Storage Auctions
The Storage Locker => The Treasure Chest => Topic started by: Liandra on September 03, 2012, 08:40:37 PM
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Last month I bought 3 lockers for $45 total and have sold $110 so far ;D One of the $10 lockers had books, LOTS of books from a physiologist office. Today I started looking up online retailers that would buy books back and found this.
http://bookscouter.com/
After checking about 4 boxes of books my average value per box is over $100 :o and the buyer pays the shipping. I have about 15 more boxes to go through so if this average holds up I may make $2000 on a $10 locker ::)
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Sounds like a good score. Technical books can be quite expensive.
Books were a significant portion of the profit in 4 of the 24 lockers I have bought in the last 3 months.
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There was a post about that site and some others months back down in the selling or such section of the site.
Books can be money makers or just heavy trash. I'm about to try a new avenue for my used books. There is a 2nd-n-Charles store that opened in my area. Only 9 stores I've been told chain wide. Anyways they buy books, CDs, DVDs, Video Games, etc. You can get cash or in-store credit. So I'm going to take a few duplicate DVDs, some books that only sale for $1 online and see what "credit" I can get. If get $.50 a book that is better then wasting time selling online / flea. Mass production books are a slow mover anymore for me.
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Craigslstauction, are you in Alabama?
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Craigs,
Theres a place like that 2nd -n- Charles near me called McKay's. I think they have a store in each major city in Tennessee. Any books, records, CD's, I can't sell on Amazon or Ebay, I send over there. I use to drag them to the flea market but selling books for $1 -$0.50 is no fun, & a waste of space.
2 weeks ago I took a tote of books n such, and got store credit of $21.50, last week I took 2 totes n got store credit of $33. I used some of that store credit to buy a book for $1. Turns out that book was autographed by the author and sells for between $25 to $75 online. (I can't remember if my book was a 1st. edition).
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Books can be profitable that's for sure, but the bulk of them are deadweight. Here are some things I have found; your results may be different (better or worse).
Books that sell for me:
Bibles....one guy says he just gives them away to anyone who asks how much they are. I sell ordinary type for $5 or so.
If they are "gold edged" and 4 inches thick with NO WEAR or use, I ask $15 to $20 and get it. Might take a
time or two to get it, but I can lift them that many times. I recently got 22 bibles and have sold 5 in two
outings.
Cookbooks....iffy for me, but again one that you can spot as having potential can do OK. I wouldn't truck 20 of them
out there though (to the flea).
Hiking books...I'm a hiker and this helps me push these to other hikers. In California this is a popular past-time, but
is probably really only practiced by a dedicated few compared to something like tennis, golf, etc.
Murder mysteries....I get great hard-covers copies of Stephen King, Koontz, etc but selling them seems tough. I guess
by the time I get them they are older and most people have already read them.
Vampires................I got good hard-cover copies of the Twighlight series and had trouble selling them at $3 each, but
they did move and today every $3 helps !
Paperback romances....straight to the local friends of the library store where they can sit on a shelf as long as they
want.
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With everything onlinenow are books now in the stoneage? Most people unlike myself have tablets that they download books to.
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With everything onlinenow are books now in the stoneage? Most people unlike myself have tablets that they download books to.
I don't read books as much as I used to, but when I do they are old-fashioned paper type I can hold in my hand and turn page-by-page. Perhaps younger readers (and some older) like the reading tablets, but that's one place where I personally draw the line. That said, I will read an iPad version of Time magazine as it is free to me because of my print subscription and helps to pass the time on a variety of occasions at airports, etc.
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So far of the books that I shipped (at the buyers expense) week before last I have been paid $338.83 ::). Still waiting on two of the websites I sold books to for payment. Wanted to try several different websites to see who paid best and not just made best offer then docked price for condition. Most of these books are paperbacks in great condition. I really am glad I found BookScouter ;D it makes compairing so much faster.
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So far of the books that I shipped (at the buyers expense) week before last I have been paid $338.83 ::). Still waiting on two of the websites I sold books to for payment. Wanted to try several different websites to see who paid best and not just made best offer then docked price for condition. Most of these books are paperbacks in great condition. I really am glad I found BookScouter ;D it makes compairing so much faster.
That's great, but could you be a little more specific. You don't have to list titles, but how about:
1) quantity you sold for that total of $338.83
2) type of book (fiction, non-fiction, textbooks, medical, etc)
3) quantity of each type which resulted in such a good return
Finally, the next time I get 100 romance paperbacks I will sell them to you for a nickel apiece and you pay the shipping to your location. :)
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While waiting for a response to my "reply #9" above I checked out the bookscouter on one book.
Here is a pic of the results I got.
(http://webs.lanset.com/rjsmovie/images/ebay3.png)
I'll try some others later and see if I get better results.
Meanwhile in regard to the picture above, those rates (many NA) don't compare to what I have listed that book for on eBay. I am asking $100 as a starting price; another seller has listed it at $175. Neither of us have sold it yet.
