before you decide on your sales method, it???s important to survey your options by browsing the Amazon Textbook Marketplace. Through this process, you???ll learn the Amazon Buyback trade-in value of your book, as well as how much you might reasonably expect to receive as an independent seller.

On the Amazon homepage, select the ???Shop by Department??? banner on the top, left-hand side (do not select a category from the dropdown menu). On the following page, select ???Sell Us Your Books??? from the ???Books & Audible??? department. In the search field, enter your book???s ISBN, title, or author. Review the available trade-in offers and price quotes based on the listing that best matches your textbook edition and description.

On the Amazon homepage, select the ???Shop by Department??? banner on the top, left-hand side (do not select a category from the dropdown menu. On the following page, select ???Textbooks.??? In the search field, enter your book???s ISBN, title, or author. Review the prices and listings currently set for other, similar textbooks in the marketplace. Notice the listing language (i.e. title and description), as well as the average, fair price.

Depending on how you sell your textbook, it may be subject to certain standards.??? The condition of your textbook may determine your selling route for you. If your textbook is in poor condition, you may need to list it as an Amazon seller, since sellers can set their own product standards. However, keep in mind: higher quality books are still more likely to attract buyers. Amazon Textbook Buyback only accepts trade-ins that are in good condition.

The textbook must be free from writing and other marks, including - but not limited to - personalization, answers, highlighting, and notes.

The textbook must be mostly blemish free. Textbooks with significant damage or wear to binding, cover, or pages will not be accepted.

The textbook must come with all of its original supplemental items, such as study guides or online access codes.

Regardless of your sales method, you???ll want to prepare your book. Even if your textbook is in ???good??? condition according to Amazon???s Buyback Condition Criteria or you plan to sell your textbook independently, you should still make the textbook as visually appealing as possible.

Photos are like a handshake for your Amazon Marketplace listing; they introduce buyers to your product. Photos get buyers interested in the "conversation" you are about to start (i.e. the textbook description). This is why your image needs to stand out.

The listing-and-pricing process depends on the selling method you choose. While Textbook Buyback technically requires no formal listing, you will still need to follow a set process to receive funds. Amazon makes it easy to get started either way.

 

To begin the process, enter the keywords ???sell textbooks amazon??? into a third-party search engine and select the search result that features ???Sell Books & Textbooks.???

Because Amazon lets users create listings based on existing Amazon products, you???ll enter minimal product information. There is no official ???details??? section for books listed via the ???Sell Yours Here??? process described above.

If you???re trading in your textbook, you may have questions on your buyback status. Likewise, if you???re selling your textbook independently, your buyer may have questions for you. Here???s what you need to know:

With textbook trade in or buyback, your role is most similar to a customer. You must wait for Amazon to process your order and reach out to you with additional status information. Once you have shipped the textbook, you may review the status of your trade in via your trade-in account (or the account you created when selecting your trade-in value).

 

If you do not receive an update on the status of your trade in, or you have additional questions, you should contact Amazon customer service for more information.

Potential buyers may have inquires about your textbook. Buyer questions will come in the form of messages, which are accessible via your Amazon Seller Central dashboard. Do your best to respond promptly and knowledgeably to each inquiry. Be ready with specifics on shipping, as well as answers regarding the book itself.

 

If a buyer purchases your textbook, keep him or her up-to-date on the order status by sending a shipping confirmation notification via the ???Manage Orders??? section of your seller dashboard.

When it comes to shipping, regardless of selling or trading, you???ll want to act fast. Know this: Textbook Buyback offers are only good for seven calendar days, and late seller shipments could influence buyer feedback.

Once you???ve verified your textbook???s ISBN, you???ll select a shipping method. To make shipping simpler, Amazon allows trade-in accounts to print shipping labels directly from the site. Depending on the method, shipping may take up to 10 days. Once the textbook is received by Amazon, allow two additional days for processing. Amazon will update you once the textbook is accepted or rejected.

You???ll set the shipping options???from which the buyer may choose???when you list your textbook. You may allow multiple shipping options, but, keep in mind, buyers will expect you to fulfill the order within the selected timeframe (i.e., you must prepare and deliver a two-day shipping item within two business days of receiving a buyer???s payment). To make shipping simpler, Amazon allows sellers to print shipping labels directly from the site.

For either selling method (Buyback or Marketplace), you???ll need to find an appropriately sized envelope or box. To prevent water and other damage, wrap the book in a plastic bag, and then secure the book with bubble wrap before placing it within the shipping container.

