Do you have unwanted textbooks lying around, but you don’t want to spend time listing them in an online auction or with a fix price book site? If you just want them out of the house, you might want to turn to a textbook buy back site.

It very easy to sell your old textbooks in a in just a few steps. You don‘t have to write a listing or place an ad and best of all there are no fees.

Simply gather up your books and enter their ISBN numbers into an online web form. The ISBN, also know as the International Standard Book Number, is typically found on the outside back cover of most books.

Once you’ve submitted the ISBNs numbers, the site will make you an immediate offer for your books. Many sites even provide a pre-paid shipping label.

If your interested in selling, pack up your books in a sturdy box, enclose the required packing information, attach the pre-printed label and mail. When the books are received by the book buyer, they are inspect to make sure they are in saleable condition.

It is very important that your books are in good condition. All the sites have disclaimers regarding books in poor condition with missing pages, water damages, excessive writing, etc. If a book is not in good condition it may be rejected. If that happens the books usually won’t be returned and you won’t be paid. Each site provides information about the types of condition flaws that they find unacceptable.

There are many books that aren’t considered traditional textbooks that are sought after by textbook resellers. If a book appears to cover a specific period in history or a historical figure or deals with a specialized area of science you might want to submit the ISBN to see if it’s wanted.

I entered the ISBNs of the following 4 books at different textbook buy back sites. The offers I received are highlighted below.


Lexus and the Olive Tree : Understanding Globalization
ISBN: 0385499345

Taking Sides : Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Western Civilization
ISBN: 0072371552

La Storia : Five Centuries of the Italian American Experience
ISBN: 0060924411

American Revolution in Indian Country : Crisis and Diversity in Native American Communities
ISBN: 0521475694


1. bookbyte.com

Only accepted 3 of the books, offered $6.60

They pay shipping

2. MoneyforBooks.com

Accepted all, offered $8.83

They pay for shipping

3. TextBookBuyer.com

Accepted all, offered $10.94

They provide pre-paid shipping label

4. BookBuyerOnline

Accepted all, offered $10.10

Provides prepaid shipping label

5. BooksIntoCash.com

Accepted all, $10.15 offered

Free shipping with pre-printed label

6. Barnes&Noble.com

Accepted all, offered $9.00

They pay shipping

7. BooksValue.com

Accepted all, offered $11.28

You pay shipping

8. etextship.com

Accepted all, offered $10.46

The provide pre-paid shipping label and packing slip