Hello Book Nerds and happy Saturday to you all! I know this a little different from our regular scheduled programming but I wanted to get your thoughts on this somewhat random topic. Selling your used book(s) at a second hand bookstore.
A Different Kind of Book Haul
A couple of weeks ago I rearranged my bookshelves and I decided to do a bit of spring cleaning…in the middle of summer! I started setting aside books that I previously read that I would never reread. As well as books that I no longer wanted to have on my shelves. All that to say that I put all these books into a reusable bag and toted them on down to Half Price Books. If you’re from Wichita, KS you know exactly where that is, if you’re not from Wichita then just use your imagination and know that I took these books to a used book store.
A Touch OCD
Let me paint you all a picture. The books that line my shelves are kept in ridiculously great condition. They often get dusted and cleaned. Rearranged and held with a fondness someone would hold a family heirloom with. I don’t read my hardcover books with their dust covers on.
I definitely don’t fold my paperback books in half. I’ve never dog-eared a page in my life. Don’t even get me started on allowing just anyone to borrow my books! When I’m buying a new book at the store it can take me 5 – 10 minutes to select the copy that I believe is in the best state. I’m extremely picky when it comes to selecting the books that will come to live on my shelves!
Now I’m not the biggest supporter of used book stores and I know that sounds terrible to say. But it’s true that your local book blogger does not get any of her new reads from used book stores or the library *gasp* I know! It’s just not for me. I like owning my books and when I finish a new read I get to proudly display it on my shelves! That’s half of the fun of reading right there.
The Offer
Since I don’t frequent used book stores often I was fully unaware of the pyramid scheme they are running down there! You’ll imagine my surprise when I walk into the store with my bag of 25 books in such beautiful shape only to be given such an outrageous offer of $66. That’s $2.64 A BOOK! As I said earlier I don’t shop at used book stores so I’m not well versed in how they run their businesses. Let alone how they decide how much to offer for a particular book.
Yet I think we can all agree that $2.64 a book is a total rip off! It reminded me of when Gamestop used to be a huge deal and you’d take your “used” video game in to sell or trade-in, and the cashier would look you dead in your little 10 year old eyes and say, “I’ll give you $5 for it.” on a game you spent $60 on brand new!
What My Books Actually Cost
Maybe I’m being unrealistic, maybe I’m out of touch on how much “used” books go for these days. The fact remains that these books were not simply “used”. I’d say at least 15 of these “used” books were hardcovers. The average hardcover novel in the United States sells anywhere between $20.99 – $24.99. Simply by doing the math on 15 hardcover novels at $10 a piece would bring the total up to $150 just for the hardcovers. That’s factoring in for the books being “used”. If my math is correct that’s a 44% increase.
Not to mention I had at least 10 paperback novels in the mix that were also in fantastic shape. On average a paperback novel in the United States sells between $14.99 – $16.99. $7 a piece for the paperback novels brings the total to $70. Add that with the $150 from the hardcover novels, and the total comes out to $220. A combined 107% increase from the initial $66 offer that Half Price Books said my mint condition 25 books were worth.
Am I Overreacting or On Point?
All I’m saying is maybe Half Price Books should change their name. Let me know down in the comments if you’ve ever had an experience like this whether it’s been with books or clothes (second hand clothes stores do the same thing!) or anything of that nature!! I want to know and more importantly I want to know what you guys think of this situation!
Do you think I’m overreacting, am I in the right on this? Let me know what you think down in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a posting!! Better yet get subscribed and bring two of your friends with you! Have an amazing Labor Day weekend and I’ll talk to you all later!
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