2nd & Charles Trade-In Value: How Much Does It Pay? Solved

Short Answer — 2nd & Charles buys used books and appraises them based on their condition, customer demand, and the amount of that particular title the store already has in its inventory. It typically pays less than $1 per book.

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How Much Does 2nd & Charles Pay for Books?

2nd & Charles buys used hardcover books, softcover books, and other items like collectibles, toys, and video games, a corporate customer service representative said.

We contacted stores in Colorado, Delaware, and Texas to find out more about how the company appraises books and the requirements for the condition of the books.

2nd & Charles does not give quotes, ranges, or estimates for used books by phone, but you can take your books into your local store to get an appraisal.

While store associates would not provide exact quotes, several customers and sellers report receiving about $1 or less per book, on average.

Note that 2nd & Charles makes trade-in offers in total — not by individual item — so if you are selling multiple books, there is no way to know exactly how much the store is offering for a specific book.

Typically, 2nd & Charles will pay more for hardcover books than softcovers, and books that are in high demand and/or excellent condition will earn you more than less popular titles or books with signs of use.

Books-A-Million, which owns 2nd & Charles, also buys used books. For details, see our research on Books-A-Million’s buyback program.

Book Requirements

2nd & Charles prefers to purchase books in good to excellent condition. However, there are no specific genre or age requirements for books that you trade in.

The store will consider all books that you bring in unless they are:

Hardcover books without dust jackets
Advanced reading copies
School textbooks or study manuals
Heavily damaged (such as water damaged)

Limits

There is no limit on the number of books you can sell, but 2nd & Charles reserves the right to reject books at its discretion.

We were told that if you want to sell more books than you can carry into the store, you should contact your local 2nd & Charles to set up an appointment. The store may be interested in purchasing anywhere from a couple of books to a large collection.

Book Trade-In Process

2nd & Charles stores have a dedicated Buy Back counter; if you are at least 18 years old, you can take your books there during regular store hours. A trade-in associate will ask you to provide a government-issued ID before they begin the appraisal process.

The associate will give you an approximate time that your appraisal will be ready, and you can choose to be contacted via email or text when your quote is ready. The appraisal usually takes one hour or less, depending on how many books you bring.

Appraisal and Payment

Once you receive the email or text stating that your appraisal is ready, head back to the Buy Back counter. The store associate will tell you which books the store wishes to buy and any that it wants to refuse. If the store has too many of a certain title already in stock, it may refuse to buy your copy.

Your quote will be a total dollar amount of in-store credit; if you choose to receive cash instead, the offer will decrease by about 50%.

Note: When it comes to rare and vintage books, your offer may not be as much as if you sold the book yourself to someone like a collector. The appraisal from 2nd & Charles likely will not be the highest price or market value of the book.