Cash4Books.net: Frequently Asked Questions About Selling Used Books

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Enter ISBNs - 2. Ship for free - 3. Get paid cash!

Below you will find answers to commonly asked questions about selling used books at Cash4Books.net. If your question is not answered below, please contact us for a quick answer or watch our video on How To Sell Your Books.

International Customers

Technical problems

Frequently Asked Questions

How does it work?

How can I sell books to Cash4Books.net?

At Cash4Books.net, we want selling your books to be as easy, straightforward, and hassle-free as possible. Therefore, we have a simple three step process to follow:

Sell Your Books

In Three Easy Steps:

1. Enter books
to sell
Type the ISBNs from your books into the form on the right.

2. Ship for free
Print a shipping label right from your computer.

3. Get paid
Payment sent out after we receive your books.

Still not sure how to get started? Don't worry! We are here to help. We have created a helpful how-to video to get you started.

Are there any fees for selling my books?

No. Our service is free to use; there are no hidden fees. We offer free price quotes, free shipping, and fast payment. Give us a try today!

Can I sell used textbooks here?

Yes! Sell your textbooks online at Cash4Books.net, in addition to any other books you may have. As always, we offer instant price quotes, free shipping, and fast payment!

A suggestion for all college students: print out our price quotes, and take the printout with you to your local college textbook buy back. If we are offering more, then sell your textbooks back to us instead! Be sure to submit your textbooks the same day to Cash4Books.net, in order to lock in your textbook price quotes.

Do you price match?

Yes. We update Cash4Books.net constantly in an attempt to give you the best price we can for your books. From time to time, however, we miss an opportunity and we don't want to do this! Give us a chance and we will show you.

If you have found a better price elsewhere, please email us with the ISBN, the name of the online competitor, and the price that they quoted. We will promptly reply to let you know if we will match their used price quote.

Note: price matching can be done only once per order, and against legitimate competitors that carry a grade of A or B with the Better Business Bureau.

Will you buy more than one copy of the same book? What if I have multiple copies of the same books?

Yes, but we do impose a maximum quantity per seller per week. Our seller cart will indicate how many of each book we will purchase. Just look for "MAX=" for each book in your cart. After entering the ISBNs, go to "View your seller cart" to change the quantities.

If you are a reseller and/or have large numbers of books that exceed the maximum quantity allowed, please send us an email and our Inventory Management team will correspond with you.

I have a LARGE number of books that I am selling. Will you be able to help me?

We often buy books in large quantities from wholesalers, distributors, schools, college bookstores, libraries and charities. In order to evaluate your collection, we need to know the ISBNs and quantities of each title you are offering for sale.

If you already have your ISBN inventory in electronic format (Excel files work best) we'd be glad to compare it to our buying list and let you know what we are able to purchase. For larger orders, this may take 1-2 business days. When necessary, we can arrange freight pick-ups for orders weighing over 600 lbs. Please contact us for more details.

Or, try our advanced bulk ISBN input page.

If your inventory is not already in electronic format, Cash4Books.net offers a bar code scanner rental service. The purpose of this program is to provide our customers with a relatively inexpensive way to quickly and easily price check large quantities of books, and optionally create an electronic inventory. The price is only $5 per week, plus shipping, and a refundable deposit. Our website will accept EAN-13 barcodes, which are located on the back cover of most books (these begin with 978).

If you have a smart phone, you may also use our free Android or iPhone Apps to scan books and create orders.

Remember that all books we purchase must meet the requirements of our Used Book Condition Policy.

How can I use a mobile device to price check books?

Download our Cash4Books app for Android and iPhone. Both apps offer the ability to scan the barcode of your books, so you can quickly and easily enter your entire bookshelf. To learn more check out our mobile apps page.

We also have the Cash4Books.net mobile page available at cash4books.net/mobile, which will work with almost any PDA that is Internet-enabled, and many cellular phones. View our used book scouts page for more details.

How does your Affiliate Program work?

Please see our Affiliate Program page for this information.

How can I become a Cash4Books.net Book Scout?

Please see our used book scouts page for this information.

How do I know if Cash4Books is legitimate and not a scam?

Click to verify BBB accreditation and to see a BBB report.

Although Cash4Books.net has been online since 2004, we receive occasional questions about whether we are a legitimate business. We also find that people often ask the question, "is cash4books reliable?" To ease these concerns, we have created an About Us page that explains who we are and what we value. As a member of the Better Business Bureau since 2006, we carry an "A" rating. If you wish, you may research our company by clicking on the BBBOnline logo to the right (opens in a new window).

