How to Sell Used Books on Amazon

How to Sell Used Books on Amazon for a Profit 1-2-3

Knowing which books to offer on Amazon can mean the difference between a good income stream and total failure. Here is what you need to know:

Getting Started with Amazon Marketplace

If you want to make money selling used books on the Amazon website, you do it through the Amazon Marketplace. In fact, you can sell a variety of different items - not just books.

They have a system set in place where you don't have to spend much time listing your items for sale. You also don't have to pay to list your books - you only pay a seller's fee when your books actually sell.

Sellers also have the option to set up an Amazon Shop in which to sell their items. There is a fee associated with setting up this shop, and it is mainly advantageous to volume sellers. So, if you are just selling a few items, the cost of setting up one of these shops may not be worth your investment.

What Books Should You Sell on Amazon?

Selling hard-to-find books or signed editions are the best types of books to sell on Amazon. Books pertaining to a specific hobby, interest or "how-to" topic can also be quite profitable.

What you will find is that many bestsellers are listed very cheap because there are so many of them. These are not worth your time to list, package and sell them.

With the more rare items, you have less competition, which drives the price up. They are also easier to sell for this same reason. Sometimes used books can bring a higher price than you purchased them new - if they are difficult for people to find and you have the only available copy.

Where Should You Get Your Inventory?

Obviously you want to buy cheap, so look for sellers where not many people are buying and the sellers really want to get rid of their stuff. Garage sales, flea markets, estate sales and library book sales can turn up some good finds, but you might not always find a good selection, as other people are trying to find the same books you are. Shop early and look for out-of-the way sales that receive less foot traffic.