Um, no.

[novapsyche]

Upon advice given in ann_arbor_ypsi, I decided to go to Dawn Treader to see if I could sell some books. The majority fit their "wanted" criteria: modern, first-edition hardbacks, skewed toward academic titles. One, The Revolutionary Kant, is a trade paperback that normally sells for $60. All in all, I toted nine books up a hill and over six city blocks.

The guy at the counter said the store's usual buyer was upstairs, touring a new employee; he didn't know how long the person would be. He then offered to quote me a price, as he was a "backup buyer". I made the mistake of telling him that I was moving when he asked me if I wanted cash or store credit.

He looked at my books and offered me about a dollar each. I looked dubious. He split the pile into titles he particularly wanted and those he didn't; however, he didn't indicate a difference in price, so I assumed it would still be $1/ea. Another person had lined up behind me, so I felt rushed; I said, "Can I think about it?" I collected my books back into my bag.

The guy said I could try selling them at "a yard sale" (didn't mention eBay once). No thanks, dude.

Comments

[o-lucky-man.livejournal.com]

Used bookstores are such a rip-off. I've had better luck selling books on craigslist than ebay, but ymmv.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tip. I always forget about Craigslist.

[simianpower.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Dawn Treader SUCKS in that regard. They buy for shit prices and sell for about 75% of cover price. They even have the gall to sell older books, that originally sold for $0.75 for like $4-7.

The bookstore I go to is in Warren. I used to work there. There's a single, easy policy: you get 1/2 cover price in store credit, purchases are at 1/2 cover price + $0.50. That's it. She has special types of credit for scifi, mystery, and a couple of others, but those credits can be used for "general" purchases as well. She generally has only newer books, from say the last four or five years, but her scifi section has stuff that's been out of print for decades. I miss having a place with such a simple, reasonable policy around. She makes good money because she doesn't rip off her customers. I almost never go to DT because I can't stand their greed.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

That's a great policy. I'll keep that in mind.

Let me know the next time you are thinking of going up there.

[bonerici.livejournal.com]

I don't think Dawntraeder has a decent online presence, so it's probably just a matter of time before the store goes bankrupt. All the used book stores are suffering, and unless they establish the ability to buy and sell online, well how can they compete with someone who can buy any used book in the world with a few clicks.

If your best item is the revolutionary kant, then you can't even take your books to i sold it.com over on eisenhower street (they require the item have an estimate minimum resale value of $75 before they take it), and your trade book probably wont sell for much more than half the price of the brand new book, if it's in good condition.

Good luck. Unfortunately there isn't a "half price books" in michigan, they could scan your books and price them according to how much they can get for reselling them on the internet, since they are not just a brick and mortar.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

I wasn't expecting more than 1/2 price of the cover. But I was expecting to at least start there.

The books are in as-new condition.

[bonerici.livejournal.com]

if you sell them yourself on ebay that's 1/2 price, if you go to a place like dawntraeder you get 5 or 10 cents on the dollar. If they gave you any more money they would go bankrupt.

[quixotic-otaku.livejournal.com]

I like to sell on Amazon... then I don't have to pay if the item doesn't sell.

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

I can't vouch for them personally, but I know some folks who use this site instead of ebay for selling on-line:

www.alibris.com/landingpage/usedbooks?S=R&mkwid=020608cst2226953&siteID=NcYTag.a_sQ-VROdyNDrpRGycI9_63FKRA