Please also take a look at our media coverage page, to watch videos and read articles about our company as well. We have a full time customer service department to answer any questions or concerns via email or phone (1-877-243-5935). We also have a full time payments department, issuing payments 5 days a week. Automated emails keep you informed every step of the way, and you may log in to your account at any time to see the status of the book(s) you are selling.

Our parent company, McKenzie Books, Inc., is registered in Oregon as registry number: 380966-99. You can find us on the Oregon Business Registry Database by going to this website:
http://egov.sos.state.or.us/br/pkg_web_name_srch_inq.login

On the subject of scams, please be cautious of copycat companies popping up online. We are proud to say that Cash4Books is a pioneer in online used book buying. We were one of the very first to offer this kind of service in 2004. But since then, there have been many companies trying to imitate us—many of which have questionable business practices.

Finally, we have absolutely no affiliation with that other "Cash4" company (the end of their name rhymes with mold). ;-)

What kinds of books do you buy?

View our examples books we buy page, which shows examples and categories of books that we commonly purchase.

What kinds of books do you not buy?

For a listing of books we do not buy, please visit our Used Book Condition Policy page.

Do you buy audio books?

Yes, we do buy books on CD (just enter the ISBN like any other paperback or hard cover). However, we do not purchase books on cassette tape.

What is an International Edition?

These are editions of US textbooks which are printed and intended for sale in a non-US market. These books may have a different ISBN but usually have the same content as the US version. They are often bound with a soft cover and printed using lower quality materials. They usually have a statement such as "international edition" or "economy edition" and "Not for sale in the USA" somewhere on the cover. Cash4Books.net does not buy International editions.

Do you buy collectible books or offer appraisals?

Do you buy books that do not have an ISBN?

No, we only purchase books that have an ISBN, and usually books that have been published within the last 5 years.

If you have a collectible or antique, we have a suggestion: A good starting point is the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA). To obtain its free directory of 461 booksellers, call (212) 944-8291 or visit online at www.abaa.org.

Will you accept books in any condition?

Books will not be accepted with any of the following:

Fire or smoke damage
Major wear to the binding
Medium to large tears to the cover or pages
Missing pages
Strong odor of any kind (including cigarette odor)
Water, moisture damage, or mold
Workbooks or manuals with writing in them

Will you purchase books with missing CDs, missing dust jackets, writing, underlining, and/or highlighting?

If a book originally came with a dust jacket, CD or DVD, it must accompany the book when shipped to us or the quoted price may be reduced.

Other conditions that may result in a reduction of the quoted price:

Excessive writing, underlining, and/or highlighting
Remainder marks on page edges (publisher's overstock)

A small amount of writing, underlining or highlighting of pages is usually okay, as long as it is on fewer than 20% of the book's pages. However, workbooks, lab manuals, study guides, and books with practice tests will not be accepted if they contain writing. If a textbook originally came with a CD or DVD, the original CD/DVD must accompany the book when shipped to us. The CD/DVD must be in working condition. Computer manuals and language courses originally issued with a CD will not be accepted without.

McKenzie Books reserves the right to determine item condition upon receipt in our warehouse. Items not accepted by McKenzie Books will only be shipped back to the Seller at the Seller's expense. Items not accepted will be held for 30 days; after that time, these items will be recycled or donated at our discretion. Please see our Used Book Condition Policy for more details.

Do you buy ex-library books?

No.

ISBNs

What is an ISBN number?

An ISBN is a 10 or 13 digit number that can be found on the back cover or inside the front cover of almost all books. You may enter the ISBN with or without the dashes, and don't leave off the leading zeros. Sometimes an ISBN can end with an X. Cash4Books.net will accept either the 10-digit or the 13-digit ISBN. Examples:

978-1-888799-97-2
1-888799-97-8

13-digit ISBNs should start with the numbers 978. Your book may have a 10-digit ISBN, or a 13-digit ISBN, or both (if your book has both, only enter the 13-digit number).

Where do I find a book's ISBN number?

The ISBN is usually found on the back cover

The ISBN is usually found on the back cover, immediately above the barcode.

If you cannot locate your book's ISBN on the outside of the book, open the front cover and look on the page immediately following the title page. This should be the copyright page and will include information about the copyright date, the author and publisher. The ISBN is a 10 or 13 digit number, and it should be in the middle or at the bottom of that page. If the book is pre-1970s, then it may not have an ISBN.

What if my book does not have an ISBN?

Sorry, but we do not purchase older books and/or collectibles without ISBN numbers.

My book has more than one ISBN. Which one should I use?