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Below is a list of what I sold to TextbooksRus.com and a good example of the price range and type of books. As you can see they are not the usual books found in a locker. Some are textbooks, others are reference books and the owner seemed to be studing eastern religions. While looking in the locker I could read the title of several books that were in an open box. I could see boxes labeled books and there was other items like a almost new pet cage, office chair, and some vintage chairs too. Thought I could get something for the books just very happy it is more than expected.
Mindfulness and Psychotherapy
9781593851392
by Germer, Christopher K.
Guilford Publications, Incorporated
U.S. Edition 1 $23.10
Clinical Interview of the Child
9781585621378
by Greenspan, Stanley I.
American Psychiatric Publishing, Incorporated
U.S. Edition 1 $34.60
Essentials of MMPI-A Assessment
9780471398158
by Archer, Robert P.
John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated
U.S. Edition 1 $10.10
Essentials of MMPI-2 and MMPI-A Interpretation
9780816635528
by Butcher, James Neal
University of Minnesota Press
U.S. Edition 1 $7.28
Lamp of Non-Dual Knowledge and Cream of Liberation : Two Jewels of Indian Wisdom
9780941532389
by Saraswathi, Swami Sri Ramanananda
World Wisdom, Incorporated
U.S. Edition 1 $2.60
OCD in Children and Adolescents A Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Manual
9781572302426
by March, John S.
Guilford Publications, Incorporated
U.S. Edition 1 $11.60
What Is Called Thinking?
9780060905286
by Heidegger, Martin
HarperCollins Publishers
U.S. Edition 1 $1.10
Teachings of Tibetan Yoga : An Introduction to the Spiritual, Mental, and Physical Exercises of the Tibetan Religion
9780806514536
by Chang, Garma C.
Kensington Publishing Corporation
U.S. Edition 1 $0.72
Crisis of European Sciences and Transcendental Phenomenology An Introduction to Phenomenological Philosophy
9780810104587
by Husserl, Edmund
Northwestern University Press
U.S. Edition 1 $9.09
Cinema 1 The Movement-Image
9780816614004
by Deleuze, Gilles
University of Minnesota Press
U.S. Edition 1 $6.35
Tantric Distinction A Buddhist's Reflections on Compassion and Emptiness
9780861711543
by Hopkins, Jeffrey
Wisdom Publications
U.S. Edition 1 $0.49
Six Yogas of Naropa and Mahamudra
9780937938331
by Chang, Garma C.
Snow Lion Publications, Incorporated
U.S. Edition 1 $0.64
Meditation and Its Practices : A Definitive Guide to Techniques and Traditions of Meditation in Yoga and Vedanta
9781893361836
by Adiswarananda
SkyLight Paths Publishing
U.S. Edition 1 $0.83
Michael Polanyi The Art of Knowing
9781932236910
by Mitchell, Mark T.
ISI Books
U.S. Edition 1 $3.48
Hatha-Yoga : Its Context, Theory and Practice
9788120817067
by Burley, Mikel
Motilal Banarsidass Publishers (Pvt. Ltd)
U.S. Edition 1 $0.85
Introduction to Phenomenology
9780521667920
by Sokolowski, Robert
Cambridge University Press
U.S. Edition 1 $8.61
Martin Heidegger Between Good and Evil
9780674387102
by Safranski, Rudiger
Harvard University Press
U.S. Edition 1 $2.85
Visible and the Invisible
9780810104570
by Merleau-Ponty, Maurice
Northwestern University Press
U.S. Edition 1 $7.10
Manual for Using the MMPI-2 as a Therapeutic Intervention
9780816628858
by Finn, Stephen E.
University of Minnesota Press
U.S. Edition 1 $3.35
Shambhala Guide to Taoism
9781570621697
by Wong, Eva
Shambhala Publications, Incorporated
U.S. Edition 1 $1.58
Total Buyback
Quote: $136.30
All buybacks are subject to inspection. If our staff adjusts anything regarding your buyback, this may affect any buyback offers or bonuses. You will receive an email notification of any adjustments to your buyback
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As you can see they are not the usual books found in a locker.
You got that right ! But congrats on getting a locker with some special books in it.
I won't be sending you those 100 romance paperback books. ;D
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Thanks I'll post total sales when I finish. I had been trying to think of what to do with the romance paperbacks. Could have used boxes they came in to ship out these books and may have torn romance books up to use a packing. I seldom waste or throw away anything!
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Until the store I found most of the books I had would hit the Goodwill pile. I have sold a few books but nothing great. For me the list goes something like this:
1) Text books - hit or miss depending on age. Just got a bunch so hope they are a hit.
2) Cookbooks - I take these to my buddies store. I may get $1 or less at the flea. He gets $5 or more and we split the profit. They either run very hot or cold. Also, a fellow buyer loves them to take to auction. He sells them in lots and does very well.
