BookScouter Review
BookScouter is an online marketplace for buying and selling textbooks and other used books. If you have some old books lying around, selling them on the platform is a good way to earn some quick cash. With over 30+ vendors to choose from, you are sure to get a good price. The platform also has a feedback system so you can view reviews of a vendor before you commit to selling them your books.
Pros
- 2 options for using the platform – mobile app or on the website. The mobile app comes with the added feature of letting you scan barcodes for books.
- Choose from over 30+ buyback vendors – simply search once to view all the offers for your textbooks or used books, so you can choose the best one.
- 5 star rating system for buyback vendors – you can also read reviews for a vendor before you decide whether or not to sell your books to them.
- Quick payment processing time – most vendors pay via PayPal within 1 to 3 days of receiving and checking your shipment. Checks can take up to 7 days.
Cons
- Cannot sell all books – vendors will not purchase all books and the price for some books will be listed as $0.00, which means you can’t sell them.
- Shipping is not free – you will need to pay for shipping costs when sending your books to the buyer, which can add up to $5 or more per shipment.
How Does BookScouter Work?
BookScouter is an online platform where you can get quotes from vendors to sell your used textbooks.
BookScouter allows you to;
- Search over 30 buyback vendors: Once you enter your book’s ISBN into the search bar, you can search for vendors.
- Compare prices and seller feedback: See the different vendors, and the prices listed for each book.
- Sell your book for the most money: If your books are in good condition, you can sell them and get paid.
BookScouter is very easy to use, whether you use the App or the website. To get started, you only need to scan/enter your textbook’s ISBN.
After you enter the ISBN, you will get buy-back prices from different vendors from different sides. The ratings given by members are displayed next to the name of the vendor and their price. So before you make the selling decision, you have access to all the information.
Once you’ve selected the vendor, you can send your books to the vendor using their preferred shipping provider. Most of the buyback vendors on BookScouter offer a prepaid label, so all you need to do is pack your textbooks and ship them.
Finally, the vendor receives your package and releases payment to you within 3 days after delivery.
How Much You Can Earn With BookScouter?
How Does BookScouter Make Money?
BookScouter doesn’t charge a fee from you for its basic tools. But if you consider selling books regularly, and in bulk, you can make use of the BookScouter Pro Tools.
BookScouter Pro
You can opt-in to the BookScouter Pro and try it free for 30 days. After that, the BookScouter Pro costs $29.99 per month for the tools that come with it.
We’ll talk about Bookscouter Pro features below, including:
- Deals
- Notifications
- Historical pricing
- Tracking
- Bulk search
Deals
Using the Deals feature, you can look at the following:
- The lowest purchase price a vendor offer for a particular book
- And the highest buy-back price from another vendor for the same book.
This way, you’ll be able to flip books and keep the profit.
Notifications
This feature allows you to set a minimum price for your book. And when a vendor wants to buy it at that price, you’ll get a notification via email.
This can be done for a number of books, you only have to scan or enter the list of ISBNs and the BookScouter algorithm will do the rest.
Historical Pricing
With the historical pricing, you can review the buy-back price history for a certain book and identify its buying trends or seasonal pricing.
This information will be very useful if you want to maximize your sale.
Tracking
Buy-back tracking automatically tracks the books that you’ve sent out to vendors. You don’t have to worry about keeping a record of these manually.
Bulk Search
Bulk search is another tool that is really helpful if you’re selling books in high volume. With this tool, you can search for multiple ISBNs at the same time and get information on them simultaneously.
You have the chance to export this into a spreadsheet and analyze that data in any way you want.
Who Is BookScouter Best for?
BookScouter is designed for;
- Students who want to sell the textbooks they no longer need and get the best price
- Those who want to declutter. All those who want to declutter their homes and make extra money can use BookScouter.
- Book retailers who are looking to free up space by moving inventory quickly.
- Side hustlers who want to make money by flipping many textbooks.
What Can You Sell With BookScouter?
BookScouter allows you to sell all your regular, used books and textbooks. However, just because you have a textbook doesn’t mean you’ll sell it if no one wants to buy it. The platform also doesn’t allow you to sell a book you don’t own the rights for.
BookScouter Benefits: What Does BookScouter Offer?
Track Price Changes
Best Price Recommendations
Vendor Ratings
Buyback Resources
BookScouter also offers many tips, whether this is your first time selling books or if you have your own book buying business.
BookScouter Scholarship Program
If you’re a student, currently enrolled in an accredited university/college, you can take advantage of the scholarship program BookScouter offers.
The BookScouter scholarship program awards a $500 scholarship each quarter for a student to buy books.
BookScouter scholarship program eligibility:
| Status | Enrolled in an accredited university or college |
|---|---|
| GPA | 2.0 or higher |
| Min. credit hours enrolled | 10 hours or more |
And if you’re selected, you must complete a short interview about yourself and your academic plans as well.
Free Shipping
Most vendors listing on BookScouter provide free shipping, but fees can be up to $5/book.
BookScouter Fees: How Much Does It Cost to Use BookScouter?
BookScouter doesn’t charge any fees for the service they provide; instead, they make their money through affiliate links and their Pro tools.