Please use the ISBN on the copyright page. If there are multiple ISBNs present on the copyright page, select the one that best describes the book. For example, if you are selling a paperback book, choose the ISBN marked as "pbk." or "paperback." Likewise, only select the "package" ISBN if your book includes all original, supplemental materials (e.g. CD-ROMs, unused online access codes, workbooks). If these items are not included, please use the "text only" ISBN.

Often times, bookstores may place their own sticker or unique ISBN on the back cover of a book. For this reason, always use the printed ISBN located on the copyright page.

Please be aware, if the ISBN on the order does not match the ISBN on the copyright page, the book may be removed or the price quote adjusted accordingly.

If you have any questions regarding ISBNs, please feel free to e-mail or call us.

My seller cart

How does the seller cart work?

Your seller cart works similar to that of a shopping cart on other online sites. When you enter a book to sell, and if we are currently buying it, then it will automatically be added to your Cash4Books.net seller cart. Your books will be automatically totaled up for you. You may also adjust quantities via your seller cart.

Should I create a separate order (seller cart) for each box of books that I am selling?

Yes, a separate order (seller cart) for each box of books that you are selling would work best. This will make things run more smoothly once they arrive in our receiving department.

Can I save what is added to my seller cart until I am officially ready to sell?

Yes, the books in your seller cart will be automatically saved for up to 48 hours.

How do I take books out of my seller cart?

Simply click the "remove" button next to the price quote, or change the quantity to 0 and click update.

If I make a mistake, or change my mind, how do I cancel?

If you have not yet gone through Checkout and clicked "Sell My Books", you can simply go to your seller cart and click "Empty my Entire Cart." If you have gone through Checkout and your shipment is in "Approved for Shipment" status but have not yet mailed your books, you may cancel by going to your account and clicking the "Cancel" link on the right hand side.

If you have already mailed your books, let us know and we will send them back to you after we have received the payment for return shipping.

What happens if my books do not meet your Used Book Condition Policy, and you do not accept all of them?

Items not accepted by C4B will only be shipped back to the Seller at the Seller's expense. Items not accepted will be held for 30 days; after that time, these items will be recycled, donated, or used to support the community and environment at C4B's discretion. C4B will post a notice of any deductions for items not accepted on the seller's account within 2 business days after receipt. If the Seller would like their unaccepted items returned, the Seller must contact C4B promptly, through email or phone, to provide payment for return shipping costs.

Why don't you buy all of my books?

Some books may be in over-supply in the market. Please check again as our database is updated every day.

View our examples books we buy page, which shows examples and categories of books that we commonly purchase. Also, our example 500 list, which is updated every day, shows prices paid for books that meet our Used Book Condition Policy.

How do you decide which books to buy?

We base our prospective purchases on supply and demand in the market. Our database is constantly changing.

How do you determine prices for books?

We constantly evaluate the market's supply and demand. This allows us to offer the best prices. We constantly update our database to insure you get the best prices possible for your books.

We keep our pricing simple and offer one quote for each book that meets, or exceeds, our Used Book Condition Policy. The price quotes are based on the assumption that your books range from very good to new condition, and that they meet all of our Used Book Condition Policy. We reserve the right to determine condition and may take deductions from the original price quote, if necessary.

Checkout and creating an account

What do I do when I have finished adding books to my seller cart?

After you are finished adding books to your seller cart, you may proceed to checkout. At this time, we will ask that you create a new account with Cash4Books.net, or login to an existing account. We ask for your contact information so that we may efficiently contact you and complete this transaction. The final step that will need to take place on the checkout screen is for you to confirm and click "Sell My Books". Note: We ask that your books be shipped to us within one week of the order date. If you do not make it to the Post Office in time, please submit a new order.

Is my personal information secure?

Yes! We take privacy seriously. Read our privacy policy for more information.

I forgot my password. What do I do?

There is a link at the end of the Login screen "Forgot your password? (click here)." This will direct you to a page where you can enter your email address to have a password reset code sent to your inbox. You can then access your own email account for your reset code, and follow the instructions to reset your password. Reset codes are good for 48 hrs—after which time you will need to request a new one.

How does the shipping work?

I am ready to send the books to you. What do I do?

Once you submit your books to us, you should receive an email with a link to instructions. Another way is to login to your Account, and look for "Approved for shipment" status and the "print & ship" button below.

How long do I have to send in the books?

We ask that you ship your books to us as soon as possible. If you need to ship them more than 7 days after you completed the Checkout process, please contact us.

Where can I get a box?

