College Text Books

[jdunmyer]

It definitely is a lot of work, but if it's working then I can't argue with that. I do have a few questions about your business though...

1. There are a lot of other book sellers on Amazon, eBay, and Other online platforms. What is setting you apart from them & making your business work? Is it just simply that you are getting your inventory for cheap?

2. Since it sounds like a fairly laid back business with just personal sales and whatnot I would be concerned about Buying and selling books that have been stolen. Do you keep records of who sells you what book(s) and write down drivers license number and other information?

3. What about when a new edition of a textbook releases, I know i have seen book(s) drop 80%-90% in value as soon as a new edition comes out. Is there any way that you look-up if a new edition will be released soon? Or do you just take a chance with it?

4. When do you sell books that you buy back at the end of the spring semester? Do you hold them for the summer, or is there enough demand to sell them online throughout the summer for summer semester?

nmills, I would like to hear more, and even have some ideas on how to increase you inventory and possible gear things up a bit for this coming book buy-back session. PM me if you want to talk more about this

[wppea]

it is a good idea~

[enzobino]

50% from your school's bookstore?? I'm pretty sure ours only buys the books back at a fraction of the price (10-20%). being offered

50% of the value of a textbook seems like a great sale.

Keep at it nmills

[nmills]

Jdunmey - Sorry it took me so long to find this, forgot about my post.
1. Yes, there are a lot of book sellers around there so competition, of course, brings the value down. Because I can get the books so cheap, whether they were my own books, my classmates who get rid of it for a quick bucks right after the last class, or my friends who are willing to make quick cash. Because of this I can list the prices closer to the bottom of amazon and get a lot more traffic.

2. I never even considered stolen books. It is a possibility, but I am not sure how that would affect my business? I usually don't keep official records, I make a note about who sells and for what price.

3. I usually just take a chance on the new edition textbooks, I look for newer books because they are less likely to create a new edition.

4. Depending on my schedule, I usually get rid of my books in the winter and the summer. Because this business is such a laid-back and a lot of work, I really only do it when I have time. I can tell you right now as I'm sitting in my room that I have about 15 books stacked up, having no motivation to even try to sell. The longer you hold a book, the lower the price will become.

Again, sorry I'm late. I am currently venturing into some other activities, easier and more fun for me personally. I never really intended to create a "business." I was just the guy that provided quick cash and could make a decent return on the books. I made sure I would profit 30-40%, or I wouldn't buy the book.

And yeah my bookstore buys back books sometimes for less than 10$ on a $50-100 book. Obviously I can provide a better price, which cuts my profit, but it's usually just my friends and friends friends. I don't even have a business model to provide for you.

If you need more information, please feel free to PM me or email me!
Thanks, everyone.

[heathilly]

theres a website that does this called big words but maybe you found a niche

[nmills]

It's just a good way to make some money on the side. I don't do it as aggressively as I did two years ago.

[CDRS]

You might not have to markup the books too much honestly. Some people are willing to pay for the convenience if the book is on their campus and they can just walk to it. That is why school-wide websites will go well.

[Fred Gold]

Yeah, you might need to reassess the give-and-take with your profit analysis. Book buyback operations can be difficult to roll out because of sites like eBay and organizations run through the school or just students looking for whatever they can get by selling to other students. Not that it can't be done, but it can be a lot of work.

[nmills]

Yeah exactly, two years ago when I first entered school I was up for the challenge, but as I get older I am discovering easier and better ways to make money, so I have no done it anymore.

[tediggy]

Here in the Philippines, you don't sell books or buy books. Usually, you make TRADEs with each other's book. Although that mostly apply in pocket books.. The idea is to ask for a trade with the trader then you pay him/her for a little price (about 10% of the original price) then you exchange books, the book he/she gave you is yours until you trade with someone else again. Its an infinite loop of profit~

There are many people here in the philippines who does that. A pocket book trader

[kunkfuxqiaus]

Let me know if anyone else has done this or is interested to learn how!

[nmills]

Here in the Philippines, you don't sell books or buy books. Usually, you make TRADEs with each other's book. Although that mostly apply in pocket books.. The idea is to ask for a trade with the trader then you pay him/her for a little price (about 10% of the original price) then you exchange books, the book he/she gave you is yours until you trade with someone else again. Its an infinite loop of profit~

There are many people here in the philippines who does that. A pocket book trader

I like that idea quite a lot, unfortunately I have upwards of 10 books for one semester, can be hard to trade all of those.

[robertina]

I have thought about trying to do the same thing, but whenever finals come around I never really get around to it.thanks everybody

[KennethHarrison]

Nice thread

[lucysky]

Wish I had thought of this before I sold all of my old books for less than 50% of what I paid for them a year before. There's always next year...