Your options
Local bundles: Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp
A box of books or DVDs for local pickup avoids shipping and fees altogether. Bundle by author, series or theme, or sell a box of kids’ books as one lot.
Buy-back stores and apps
Half Price Books buys books, CDs, DVDs and games over the counter at its stores, and pays on the spot. Apps such as Decluttr give you a price when you scan each barcode, then send a free shipping label. Both pay less than selling yourself, but they take everything in one go.
Game trade-ins: quick for recent games
GameStop and some other stores buy games and consoles for cash or store credit. It’s quick, but you’ll often get more selling recent games yourself.
Textbooks: buyback sites
Comparison sites such as BookScouter show what several buyback companies will pay for a textbook’s ISBN. You ship the book with a free label and get paid once it arrives.
eBay: rare, collectible and retro
eBay’s buyers search for exact titles and editions. It’s the place for first editions, signed copies, retro games and complete box sets. Search the title and tick “Sold items” to see what it actually sells for.
Ship books by Media Mail
USPS Media Mail is a cheaper, slower rate for books, CDs, DVDs and printed music. It can’t be used for video games, and parcels can be opened and checked. Buy the label online or at the Post Office.
Tips for a better price
- Bundle the cheap ones. Books by the same author, a series, or a set of kids’ books.
- Check the discs. Scratched discs and missing cases are the most common reason for returns and rejected trade-ins.
- Note the edition. For books, include the ISBN, the edition and any signatures. For games, say which console and whether the case and manual are included.
What won’t sell
Books, DVDs and games nobody wants can go to a thrift store, a Friends of the Library book sale or a little free library. See where to donate.