Where to sell scientific books?

In summary, the conversation discusses various options for selling non-fiction books, particularly those in the field of science and mathematics. The person is not in a rush to sell and is looking for suggestions on the best platform to sell on. Some options mentioned include Amazon, eBay, Alibris, and AbeBooks. The advantages and disadvantages of each platform are also discussed, with eBay being considered the cheapest option and Amazon and Alibris charging fees for listing and selling. The conversation also touches on the possibility of selling books on the website, but it is against the rules and the person ultimately decides to donate their books instead.
  • #1
DrDu
Science Advisor
6,337
967
I have quite a lot of classic science books, e.g. on solid state physics, chemistry which I would like to sell. I am not in a hurry. Any ideas? ( I know of some services where you enter the ISBN of a book and they offer you some money for it, but the prices are ridiculously low when you compare it e.g. to the prices at abebooks).
It is not that I am mainly interested in making money out of them, but simply that the possibilities to find someone interested in non-fiction books are much more restricted.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Why not just Amazon or eBay? They have HUGE followings and you get to set the price you want (understanding that if you overprice it, it likely won't sell).
 
  • #3
There are several sites on the web which handle scientific books, as well as general interest tomes.

www.zubalbooks.com

www.abebooks.com

www.alibris.com

www.powells.com

You can contact these sellers and see what their policies are about selling books from third parties.
 
  • #4
Thank you for your proposals!
Comparing the options, I think ebay is one of the cheapest possibilities. Amazon is quite expensive, as they take fees for listing, finishing and 15% of the money earned.
Alibris is similar (19 $ per year +15% of the money earned).
Most other sellers only offer to buy your books, but at ridiculous prices.
 
  • #5
What kind of books do you have avail. ? Thanks.
 
  • #6
I agree that Amazon is too expensive.. Personally I have a lot of books and collections ( largely more than 300) in the field of Ststices and Biostatistcs
 
  • #7
Being too impatient for eBay, I eventually just sold all mine at $5 each to the students and faculty of my former (mathematics) department, advertising them by group email. Being worth from $20 to well over $100 each, judging by Abebooks prices, they went like hotcakes. I had the satisfaction of thinking they were appreciated, and I did not have to fool around with months of waiting, advertising, and mailing books. Of course now I often regret not having some of them, from time to time. Indeed, as a booklover, I have at some point wished again for virtually every book I ever parted with. In fact I have even repurchased new copies of some of the ones I gave away! So, if you are like me, there is that consideration as well. Good luck.
 
  • Like
Likes fluidistic, sysprog, PeroK and 2 others
  • #8
mathwonk said:
as a booklover, I have at some point wished again for virtually every book I ever parted with. In fact I have even repurchased new copies of some of the ones I gave away!
Me too. I gave 12 boxes to the local library booksale before I moved cross-country (I did keep way more than that, though). Still I look on my shelves for ones I gave away.
 
  • Like
Likes fluidistic, mathwonk and vanhees71
  • #9
Maybe list a few titles and sell them here? I am sure, many readers will be interested.
 
  • Like
Likes gmax137
  • #10
DrDu said:
Thank you for your proposals!
Comparing the options, I think ebay is one of the cheapest possibilities. Amazon is quite expensive, as they take fees for listing, finishing and 15% of the money earned.
Alibris is similar (19 $ per year +15% of the money earned).
Most other sellers only offer to buy your books, but at ridiculous prices.
As far as I know, Amazon charges 15%, and no other fees, unless you opt for special placement of your listing, or for Amazon to store and deliver your product. I too think that ebay (10% charge) would be a good venue for your bookselling purposes. Also, you can look up your books on Alibris, and add yourself as a vendor as you may see fit.
 
  • #11
What about abebooks?
 
  • #12
For a given title, Alibris presents offers from multiple sellers, among which AbeBooks figures prominently.
 
  • #13
I have only sold on Amazon. As stated, they do take a cut. The advantage is they get a lot of traffic, which may not matter if you don’t care how long they take to sell. The market for used technical books can be weird, and you will see prices of the same book change a lot over the course of weeks or months. To get things to sell I did need to keep on top of the prices regularly.

I only have tried to sell books that go for enough money that it is worthwhile even if I list them as the cheapest item for sale with that isbn. That way I don’t need to keep up with them for very long. I just donate books that don’t sell for much.

Jason
 
  • #14
jasonRF said:
I have only sold on Amazon. As stated, they do take a cut. The advantage is they get a lot of traffic, which may not matter if you don’t care how long they take to sell. The market for used technical books can be weird, and you will see prices of the same book change a lot over the course of weeks or months. To get things to sell I did need to keep on top of the prices regularly.

I only have tried to sell books that go for enough money that it is worthwhile even if I list them as the cheapest item for sale with that isbn. That way I don’t need to keep up with them for very long. I just donate books that don’t sell for much.

Jason
Ever though of selling books here? Or is it against website rules?
 
  • Skeptical
Likes berkeman
  • #15
MidgetDwarf said:
Ever though of selling books here? Or is it against website rules?
Forget the rules. PF does not have a payment system and I doubt that the moderators would be able to deal with incorrect book descriptions and lost packages Issues.

