Reseller Shares a Hack for People Who Do Not Want to Hold Inventory and Still Want to Make Money

Jane Clark

2 hours ago

What if you could earn money from secondhand items without storing a single box in your spare room? One reseller who got tired of holding a massive inventory says she found a way: she sells books, and the money is guaranteed before she even buys them.

TikTok creator @nicosbestfinds says she recently decided she no longer wanted to hold a large inventory for her resale business. She still needs income, so she tried something she never thought she would say out loud: selling books.

@nicosbestfinds

How her method works

This is not like listing books on eBay, taking pictures and waiting for a buyer. She uses a book buyback app. You scan the barcode and the app tells you exactly what the company will pay for that book. She says she knows before she buys that she will receive a certain amount.

She does her sourcing at Goodwill bins, where she says books are 25 cents each. In her mind, 50 cents is her limit, because she knows that if the app offers more than that, she will at least double her money. If the scan shows 50 cents or better, it goes into the cart. She keeps scanning until she has made as much as she wants, and then she is done.

Her first test run

She says the pile of books in her box took two and a half hours to find and scan. The books cost $49 in total, and she says she made $120 from them. She is pleased with that for a first attempt, and she expects it will go faster now that she has a better sense of which books sell. Her summary: it is guaranteed money, with little risk. You send the books in, and the company pays the shipping. She adds that everyone she knows who uses this company has had good luck.

She says she would follow up with updates and asked viewers whether they had tried the approach.

Why books can make sense

She points out that many people think books are not valuable. Her answer is that it is a quantity game. A single book may only bring a dollar or two. But if the cost is a quarter, and you can fill a box in an afternoon, it adds up. Because the offer is fixed once you scan, you are not guessing what a book might sell for, waiting weeks or paying listing fees.

How to try this yourself

You do not have to be a full-time reseller to make this work, especially if you are decluttering at home. Here is a simple approach.

Start with your own shelves. Pull out the books you no longer read and scan them with a buyback app before you donate them. Some may bring a few dollars each, and there is no cost to you.
Look for textbooks and study guides. Buyback companies often pay more for these than for novels, although offers change often. Check before you recycle.
Scan before you commit. Only keep books that the app is willing to buy. If there is no offer, donate or recycle them.
Set a rule. If you go sourcing, decide a maximum price per book ahead of time, as she does. Her rule is to pay no more than half of the buyback price.
Check the shipping terms. She says the company pays shipping. Read the details, including how long they take to pay and what condition they require.
Pack carefully. Use a sturdy box, avoid water-damaged books, and remove loose inserts.

What to know before you start

Offers can change from day to day, and a company may decline books that arrive in worse condition than described. Offers may also be lower than the first quote if the books have highlighting, writing or damage. Keep a few expectations realistic: not every book has a buyback value, and you will spend time scanning.

It is also smart to compare a few buyback apps and sites before you ship. Different companies pay different amounts for the same title, and the best offer for one book might not be the best for the next. Keep receipts or tracking numbers in case something goes missing.

Make it a routine

If it works for you, give it a regular slot. An hour at a library book sale or a thrift store on a quiet weekday morning can be enough. Bring a charged phone, a tote bag and your price limit, and stop when you reach your goal. Setting an end point, as she does, keeps a side hustle from taking over your whole week.

A good fit for decluttering

For anyone clearing out a home, this idea is a nice middle path between throwing things away and the hassle of running an online shop. A box of books is heavy, bulky and takes up shelf space. Getting a guaranteed price and a prepaid shipping label turns it into cash, and a cleaner room. If you decide to try it, start with a small box, see how the first payout goes, and build from there.