There are several options. You can buy a new box from a store, or get a used box for free. (Don't forget that if it's a used box, it should still be sturdy and free from any address labels or residue that could damage your books!) Great sources for used boxes:

Your local shopping mall - make sure to ask permission from the manager or security office
The supermarket - ask which days they receive deliveries and catch the boxes before they are compacted for recycling
Ask at individual retail stores, small businesses, doctor's offices - they are often more than willing to get rid of them
Check free ads in your local craigslist.org or Recycler.com

Do I have to pay for postage to get my books to you?

No. We will pay the shipping and provide instructions after you submit your books.

I am unable to print from my computer. What do I do?

If you are unable to print, then you have two options:

We can mail you some shipping labels--just request them from us by visiting our contact us page and sending an email.
You can pay for shipping initially. Then once we receive your books, we will issue you a ship credit. To do this, follow these instructions: on a large sheet of paper, write your Order ID number (this starts with "C4B"). On the same piece of paper write "I paid for shipping. Please add a ship credit." Include this piece of paper inside the box with your books. Once we receive the box, we will add a ship credit on to your order total. This amount will be the equivalent of USPS Media Mail rate, based on the weight of the books. If you do this, you may wish to ask for Media Mail at your Post Office.

How do I know the status of my shipment, and whether you have received my books?

We will send out a "received" email notification as soon as your shipment is received. Please keep in mind that Media Mail takes up to 14 business days. Plus, please allow a few days for processing. Once your books are received, they must be inspected. You may also login to view the status of your shipment(s) at any time by going to your Account. After your books are inspected and marked as "processed", payment will be issued. Payment is initiated within one business day of "processed" status.

What happens if I forget to include the packing slip?

If you let us know, we will look up your shipment by your name or email, and then make a note to print a packing slip when your package arrives. As long as you put a return address on the package, we should have no problems processing your book(s).

What happens if I do not include some of the books on the packing slip?

We will send out a "received" email notification and inform you about the missing titles and whether there was any damage to your package. We will hold your items and wait for your reply and after 14 days we will go ahead and process your book(s) as is.

What if I pack the wrong book or a different edition?

We will first check to see whether the items belong to another of your orders. If not and if we are buying the item, we will remove the previous item from your order and add the new edition or book. If we are not buying the items, we will hold them for 30 days; after that time, these items will be recycled or donated at our discretion.

What happens if I include books in the box that are not on the packing slip?

We ask sellers not to include books that are not on the packing slip. We will first check to see whether the items belong to another of your orders. If not and if we are buying the item, we will add it to your order. If we are not buying the items, we will hold them for 30 days; after that time, these items will be recycled or donated at our discretion.

What happens if you do not receive some or all of my books?

Can I use a different shipping carrier?

You may choose to use a different shipping carrier, however, please keep in mind that we will only credit you the USPS Media Mail rates, based on the weight of the books. The books will be weighed on arrival.

In this case, please use the following shipping address:

McKenzie Books, Inc.
15370 SW Millikan Way
Beaverton, OR 97006-5138

I live nearby (Beaverton, OR). Can I bring my books directly to you?

Yes! First go through Checkout and print your packing slip at home.

Our address is 15370 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton, OR (Click here to map it!)

Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Parking: Park in any of the spaces marked "McKenzie Books Reserved".
Public transit: We are very close to the Beaverton Creek MAX station. You can walk to 153rd and Millikan from there. (Trimet Trip Planner)

Payment

How long does it take to get paid?

If you mail your books from your Post Office, using our pre-paid label, this generally takes 8-15 days for the books to arrive here. We will send out a "received" email notification as soon as your shipment is received. Once your books are received, they must be inspected. After your books are inspected and marked as "processed", payment will be issued. We will mail you a check, or pay you via PayPal, within 3 business days after we receive and process your book(s).

How do I get paid?

We will mail you a check, or pay you via PayPal.

How does PayPal work?

PayPal allows you to receive money electronically and then transfer the money to a regular bank account (or you may keep the money in your PayPal account). All we need to send you money via PayPal is your email address. If you do not yet have a PayPal account, PayPal will send you instructions on how to set one up.

When registering for an account with Cash4Books.net, you are given the choice of a PayPal or check payment preference. We encourage you to choose PayPal, as it is fast, convenient, and more secure than a check. Existing users may also choose to later change their payment preference to PayPal, by using the "update" link under your Account.

From PayPal's website: "With more than 40 million member accounts in over 45 countries worldwide, PayPal is the world's largest online payment service. PayPal makes sending money as easy as sending email! Any PayPal member can instantly and securely send money to anyone in the U.S. with an email address."

How do I change my payment preference to PayPal?

Log into your account at https://www.cash4books.net/account.php
Click on "update"
You should then see where to change your payment preference and then submit the change

How do I change my PayPal email?

