Amazon.com Marketplace offers virtually anyone an unbeatable opportunity to profit from the sale of old, used, paperback, or hardcover books. But what titles should you buy to resell? The following types of print books, magazines, and other related print materials sell very well on Amazon…and what doesn’t sell on Amazon can be resold on the eBay or Craigslist websites:
practical nonfiction— This will be your bread and butter. You will earn more money by selling the trade books. Be on the lookout to pick them up. You will notice them by their size; these measure around 6″ x 9″ and are usually 1″ to 2″ thick. They are shipped cheaply via USPS Standard Media Mail. The topic can be diverse. It’s easy to find the following cheap items and resell them online:
- Sheet music and music theory books
- teacher classroom instruction manuals
- UFO abductions
- ancient aliens in egypt
- edgar cayce books
- astrology
- Biographies of celebrities, religious leaders, politicians
- Purchase and sale of basic products
- weightloss
- cancer cures
- dog training
- Civil war
- credit repair
- self improvement books
- Herbal healing
Sell Solutions, Not Books
Shoppers log into Amazon looking for solutions to their problems. They buy lots of “how to” books to help solve those problems. I think they reach for good used books over new books because they are less concerned with building a book collection and more concerned with finding solutions. Certain themes seem to sell better than others. In fact, it’s not just books that are selling well! Here is what I have discovered that will make you more money in this business:
Old Magazines: Like, Look, and Time magazines had old covers, some by famous artists like Norman Rockwell and famous photographers. Collectors love to find these. They will pay good money for these. Buy them cheap and you will earn money. The best vintage magazines feature celebrities like Jimi Hendrix or Marilyn Monroe or Albert Einstein or John F. Kennedy on the cover. Better yet, even if the old magazine doesn’t have a flawless cover, don’t despair. Cropping full-page ads in full color and even black and white inside can be cost effective. There are many people who like to collect and/or display them in their homes. Put them in an inexpensive frame from a hobby store; they make a wonderful piece of folk art.
Teacher Workbooks and Instruction Manuals – These usually sell for very high prices from the original publishing companies. Teachers like to get these online for $8 to $15 if they can use them in their classroom. They save money. You earn money. Children learn something. Everyone wins. I often find them cheap and resell them for $14.99 to $19.99 each. They move fast. Don’t overlook books on homeschooling, either. Homeschooling parents are willing to pay top dollar for the best products…but often want to save money by buying good used books.
Comics: Don’t overpay for these. Until you really have an understanding of the values, which can be found by reading reference books, going online to check actual sale prices, and talking to avid comic book collectors willing to share what they know about these comics. But, if you find a stash of old comic books in a box at a garage sale, and the owner has them marked down for $2, grab them. The odds are pretty good that you’ll sell at least one for $2, and you’ll probably find a few that will make you money. I only know what you are buying. No mess necessary.
Collectible Books: Amazon limits who can include books in its collectible listings. You can always resell them on eBay or CraigsList, and even give book collectors a try. It will take longer to sell, but sometimes you’ll discover a gem like when I bought an old book on women’s rights from the early 20th century for 25 cents, and it sells for over $100.
Self-published and short-run books or brochures: These could be good sellers. I have been surprised by the doctors and lay people who publish little pamphlets that have sold very well. Often times these are home remedies or weird health cures that no one would dare post these days for fear of being shut down by the FDA or FTC. But these little booklets and manuals often sell for 25 cents or less, and you can resell them for $8-$10 very quickly.
Instructional DVDs – Yes, DVDs do sell, but you will make more money selling educational or instructional DVDs. Weight loss DVDs are very popular, light to ship, and easy to make money on. Other themes, such as hypnosis, turkey hunting, dance lessons, are also good sellers. DVDs also pool well on eBay when sold in lots and make a lot more money (eg: offers 6 lessons on woodworking for one price, creating great value for those looking for this type of information).
Repair manuals: auto repair, appliance repair, home repair. These are great sellers. Vintage car manuals, tractor manuals, train set books, antique repair instruction books have collectors, or perhaps hobbyists, wanting to know how to fix things. Find these types of books and sell them.
Knowing what kinds of books to get from yard sales, thrift stores, and estate auctions will help you save your starting cash and make more money on Amazon in less time. Focus on easy sellers. Only buy used books to sell that move fast. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to finding the best books that are selling fast online.
