Used textbooks are overlooked by many online sellers. True, textbooks quickly drop in value when new editions are published every few years and values plunge. But if you have a source of very cheap textbooks, bulk purchases can be a good way of picking up some valuable stock. Usually a few out of ten will be worth decent money.
And vintage textbooks, particularly graduate-level mathematics and economics, are sought after by academics. Just about everything is collected by somebody. University professors, authors, and researchers purchase vintage texts.
You can usually ignore several categories of textbooks without missing anything valuable: introductory sociology and political science texts more than a few years old, study guides, and introductory economics and computer books. After a few years, these books are basically worthless.
Certain types of textbooks, however, hold their value much longer. Biology texts are revised less frequently than any other text category, so the value is steadier over time.
Selling textbooks online
Used textbooks are overlooked by many online sellers. True, textbooks quickly drop in value when new editions are published every few years and values plunge. But if you have a source of very cheap textbooks, bulk purchases can be a good way of picking up some valuable stock. Usually a few out of ten will be worth decent money.
And vintage textbooks, particularly graduate-level mathematics and economics, are sought after by academics. Just about everything is collected by somebody. University professors, authors, and researchers purchase vintage texts.
You can usually ignore several categories of textbooks without missing anything valuable: introductory sociology and political science texts more than a few years old, study guides, and introductory economics and computer books. After a few years, these books are basically worthless.
Certain types of textbooks, however, hold their value much longer. Biology texts are revised less frequently than any other text category, so the value is steadier over time.
New in paperback: The Home-Based Bookstore: Start Your Own Business Selling Used Books on Amazon, eBay or Your Own Web Site (by Steve Weber)
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