A reseller has revealed how they made quick cash by selling second-hand books through World of Books' trade-in platform, which offers instant valuations without the wait associated with sites like Vinted or Depop.
Ray Bonsall, a shopping writer for the Liverpool ECHO, tested the app and earned £15.06 for 11 books in one transaction, helped by a 15% new-member promo code. The process involves scanning the barcode on the back of a book with a camera to receive an instant offer.
How the trade-in process works
World of Books is a second-hand book retailer that operates a trade-in platform for sellers. Offers ranged between 10p and £2.15 per item, spanning everything from small paperbacks to large A3 hardback non-fiction. Pricing does not seem to depend on size or condition, but rather on current demand and popularity.
Within minutes, Bonsall had easily clocked up £10 to £15 worth of accepted items. The selling point is speed and convenience, as scanning a barcode takes just a couple of seconds to add a book's value to a basket.
Success rates and limitations
Not every title is accepted. While Bonsall successfully sold a mix of fiction, non-fiction, adult, and children's books, a major clear-out of a relative's collection yielded only 20 accepted titles out of roughly 70 scanned. A second attempt had a much higher success rate.
The platform is ideal for a seasonal declutter or a clear-out before moving home, provided there are spare books lying around, whether hand-me-downs, gifts, or titles already read.
