Recently, I cleaned out a lot of textbooks. An entire shelf that included tomes on everything from American history to nutrition. Out of curiosity, I googled the phrase “book buyback” and each book’s ISBN (International Standard Book Number). 

Bam. There is money to be made here.

There are a few key elements to getting the best bang for your buck when it comes to reselling textbooks. First, sell it as soon as class is finished. Seriously. Once you’ve received your grade, sell the book immediately. This is incredibly important, because many companies release revised editions (or even the same edition with a small update insert). If a textbook company has released a newer version of the book you plan to sell, you’re basically stuck with it.

Additionally, keep your books in good shape. If you list the book on a sale website, “good” condition versus “like new” condition can make a big difference.

So here are a few options to turn those books you may never touch again into cash:

Many college bookstores offer a buyback program. I don’t tend to participate in these, as the lines can be long and the window of time fairly short. Receiving six dollars in return for a book I paid $150 for doesn’t really work for me. It is worth the six dollars to me not to stand in a two-hour line with a bunch of equally frustrated (but usually much younger and annoying) students.

Amazon and Chegg both purchase books. Just punch the ISBN number into their buyback search bar, and you’re off and running. Don’t go in with a ton of expectations, though. They may only give you a few dollars, depending on the book. Or (sniffle) they may invite you to keep it. Chegg will send  a check, and Amazon will simply apply the money to a gift card on your account! Keep in mind that you won’t see a dime until they receive the books.

You can also sell on www.half.com, which belongs to Ebay. Create an account, list the condition and your asking price, and you’re good to go. Keep in mind that your book will not be the only copy listed on the site, so asking a low price or offering free shipping may give you an edge.

One of the most effective online sources I’ve found for the resale of texts is www.BigWords.com. There, you can insert the ISBN, author, or title, and hit the sell back search button. It gathers information from most sites that buy texts, and lets you know whether any site is purchasing that particular work.

Last (and monetarily least), maybe you just want those darned things out of your house. Maybe you want to put a nice vase on the shelf, or  maybe you’ve got a new semester coming up and if you don’t clear the bookcase out, you’ll have to stack your texts in the pots and pans cabinet. Either way, books can always be donated. Chegg will take the books as donations, as will many libraries, Goodwill, The Salvation Army and various Veteran programs.

Unfortunately, we will never be able to completely recoup the cost of books we’ve purchased. It works in a way that is similar to buying a new car. Once it’s off the lot, the value drops. Significantly. There is a silver lining, though. There are ways to get some money back through resale. You will never earn back 100% of what you paid, but it’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick - a sharp, expensive, heavy, boring stick. Sigh.