I’ve taken to donating my books and taking the tax deduction.
 
  • #16
MidgetDwarf said:
Ever though of selling books here? Or is it against website rules?
Had never even entered my mind before now. I don’t recall seeing posts of items for sale here - is that a thing?
 
  • #17
MidgetDwarf said:
Ever though of selling books here? Or is it against website rules?
Yes. We do not allow any advertisement. There are plenty of websites for selling items. We do not support it because we cannot grant the seriosity of the participants.
 
  • Like
Likes dextercioby
  • #18
jasonRF said:
I just donate books that don’t sell for much.
I have a fair collection of books related to my work. Recently retired, so I'm almost ready to let a bunch of them go. I looked into the local university library, but their website is pretty clear: they don't take books. Surprising, to me. The local public library takes donated books for their semi-annual booksale. I wonder what happens to the unsold books. I'm worried that the limited interest in my books would mean they get trashed. It is not that they are bad books, it is rather a question of finding the person interested in having the book(s).

These particular books are engineering related: power plant engineering, nuclear engineering, mechanical stuff (heat transfer, fluid flow, thermo...). Some I bought new, but many I bought used over the years. It is surprisingly hard to let them go. That's why I'd like to see them go to a good home.

I asked around at a few used bookstores a few years ago. They are pretty picky about what they will take, and they do not pay much if anything.

jasonRF said:
I have only sold on Amazon.
Maybe I need to look into this. I don't know how to get them listed.
 
  • #19
gmax137 said:
It is surprisingly hard to let them go.
Then don't.

Many decades ago, when I thought I would never again be doing any physics, I donated all my textbooks to my University's co-op bookshop.

Big mistake. Now, I never ever get rid of any STEM textbook. Even though I rarely consult them any more, I will keep them to the end my life.
 
  • Like
Likes CalcNerd and fresh_42
  • #20
gmax137 said:
I have a fair collection of books related to my work. Recently retired, so I'm almost ready to let a bunch of them go. I looked into the local university library, but their website is pretty clear: they don't take books. Surprising, to me. The local public library takes donated books for their semi-annual booksale. I wonder what happens to the unsold books. I'm worried that the limited interest in my books would mean they get trashed. It is not that they are bad books, it is rather a question of finding the person interested in having the book(s).

These particular books are engineering related: power plant engineering, nuclear engineering, mechanical stuff (heat transfer, fluid flow, thermo...). Some I bought new, but many I bought used over the years. It is surprisingly hard to let them go. That's why I'd like to see them go to a good home.

I asked around at a few used bookstores a few years ago. They are pretty picky about what they will take, and they do not pay much if anything.Maybe I need to look into this. I don't know how to get them listed.

Please, do share some titles. Thanks !
 
  • #21
discoversci said:
Please, do share some titles. Thanks !
After re-reading this thread, I am having second thoughts about thinning my shelves.
 
  • Like
Likes strangerep
  • #22
I understand. Thanks anyway.
 
  • #23
Update on Amazon selling: am currently listing some more books, and have found that Amazon allows some publishers to prohibit unauthorized dealers from selling their used books. There is a process to 'ask permission', and I am finding that they are being denied. Seems crazy wrong to deny a person the ability to sell one personal copy of an old book after they are done reading it. I guess it might be time to look at selling someplace like AbeBooks, or perhaps some other site.

Bummer!
 
  • Like
Likes The Bill
  • #24
That's despicable.
 

1. Where can I sell my used scientific books?

There are a few popular options for selling used scientific books. Online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay are good choices for reaching a large audience. You can also try selling them through specialized book selling websites like AbeBooks or Alibris. Additionally, you can sell your books locally through used bookstores or by hosting a garage sale.

2. Do I need to be a professional scientist to sell scientific books?

No, you do not need to be a professional scientist to sell scientific books. As long as you have a good understanding of the subject matter and accurately list the books' condition and details, you can successfully sell scientific books.

3. How do I determine the value of my scientific books?

The value of a scientific book depends on various factors such as its age, condition, rarity, and demand. You can research the prices of similar books on online marketplaces or consult with a rare book dealer to get a better idea of your books' value.

4. Is it better to sell my books individually or as a collection?

This depends on the books' value and demand. If you have rare or highly sought-after books, selling them individually may yield a higher profit. However, if your books are more common, selling them as a collection may be more appealing to buyers.

5. Are there any restrictions on selling scientific books?

Some scientific books may be subject to copyright restrictions, so it's essential to research the book's publication date and any potential copyright laws before selling. Additionally, some platforms may have restrictions on selling certain types of books, so be sure to check their policies before listing your books for sale.

Similar threads

  • Science and Math Textbooks
Replies
2
Views
876
  • Science and Math Textbooks
Replies
2
Views
797
  • Science and Math Textbooks
Replies
16
Views
2K
  • Science and Math Textbooks
Replies
6
Views
922
  • Science and Math Textbooks
Replies
1
Views
815
  • Science and Math Textbooks
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • Science and Math Textbooks
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • Science and Math Textbooks
Replies
5
Views
775
Replies
7
Views
710
  • Science and Math Textbooks
Replies
11
Views
2K
Back
Top