BookScouter Requirements?
To sell your books with BookScouter you need to;
- Sign up on BookScouter.com.
- Keep books in new or almost new condition. The platform will accept your books if they are not in good shape.
- First, check vendor ratings before accepting the offer.
- Make sure your book has an ISBN.
BookScouter Payout Terms and Options
While every vendor provides a different payment schedule, most will pay you within one to three days of receiving your shipment. The method you choose also determines how long it takes to receive your payment. Compared to a mailed check that takes an additional three to seven days, you can instantly receive your PayPal payments.
BookScouter Reviews: Is BookScouter Legit?
BookScouter is a legitimate website that connects you with vendors who offer quotes for your used textbooks. The platform’s legitimacy is approved by thousands of users who have left reviews on Trustpilot 2.1, Apple Store 4.1, and Google Play 4.4.
Most users on these platforms described it as an app that helps you compare the going rate for a book resell and get the best value for books that you plan to resell. Others were also happy that they could receive payments via PayPal which is convenient.
While most reviews are positive, some users complain about the lack of functionality and bugs in the app. Others also argued that its customer service is not the best.
So it’s safe to say BookScouter is a legit platform to get the best buy-back prices for your books without having to spend hours researching it yourself.
| Website | Rating |
|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 2.1 |
| App Store | 4.1 |
| Google Play | 4.4 |
What Are the BookScouter Pros & Cons?
BookScouter Pros
- Easy and convenient usability of both app and website
- BookScouter helps you find the best deals without charging a fee
- The platform offers pro tools for when you’re looking to sell textbooks in bulk
- The app comes with the feature to scan ISBN code saving you time
BookScouter Cons
- There have been some functionality issues while using the app
- The deals are not always the best – you can sometimes sell your textbooks on campus for a higher price
How Good Is BookScouter Support?
BookScouter has a helpful support base, including frequently asked questions pages, blogs, and articles that cover various topics. Examples of topics covered include tips for selling your textbooks, how it works, and more. You can also contact them by clicking contact on the website and sending a message.
BookScouter Review Verdict: Is BookScouter Worth It?
Overall, I’d say that BookScouter is definitely a worthy platform. You don’t have to pay them anything, and you can save hours searching for vendors by using BookScouter.
Additionally, you’re not going to make a profit while selling your books, but you get back most of what you spent on the book. For instance, you can make up to $77 selling your used textbook.
The Pro Tools will be really useful if you’re planning to sell books in bulk and regularly. There’s also no harm in trying the 30-day trial and deciding if the Pro Tools are worth it yourself.
How to Sign Up With BookScouter?
To get started with BookScouter;
- Go to the website and click sign up
- Enter your email and password
- Sign up and confirm your email
- Start using the website
A Step-by-step Guide to Sell/Rent Your Books on BookScouter
Step 1 – Find the Book
First, you need to search your textbook and you can do it in multiple ways:
- Through its ISBN
- Title
- Author
- Scan the ISBN code on your app
ISBN is similar to a barcode number. It contains 10 or 13 digits and is unique to each book. You can find the ISBN at the back of your book and it usually comes below the barcode.
Step 2 – Select the Vendor
Once you’re done selecting the book, you can compare the prices from different vendors and select the vendor with the best deal.
After selecting the vendor, you can click on the buy-sell link next to the vendor’s name. This will direct you to the vendor’s website.
Step 3 – Ship the Book
The shipping procedure will be different for each vendor, but most of the vendors offer prepaid shipping labels. They will even provide you with a box to pack your book in.
Make sure you check all the instructions given by the vendor before you ship your book.
Step 4 – Get Paid
When the vendors receive your books, they will inspect the books to see if they are in the right condition. Once they are done with that, you will get paid (This will take around 1-3 days after receiving).
How are you paid?
Since BookScouter offers a convenient payment system for everyone, vendors will pay you via PayPal.
If you’ve sold books to any of the vendors, BookScouter requires you to leave feedback so that others know what to expect. An average of all of the ratings will then be displayed on the site.
BookScouter FAQ
What Is BookScouter?
Is BookScouter legitimate?
Yes. BookScouter is a legitimate platform that lets you make extra money by selling your used textbooks.
What condition should my books be in to sell?
Vendors will have different guidelines for what condition your textbook should be in. You’ll have to check with each vendor before/after proceeding with the sale. But as a rule of thumb, keep in mind that vendors will not buy books that are in very bad condition.
How do I sell rare, collectible, or antique books?
Since most antique books don’t come with ISBNs, BookScouter isn’t the best option for selling these. You can try AbeBooks for this purpose.
How must I pack my books to protect them from damage?
Ideally, use tight-fitting, sturdy cardboard. If the box isn’t exactly tight-fitting, you can wrap the books around with plastic wrap and place them inside it. When you’re sealing the package, try to use some extra tape so that water doesn’t get inside. Pack your books the same way you would want them to be packed if you’re buying from them.
What does it mean if no prices are listed?
If you are unable to find any prices or BookScouter lists vendors as all paying $0.00 for your book, your book does not currently have a resale value.
