Selling Used Books

[Matthew_S]

I have accumulated a lot of books over time and am looking to sell many of them.

What is the best way to do this?

Amazon? Ebay?

I am in NYC area, so the Strand is a possibility (or other bookstore of note buying books).

If it is relevant, some of the books are genre fiction (mystery, SF, fantasy), some are relatively recent 'literary' works (e.g., William Gass, Barthelme, modern works in translation), some are signed/limited editions.

Ideas?   

[yesno]

Amazon is easy but supply and demand can drive prices low.  So I'd check how much a few of your books go for used on Amazon.  I prefer local used bookstores for credit.

[mahgeetah]

Yeah, I sold some books on Amazon and was dismayed at the fact that $8 sales netted me about 30 cents in profit after the fees. I would try eBay or just suck it up and cart 'em to The Strand. Or just give them away.

[cavorting with nudists]

The Strand is notorious for not paying much, but used book stores generally don't pay as well as they used to, and I understand why.  They're getting undercut by the damned internet all the time.  On the other hand, the damned internet allows us to go into business for ourselves, if we want to put the time and energy into selling books one at a time.  Personally, I don't. 

If those "literary" works are in good shape, it might be worthwhile to take them to Unnameable Books in Prospect Heights. For art/design/photography books there's also P. S. Books in DUMBO.

[CaptKarl]

Try to eBay the signed and limited ed. stuff. You can usually attract a fair bid for collectables.

The rest of it I would either sell as eBay lots or cart em somewhere local and take what they give you. Like the other guys said, stay away from Amazon.

[Christina]

If you have enough stuff, most bookstores will come to you.