What's an ISBN?

An ISBN is a unique number specific to a particular title and edition of a book. You can find the ISBN on the back cover of your book. ISBN is the best way to identify your book.

How do I sell my books?

1. Enter the ISBN of the book you want to sell in our search page, then select the condition and details of your book ( Condition/Edition Guidelines )
2. To accept our offer, add the item to your cart. Then tell us how you want to get paid (Payment Options)
3. Print your pre-paid, trackable shipping label and carefully package your items (Packaging Tips)
4. GET PAID! Once the item is received and checked-in, we send your payment.
   Yes, it's that easy!

How do I determine the condition and edition of my book?

It is important to give accurate information about your book, so we can make the best offer. We buy items in "Brand New" or "Used" condition.

• Brand New books must be in perfect condition to be considered new. This means an unbroken spine, no writing or highlighting, no bent or dented cordered, no scratches on the cover, no torn pages--Basically no wear or damage to the book whatsoever.
• Used books must be in at least "good" condition. A used book is considered in good condition even when it contains highlighting, notes, or other markings (with the exception of study guides, which must be clean). However, books must be generally clean in appearance with no torn or missing pages and with the cover in good condition.

  Sometimes there are different editions of the same title, so be sure to select the correct edition:

• US Edition Textbooks: These are the most typical Student Edition books
• International Edition Books: Sometimes softcover, these books will have "IE" printed on the spine, or the front cover may contain "International Edition" markings. This information will also appear on the title page of the book.
• Eastern Economy Edition: This is a type of International Edition which is usually printed in black and white or reduced color, and may have slightly lower quality paper.
• Complimentary Textbooks / Free Copy / Sample Textbooks: These books are considered USED. We can only pay the used price even if the book is new. This is standard throughout the industry, as we cannot resell the book as new. They will contain markings or imprinted stamps displayed on the front or back cover, such as "Complimentary Copy", "Free Copy", "Instructor's Edition", or "Not for Sale".
• Annotated Instructor's Editions: These are often marked as "Annotated Instructor's Edition" and may have answers to problems and teacher notes on the inside.

  The length of time you have owned your books has little or nothing to do with the condition we can buy your book in. The most important factor is how the books arrive at our facility (Packaging tips). We try to be as liberal as possible when checking-in the books--we want your repeat business!.
  A sturdy box can make all the difference in how your book is rated.

• Please make sure that you give accurate information about your book. Once you send your books, they cannot be returned for any reason.
  If you sent a book that we do not buy back, we will discard your book. Some examples of books that we do not buy back are: Water damaged books, books with damaged bindings (e.g., pages missing or falling out), defective books, and books with torn/taped/missing covers

How does shipping work?

AbeBooks Buyback will provide you with a prepaid and trackable shipping label, which you can print out from your own computer. Click here for an example. Delivery Confirmation is included with the label, so you can verify that the item successfully arrived at our location. The cost of this label is billed to us, so you never have to worry about it. Insurance: The pre-paid label does not include package insurance. We are not responsible for lost or damaged items. You will not be paid for books we do not receive. Fed-Ex: We can arrange a FedEx shipment for a small fee (subtracted form your final payment). This will expedite the shipping time considerably, so you will get paid faster! FedEx rates also include insurance up to $100—Our quickest and most reliable buyback option! Please write to AbeBuyback@buyback.abebooks.com or send us a message via our Contact Page to arrange a Fed-Ex shipment. Need more labels? No problem, just visit Your Account and click on the buyback in question. Then click "Add a shipping label." You can request as many free labels as you need.

When do I get paid?

You get paid as soon as we receive your books. We offer two payment options: Check (via USPS mail, additional 2-5 days after shipment is received) PayPal (instant and secure transfer directory to your account on the next business day. To setup a PayPal account, click PayPal.com, it only takes a few minutes!

Do you buy international editions?

Yes! The exploding popularity of these books is evident everywhere. Just make sure you select the "International Edition" option on the search page. If you select "US Edition" and we receive an international edition, we will pay you the international edition rate. Note: We do not buy "Eastern Economy/Low Price/Indian Editions"

Do you buy instructor's/free editions?

Yes, but we can only pay the used price even if the book is new. This is standard throughout the industry, as we cannot resell the book as new. If we receive an instructor's edition, it will be checked in as new. An instructor's/free edition is a book that is just like the regular (student) edition but may say "Free Copy" , "Instructor's Edition" or something similar on the cover. Note: Even though your item may be labeled "Instructor's Edition", it will be considered an "Annotated Edition" if it has extra notes and / or answers to all questions in the back of the text

How long does the entire process take?

(You want your money and you want it now!) The time it takes you to get your buyback payment depends on two factors: Shipping Method Media Mail (Pre-paid label): From the day you send your book(s) to us, Media Mail usually takes between 6-12 business days to arrive. FedEx: This service guarantees delivery in 5 business days. Please contact us to arrange a FedEx shipment for a small fee. Payment Method Once we receive your package, we need 24-48 hours to process your payment. PayPal: If you've opted to receive payment via PayPal, your PayPal account will be credited immediately. Check: If you'd like a check we have to mail it to you. That usually takes an additional 1-5 business days.

How do you determine pricing?

Pricing is based entirely on demand. We can usually beat your local college bookstore on price, since your bookstore will only pay you a low wholesale rate unless they can immediately sell the item. Additionally, we have the largest buyback catalog on the web, so we can almost always make an offer.

Who do I contact for help?

Email AbeBuyback@buyback.abebooks.com or use our web contact form

How long do I have to send my books?

You should send your books immediately. In extreme cases, Media Mail can take a couple of weeks for delivery. If we do not receive the books within 6 weeks from when the order was placed, we cannot guarantee the quoted price. After 6 weeks your order will be cancelled. We may still pay you for the books, but they may not have the same value they did when the order was placed. Your books will not be returned to you.

Do you accept loose-leaf items?

Yes, but they must be brand new and still in the original shrink wrap. Used loose leaf items will be discarded.

Do you accept Custom Editions?

No. We do not accept custom editions. Custom editions are school-specific selections of textbooks and usually do not contain every chapter. If your book has your school name printed on it (e.g., "Florida State Edition" or "University of Wisconsin Chem. 128 Edition") it is likely a custom edition.

Do I need to send CDs/Software with my used books?

Yes. All items that originally include CDs and/or software must include the software. Our buyback quotes for such titles are not guaranteed unless you send in the necessary supplements.

Do you buy library books?

No. We do not buy library books at this time.