Source for eBay and Amazon Inventory - Your Local Library Branch

Did you know that some library branches sell books all year long and not just for the regularly scheduled library sales? Many library systems have books for sale all the time as an ongoing fundraiser for the FOL (Friends of the Library). These can be ex-library books as well as donations made by patrons. Many of the books are like new and have never been on the library shelf as patrons like to support the FOL and make regular donations of gently used media items. The library system where I live sells used books for 25 cents and magazines for 10 cents. (The sign above is from one branch I visit.) I've noticed that donated books sold at the library are often in better condition than in thrift stores - maybe because there is less handling by fewer people? Libraries also might sell other media such as DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, and VHS tapes. Here are a few books I've sold this month that were sourced for 25 cents at a library near me:

Vegan Cooking for Carnivores sold for $16.99 on Amazon.

 

The Primal Blueprint sold for $12.50.

You can also find gently used magazines for sale. You may not be aware that current (within 12 mos) magazines sell for a nice price on eBay. Magazines don't have to be vintage to have resale value. What is important here is the celebrity on the cover. If a celebrity is popular or in the news, the magazine will be more valuable. Here are some recent eBay sales to demonstrate:

Men's Health March 2013 - Adam Levine on Cover, sold for $9.95

Ladies Home Journal March 2013 - Mariska Hargitay on Cover, sold for $9.99

GQ February 2013- Beyonce on cover, sold for $19.99.

Now you won't make any money if you buy these off newstands and try to resell. But you can make money if you get these mags cheap at libraries, garage sales, or thrift stores, or free from other sources. You can also ask others who have magazine subscriptions to save these for you instead of tossing them in the recycling bin. (I've already recruited my chiropractor and naturopath to save theirs!) The key to making money on anything you resell is what you pay for it. You make your money when you buy, not when you sell. And you can't beat free inventory if you are willing to seek it out! If you aren't sure to research how much something sells for on eBay, check out this video on how to look up values on both a computer and the eBay Mobile App. You can easily figure this out while browsing garage sales, thrift stores, or media for sale at the library.

Also keep in mind that magazines cannot be shipped USPS Media Mail because they contain advertising. The most cost effective way to ship is in a USPS Flat Rate mailer. Also, make sure you are offering books and media internationally. Not sure how to ship an eBay item to worldwide customers? Check out my eBay International Shipping Tutorial.

If you have not started selling media on Amazon, it is a fairly easy process. Media, especially books, are consistent sellers, easy to find, cheap, and easy to pack and ship. Check the resources below to get started today!

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Sell Used Magazines on eBay

Magazines can be very profitable items to sell on Ebay and are often readily available at garage sales, rummage sales, and estate sales.They are usually very low in cost and sometimes free! Knowing what to look for will help you avoid spending money unnecessarily and accumulating boxes of magazines that you can't sell.

Magazines about unusual topics are sometimes profitable to pick up. The more narrow the field of interest is, the more sought after it can be. Look for vintage surfing magazines, old woodworking magazines, old craft magazines, and magazines about railroads and electronic gaming.

If magazines aren't worth selling singly, you can always sell them by the lot. Group them together by the year or even make one big lot of 20 or more magazines. Be sure to list in your auction the month/year of the issues, as well as any specific articles of interest or celebrities featured.

Generally, the big collection of Playboy magazines found at every garage sale isn't really worth purchasing since everyone seemed to save them. I wouldn't bother purchasing them unless they are from the 1950's to 1960's. Keep your eyes open for the sought-after first issue of Playboy with the famous Marilyn Monroe cover!

Be on the lookout for magazines that have ceased publication. Domino was a magazine published by Conde Nast from 2005 to 2009. It had many subscribers who are now paying decent money for back issues. Another discontinued magazine is Martha Stewart Kids. These can be picked up at sales for dimes or sometimes free. (Always check the FREE boxes for magazines.)

Some recent completed magazine auctions on Ebay:

ASTOUNDING STORIES OF SUPER-SCIENCE 1930 10 ISSUES 1st $710.00

Famous Monsters Lot of 63 Magazines 1, 50, 100+ more! $500.00

Chocolatier Magazines, 1984 to 2001 - lot of 80 issues $400.00

10 VINTAGE MOTOR BOATING MAGAZINES 1933 $251.38

So you can see that magazines can be very profitable sellers and often with very little investment. Sometimes the folks holding the garage sales can't wait to unload their many boxes of magazines on you. If a magazine strikes you as unusual or vintage or if it's a large lot of issues of one magazine and the price is right, take a gamble! Click here for more information on selling used magazines and advertisements on eBay.

Article contributed by Amy Kagey. Visit Amy's blog, Collectibles Online Sales.

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