3) Paperbacks - these mostly go to Goodwill. If they are sci-fi, CSI style, or military-fantasy I'll give them a few tries at the flea. But at $.50 each they only go on the trailer if there is room.
I've had a few very topic specific books that I've sold quickly on half.com for $10+. But, they are few and far between.
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Got the last payment from the first shipments of books yesterday. Total so far over $465 ;D One of the web sites CKY Books was much more seletive about condition and rejected 4 books on condition and reduced payment on 2 others. I will not deal with them again unless they are the only site making an offer on the book. Will be working on the remaining boxes next week since I am getting ready for flea market tomorrow.
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Got the last payment from the first shipments of books yesterday. Total so far over $465 ;D
Your research and persistence at sending them your list of books for sale paid off!
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Book sale total $1260 from a $10 locker :o So far I have sold over $100 of other items from this locker too ::) This has been one of my best so far ;D
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Book sale total $1260 from a $10 locker :o So far I have sold over $100 of other items from this locker too ::) This has been one of my best so far ;D
Thank goodness for the physiologist, phenomenology and the other specialty items; meanwhile I’m getting Danielle Steel and Stephen King ! ;D
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I've made I think $50 off a book I put up on half.com and a few bucks more on another "specialty" book that I almost tossed. Like Movieman I have a bunch of the mass produced books that don't sell. Any that are torn, worn looking, etc. I'm just tossing. The others are in bin to be taken to second-n-charles one of these days for store credit.
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A while back, I bought two 10X15 units full of books for $250. It turned out to be the entire contents of a high school library. I took 75-100 boxes to my garage sales and sold them for $1-2 a piece and then I sold the other 8-10K books to a church that wanted to send them to Uganda. The best part was I didn't have to move most of them.
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Got lucky again on a few books. Bought two lockers last week for $125 while sorting found some college textbooks. Sold and shipped a total of 5 books for $79.40 yesterday. Donated a box of childrens books to a friend that runs a reading program charity. Have a box of books for the flea next month.
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Got lucky again on a few books. Bought two lockers last week for $125 while sorting found some college textbooks. Sold and shipped a total of 5 books for $79.40 yesterday. Donated a box of childrens books to a friend that runs a reading program charity. Have a box of books for the flea next month.
If you haven't thought of it already, ask your friend to write you a receipt for the books so you can get a tax deduction. Everything counts!
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Other then the few books I put up on half.com and sold, most of my books were donated. Now I put them all in a box and take them to second-n-charles for trade-in. Even if just get $.25 per book, it adds up quick. This is mostly for the mass produced paperback books that are worth $.99 or so online. Anything that they will not take due to overstock, etc. then goes to Goodwill for the tax write-off.
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Can't believe no one has mentioned Amazon yet. Off of two lockers I bought about a year or so ago that I paid $10.00 and $150.00 for I've brought in over 11K in the last year selling on Amazon. I've still got over 2000 books left. Heck I sold one just yesterday for $249.00. It takes a little more time to list them, but I do it at night while watching TV and it beats selling the for 10%-20% or even less than their actual value to someone who's going to put them on Amazon anyway. Just a thought.
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Can't believe no one has mentioned Amazon yet. Off of two lockers I bought about a year or so ago that I paid $10.00 and $150.00 for I've brought in over 11K in the last year selling on Amazon. I've still got over 2000 books left. Heck I sold one just yesterday for $249.00. It takes a little more time to list them, but I do it at night while watching TV and it beats selling the for 10%-20% or even less than their actual value to someone who's going to put them on Amazon anyway. Just a thought.
Good point. In hindsight, I wish I would have sold the high school library that I purchased for $250 on Amazon. I should have taken my time and sold it piece by piece. If I had done so, I probably could have made 40K on all of them. Instead, I chose to flip them for a quick profit. At least they went to a good cause...the church I sold them to shipped them to Uganda to help people learn to read.
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I'm going to be trying Amazon this week for our books after reading all the success everyone has. Those thousands of books we got have been good to us, but they are so much work. Now I just go through and pull out anything over $10 value on Amazon, and put the rest in the garage sale pile to save time. I sold another 2 textbooks (from a different unit) yesterday for $50 on Ebay and a single old book for $69, but on Amazon the cheapest for it was around $100. Right now I'm going through some boxes from the hoarders unit that are 1930s and 1940s Kennel Clubs and Arabian Horse books along with some old Pet magazines. No clue if they are worth anything yet.
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Right now I'm going through some boxes from the hoarders unit that are 1930s and 1940s Kennel Clubs and Arabian Horse books along with some old Pet magazines. No clue if they are worth anything yet.
Sounds interesting...let us know what you find out about them and how much their worth.
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I got five text books last week at a moving sale. $1/ea.
Got quote before I bought. Sold online as I walked to car for $72.
Did find later that I would have often more from another site. But they don't have a mobile app.
Will price shop next time......