Used box of books or media prices by age and condition
What to ask for a box of books or media that cost $200 new. For a different new price, use the percentage: it is the share of the new price a mid-range one keeps in good condition.
| Age | Share of new price | Like new | Good | Fair |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under a year | 12% | $35 | $25 | $18 |
| 1 year | 11% | $30 | $25 | $16 |
| 2 years | 10% | $25 | $20 | $15 |
| 3 years | 9% | $25 | $19 | $13 |
| 5 years | 7% | $19 | $16 | $11 |
| 8 years | 5% | $14 | $11 | $8 |
| 10 years | 4% | $12 | $9 | $6 |
These are rules of thumb, not an appraisal. A well-known brand or solid build adds about 15%; budget or flat-pack takes off about 20%. More in how to price used furniture.
How to sell a box of books or media
- Sell by the box, sorted by kind, at one price a box. Few buyers come out for a single paperback.
- Name the best titles or authors in the description, so the box turns up in searches.
- Mark whatever is left free on the last day. A box of books costs more to move than it is worth.
If it has to go by moving day
A price that drops on a schedule gets buyers to claim early instead of haggling. Starting at $19 and stopping at $10, a ten-day plan looks like this:
| Today | Day 4 | Day 7 | Day 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $19 | $16 | $13 | $10 |
Set your own dates in the price-drop planner, or let PieceOut do it: every listing drops each morning until you move.
Sell it or move it?
A typical box of books or media takes about 2 cubic feet on a mover’s inventory and weighs about 14 lb. On a long-distance move charged by weight, that is about $11 at an example rate of $0.80 a pound, against the $19 it would sell for here. Put in your own quote and what a replacement costs in sell it or move it?