You learned from first semester that you CAN actually get $.25 back for a book. (Yes this ACTUALLY happened to ME). At this point, something has got to give, so  you explore your options. Then, BING! Amazon.com becomes your new best friend.

Here is how it works: you create a selller profile by first establishing  a seller name. Here are some suggestions (of course you have to chose a unique name that is not already is use!):

• Wildcat Booksellers
• Textbook Trader
• ABC Textbooks
• Reliable Reads
• TextRex

Next, you decide what you want to sell, which in this case is textbooks. You then search for the textbook by ISBN number or Title to see if it is already listed in Amazon’s catolog. If and when you find your book, you select it and then enter the condition, condition notes and price of your book. Here are few tips when completing the aforementioned:

• Be honest about the the condition. Even if the book was only used by you twice, and you barely shuffled the pages, is it still a USED book but would qualify as Like New.
• If there is writing inside, state that in the condition notes. Buyers look for as much specific details as possible.
• For pricing, be realistic. Are you looking to make back the origional cost of your textbooks or just make some cash back quick? In order to sell your items fast…I would open up a separate window and run an independent search on your book. If it is a used book, find  the lowest price of that book used and price yours just below it. This means if the lowest listed price is $94.00, you can charge $93.00-$93.99 because it will be still be under $94.00 and users will likely look at this one first.
  • Just another persoanal note, I listed my textbooks this summer and within two days I had 2 sold using the above strategies including pricing.

Before you seal the deal, make sure you read and agree to the terms and conditions about Amazon’s comissions and shipping credits. Also, do not forget to privide proper account information for payment.

Overall, Amazon offers a secure and popular place to sell items, new or used. Thus far, I have no complaints as a buyer or as a seller!

Keep in mind that textbooks are not the only thing that Amazon sells! Check this out for more information: http://www.amazonservices.com/content/sell-on-amazon.htm?ld=AZSOAMakeMAmznServ#showTab

The technology behind the Kindle is excellent in the fact that you can hold your entire library, 100+ titles, in a little over 10 ounce of handheld reader with the option of SD memory cards to expand your library even more. It’s smaller than a paper back and more convenient with none of that page turning hassle.

Another feature that sets Kindle a part from other ebook readers is that it boasts a paper-like screen. It provides a crisp black and white screen that imitates the readability of printed paper. It’s not backlit like a computer monitor so it’s easier on the eyes. It’s also handier than a paperback because you can bump up the font size to make readability easier.

One of the things I love best about the idea of going digital for books is the price for two reasons: 1.) they are much cheaper than hardback books at around $6.95 a novel and 2.) ebooks are an up and coming medium in which authors will be published. I will confess that I’m a die-hard book reader, and even if the Kindle becomes the next big thing, I will still buy my favorite titles in their hardbound original versions, although in most cases I’ll be paying three times more for them.