| I learned pretty early on in my college career that | | | | Avoid simultaneous listing of the same item on several |
| textbook sellback is not the way to salvage the | | | | sites, especially for books you know may be in high |
| crippling expense that comes from purchasing college | | | | demand, during high traffic times, like just before fall |
| textbooks in the on-campus bookstore. | | | | semester begins. You can get a lot of angry |
| All I had to do was hear a few reports from | | | | customers if you have to keep telling them, "I'm sorry - |
| classmates about the measly amount of cash they | | | | I just sold that item to someone else." |
| received when trying to return their barely-used tomes | | | | Be professional. Contact buyers when you have |
| because of newer editions being produced or other | | | | shipped their item, and do so in a prompt manner. Two |
| excuses given for receiving ten dollars for a book | | | | business days is usually standard. You might even |
| marketed for over ninety. Yuck! | | | | want to have custom labels printed for your return |
| So what method did I turn to in order to get more | | | | address, as this gives the look and feel of a real |
| bang for my buck? Selling online, of course! Many | | | | business, which means that many people will be more |
| websites are geared specifically toward marketing | | | | likely to give you positive reviews on the selling |
| books, especially textbooks. They allow you to set up | | | | website. |
| your own account, meaning that surfing students can | | | | Check out the host website's policy on returns and |
| check out all of your "inventory," rate transactions, and | | | | refunds. The site I use allows you to offer partial or |
| more. | | | | complete refunds with just a few clicks and permits |
| If you use websites that allow you to sell virtually | | | | each individual seller to charge "restocking" fees or |
| anything, this can help you get rid of unwanted books, | | | | withhold shipping costs from the refund amount. |
| movies, and even clothes under the same account, | | | | In cases like these, it's up to you to decide how |
| which I confess has a tremendous convenience factor | | | | generous you want to be, but it is my experience that |
| during the "off-season" for textbook selling (during the | | | | offering full refunds means that you will build a more |
| summer months). | | | | satisfied customer base. |
| To get started, you need to know a few things. First | | | | If your little "business," begins to grow, consider adding |
| of all, for each website you plan on utilizing, you need | | | | custom barcodes to help you keep track of things you |
| to check out their fees and commission. Some sites | | | | are selling within your home. You might even add a |
| charge an upfront fee simply for you to set up an | | | | logo or a fun label to your packing slips to make you |
| account while others simply deduct a commission from | | | | more memorable as a seller. |
| each. | | | | Not only have I been able to beat the bookstore, I |
| You might want to compare and contrast some of | | | | have been able to easily get rid of other unwanted |
| these. Some commissions end up being fairly steep, | | | | materials and make a little cash in the process. Isn't it |
| but at least you don't pay anything until you actually sell | | | | about time you beat the bookstore, too? |
| something! | | | | |