If you independently sold your textbook, once the transaction is processed and shipped, your buyer may leave feedback. It???s important to follow up with your buyer to ensure complete satisfaction since buyer ratings relate to your Amazon seller reputation.

However, Amazon does feature a special section for selecting the textbook???s condition, as well as an additional field for condition notes. When selecting a condition, consult Amazon???s Textbook Buyback Condition Standards listed above to determine a ???Used - Good??? rating.

A book that is ???Used - Like New??? will have hardly any signs of wear, such as folded pages, creases on the cover, or writing.

A textbook may be considered ???Used - Acceptable??? if it features minor damage that does not impact the textbook???s usability.

From the ???Sell Your Textbooks??? homepage, select the link featured in Step 1 under ???Textbook Buyback??? (Amazon.com/buyback). Next, follow the same process as your initial research (i.e. search for your book and locate its listing and price quote). Once you???ve pinpointed your book, select the ???trade in??? button next to the most similar listing. The next page will prompt you to either sign in or create a new Amazon Trade-In account.

 

Once you???ve successfully signed in, you???ll need to verify your textbook???s ISBN if you have not already done so. The ISBN is a sequence of 10 or 13 digits typically printed above your book???s product bar code, after ???ISBN.??? Select ???Continue??? to proceed once the ISBN has been verified.

From the ???Sell Your Textbooks??? homepage, select the link (???Sell Your Stuff???) featured in Step 1 under ???Selling on Amazon.??? Next, search for your book in a manner similar to your previous research; however, this time, select the ???Start selling??? button once you???ve entered your keywords or ISBN.

 

Once you???ve pinpointed your book on the ???Sell Your Stuff??? results page, select the ???Sell Yours Here??? button next to the most similar listing. The next page will prompt you to either sign in or create a new Amazon seller account. At this time, you may be required to verify your identity via an Amazon-approved process. Other seller information may be required as well.

Note: If you wish to have more control over your listing (i.e., product details, etc.) you will need to create a brand new product and not one that is based off an existing Amazon textbook. To create an entirely new product (not recommended), you???ll need to create or sign into an Amazon seller account, and then select ???Add a New Product.???

Note: If you???re participating in the Textbook Buyback program, you do not need to describe the book.

Note: If you???re participating in the Textbook Buyback program, you do not need to photograph the book.

Amazon allows up to six seller photos, so make them count.

 

Choose bright, natural lighting over low or indoor lighting.

 

Take pictures of any damaged areas, and include images that show the general quality and condition of the textbooks essential parts: the front or back cover, the spine, etc.

The best photos will feature snapshots of the most important aspects of the textbook against an uncluttered backdrop.

Make sure the image is clear and not blurry. Most large text should be readable when pictured.

Photograph or scan key pages, as well as any supplemental material.

Ensure your textbook is in ???good??? condition according to the standards listed above, as well as any measures listed on Amazon???s Textbooks Condition Criteria page.

Gently clean the cover, making sure to remove any impermanent marks, debris, or dirt.

Unfold and flatten any creased pages or dog-ears, and check for and note any wear and tear.

Locate and include any supplemental materials that came with the textbook.

Gently clean the cover, making sure to remove any impermanent marks, debris, or dirt.

Locate and include any supplemental materials that came with the textbook.

Quality restrictions aside, your research should help you in determining the best-price option.

Note: If you are unable to locate the book using the requested information, it is likely the book is not currently accepted by Amazon for trade-in. Amazon recommends listing these textbooks independently in the Amazon Marketplace (see: Selling on Amazon).

Textbook Buyback Research

Selling on Amazon Research

Textbook Buyback Condition Standards:

Preparing Your Book for Textbook Buyback

Preparing Your Book for the Amazon Marketplace

Textbook Buyback Listing & Pricing

Selling on Amazon Listing & Pricing

Textbook Buyback - With this option, sellers trade-in textbooks directly to Amazon. Amazon makes its best offer on the book, and the seller has no control over pricing aside from accepting the offer. The funds are distributed to the seller via an Amazon gift card.

 

Selling on Amazon - This option puts the seller in charge of pricing; however, the seller is also in charge of marketing (or listing) the textbook, as well as any buyer communication. Although sellers may set the price, Amazon does charge a selling fee per each textbook sold. The funds are distributed to the seller via a cash payment from an online buyer.

Trade-Ins Communication

Amazon Marketplace Sales Communication

Textbook Buyback: Shipping

Sell on Amazon: Shipping

Additional Shipping Tips

Textbook Economics 101 Chapter 4 Textbook Economics 101 Chapter 6