Log into your account at https://www.cash4books.net/account.php
Click on "update"
You should then see where to add/change your PayPal email and then submit the change

Can I get a McKenzie Books in-store credit?

Not at this time.

Why doesn't the amount that I was paid match my original Cash4Books.net quote?

Once books are received, they are inspected. If we receive a book that does not meet our Used Book Condition Policy, the quote price for that book may be deducted from your total payment. Books that we are unable to purchase are kept for 30 days, during which time they may be returned at the Seller's expense.

Why don't you offer a premium for "New" or "Like New" books?

The two main reasons are time and efficiency. We have received a great deal of positive feedback for the ease of use of our site, and it has been designed for the purchase of buying used books. If you are a new book wholesaler or distributor and would like to establish a business relationship with us, please contact us.

I've lost or accidentally thrown away my check! What do I do?

The best thing to do is to send us an email using the contact us form. Make sure you state that your check has been lost or misplaced and that you will need a new one. Be sure to also include the following:

your name
mailing address
Cash4Books Order ID
amount of the check (if you know it)

In most cases we are able to re-issue lost checks within a reasonable period of time.

Returning books

What happens if you do not accept my book; for example, because it is an International Edition, in poor condition, or missing a CD?

Items not accepted by McKenzie Books will only be shipped back to the Seller at the Seller's expense. Items not accepted will be held for 30 days; after that time, these items will be recycled or donated at our discretion. Please make sure you are familiar with our Used Book Condition Policy.

International Customers

We do not accept books from outside the United States at this time. The cost of shipping internationally is simply too high.

Technical problems

Problems using the site? We work hard to bring you the best selling experience. If you are having a problem using our site, please let us know!

Email or call 1-877-243-5935.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Top 5 Questions

Have you received my books yet?

When will I get my money?

Do you buy collectibles or antiques?

I entered a lot of ISBNs. Why are you not buying my books?

How will I ship my books to Cash4Books.net?

How does it work?

How can I sell books to Cash4Books.net?

Sell Your Books

In Three Easy Steps:

Are there any fees for selling my books?

Can I sell used textbooks here?

Do you price match?

Will you buy more than one copy of the same book? What if I have multiple copies of the same books?

I have a LARGE number of books that I am selling. Will you be able to help me?

How can I use a mobile device to price check books?

How does your Affiliate Program work?

How can I become a Cash4Books.net Book Scout?

How do I know if Cash4Books is legitimate and not a scam?

What kinds of books do you buy?

What kinds of books do you buy?

What kinds of books do you not buy?

Do you buy audio books?

What is an International Edition?

Do you buy collectible books or offer appraisals?

Do you buy books that do not have an ISBN?

Will you accept books in any condition?

Will you purchase books with missing CDs, missing dust jackets, writing, underlining, and/or highlighting?

Do you buy ex-library books?

ISBNs

What is an ISBN number?

Where do I find a book's ISBN number?

What if my book does not have an ISBN?

My book has more than one ISBN. Which one should I use?

My seller cart

How does the seller cart work?

Should I create a separate order (seller cart) for each box of books that I am selling?

Can I save what is added to my seller cart until I am officially ready to sell?

How do I take books out of my seller cart?

If I make a mistake, or change my mind, how do I cancel?

What happens if my books do not meet your Used Book Condition Policy, and you do not accept all of them?

Why don't you buy all of my books?

How do you decide which books to buy?

How do you determine prices for books?

Checkout and creating an account

What do I do when I have finished adding books to my seller cart?

Is my personal information secure?

I forgot my password. What do I do?

How does the shipping work?

I am ready to send the books to you. What do I do?

How long do I have to send in the books?

Where can I get a box?

Do I have to pay for postage to get my books to you?

I am unable to print from my computer. What do I do?

How do I know the status of my shipment, and whether you have received my books?

What happens if I forget to include the packing slip?

What happens if I do not include some of the books on the packing slip?

What if I pack the wrong book or a different edition?

What happens if I include books in the box that are not on the packing slip?

Can I use a different shipping carrier?

I live nearby (Beaverton, OR). Can I bring my books directly to you?

Payment

How long does it take to get paid?

How do I get paid?

How does PayPal work?

How do I change my payment preference to PayPal?

How do I change my PayPal email?

Can I get a McKenzie Books in-store credit?

Why doesn't the amount that I was paid match my original Cash4Books.net quote?

Why don't you offer a premium for "New" or "Like New" books?

I've lost or accidentally thrown away my check! What do I do?

Returning books

What happens if you do not accept my book; for example, because it is an International Edition, in poor condition, or missing a CD?

International Customers

Technical problems