finding company to haul books
Summary: A participant inquired about finding a company to haul books, which led to multiple responses. Various participants engaged in the discussion, but no specific details or conclusions were provided in the content available.
On another thread I got advice to hire some sort of company to haul away my books when the time comes. I did some googling but did not find any company that way. The only such company I have heard about is Wonderbooks in Maryland.
On MP people advertise book pick up but they don't pay even a nominal amount. Though I would probably be OK with that if they took everything. I am looking at June when dear hubby is on a trip so I can surprise him when he gets back! For the next month I do have a few batches of unlisted books I want to try auctioning because I am addicted to ebay.
jdbelt1960
·5 months agoMy advice is to pull your most popular books and sell them in lots of a few. It is important to keep the weight down. I sold one book that was 4Lbs. I had some others that were water damaged and just tossed them. Now I am looking at getting rid of my vintage books dating as far back as the 1800's. Looking at a collection as a whole can be overwhelming but sectioning them off may become more manageable.
keziak
OP5 months agoWE think much alike. I have already taken down listings to convert to lots. IF this doesn't pan out I will always be able to put them in with whatever unlisted books I try to unload on someone. Or take them to the u sed bookstore where they'd do well. Today I went there and blew through a lot of my credit on books to lot up. I paid whatever, lots more credit to use up.
I will be spending the next 2 months trying to sell unlisted books and media in lots at auction. One or maybe two shots then into the unlisted slush pile if they don't sell.
soh.maryl
·5 months agoIs there a local newspaper where you could advertise exactly what you want?
jdbelt1960
·5 months agoA newspaper? Those have been obsolete for a while. Do you still have newspapers?
keziak
OP5 months agoMarketplace and CL fill that role these days. I know for a fact that if I put up an ad for hundreds of books I will hear from local dealers. Maybe choosing a few to come one at a time might be OK. It's a lot of books to scan though, will take time. I guess I'll first see what my friend takes and decide from there. I don't expect her to take everything but would not be surprised if she bought a lot. I told her I hope she still has access to a van.
loose_goose_garage
·5 months agoI used to do house cleanouts and 1 of them was essentially a personal library. We took 2, 24' Box Truck loads, fully loaded, out of that house of just books, not including the 30 yard dumpster we filled in a day.
The lady I worked for tried to sell them, only sold a couple boxes, and then wanted to donate the rest just to get rid of them. We took an Econoline van, loaded floor to ceiling, front to back, to Savers, and after the 2nd load they said they wouldn't take anymore. So we tried Goodwill, they took 1 load but said they would not take another. She ended up renting a couple dumpsters and we filled them to get rid of what was left.
That being said, it was a lot of physical labor, and based on your situation from what I've read, I would just pay someone to come in and take them all out and wash your hands of it. If you wanted to keep any, maybe put a box or 2 aside, but otherwise just clear them out. You're going to deal with more wasted time and stress than it's really worth trying to sell them to bookstores that would likely want you to bring them in. Or individuals who you have to try and schedule around, hope they show up, dig through everything and possibly not even buy any. All to try and make a few bucks, which you've already noted financially is not necessary. To pay someone to haul it out makes the most since as you don't have to physically touch any of it at that point, short of allowing them access to it if needed.
I get that it can be a tough decision to make. I have quite the collection of things to sell myself, and after reading these types of situations on here more than a few times, I have sat down and thought about what I would do when I can no longer physically do it anymore, or if I ever needed to move, something along those lines where it all just needed to go, I would rather it all go quickly versus trying to piecemeal it for an extended period of time. Hell, depending on the day it has crossed my mind a few times as of recent when I look at it and get overwhelmed.
Best of luck in whichever way you approach it, and I hope it all works out for the best
keziak
OP5 months agoThat woman had quite the book collection. Wow.
Between people here and my hubby and therapist I am gelling on a plan. Let it ride (but no more listing single books) until mid-July when hubby is away then have my friend the FBA seller come to take what she wants for maybe $10 a bankers box, negotiable depending on whether the books are worth that to her. Then have someone lined up to haul the rest either for free or at my expense. Also consolidate all the unlisted stuff in one room to corral the clutter and advertise on MP for taking packing supplies. By the time hubby comes back this house should look tons better!
onefootflipper
·5 months agoSo in one day you switched from being willing to do a huge sale to try to sell through (and got a flurry of sales immediately from what I can see) to raising the prices back to normal to going back to just lighting it all on fire.
I can't understand this, is there something we don't know?
keziak
OP5 months agoYou don't know the craggy parts of my brain. I started a sale for 40% off only to realize how much my lower price books would go for, not enough to be worth shipping. So I changed it to 10% off. Maybe in JUne 20% off then keep the rest for my friend and someone to haul away the rest for either free or a price I'd have to pay.
pickapaper
·5 months agoI understand it perfectly. You probably know that there are different kinds of hoarders. Some are like they show on TV reality shows with tons of trash, rodents, and little of any value; icky stuff. But there are also "hoarders" who go out and source items, bring them home, clean them if necessary, and "expect" to make at least a little profit for all their work. The problem is that we buy things faster than we can sell them. How many people on these boards do you think have storage units, sheds & buildings, and rooms in their homes full of stuff that they have accumulated, that would be willing to just dump it or give it away if forced to?
I am also a hoarder in one sense of the word and I have a feeling @keziak is the same way. These things are her babies, she has worked for them, and to just "dump them" doesn't compute in the brain. She is giving up all her hard work and would like to at least have a little to show for it.
onefootflipper
·5 months agoI actually used to watch those shows to get over my own tendency to "hoard value".
Last week I disposed of every large item that I had bought to sell on facebook marketplace and vowed to never do that again. They were eating the entire top shelf of one of my steel racks and were not worth the storage space used.
I throw things directly into the trash while sorting through stuff so much easier than I used to be able to do. I used to save stuff to try to make lots, but that just ended up with random crap that I never found enough of to lot up, now it goes right in the trash if I can't sell it. Although I do redonate items that I actually pull out of my store as those at least have a chance at getting a buyer in the charity system.
keziak
OP5 months agoThank you for understanding. My husband is a lawyer and lives for the day he can retire but still talks about all the clients he wants to keep. Me too! Online sales are not lucrative but it's what I know and I'll miss parts of it. But the difference in my knees is striking based on how much heavy weight I've slung around that day.
As for being a hoarder, guilty as charged. I had a bad FB Marketplace hobby.
chapeau-noir
·5 months agoGoodwill also has their own book site and bookstores. Not sure what is available in your area, but any of those avenues are worth looking at.
You can also send your better books (those that you don't want to sell yourself) to Thriftbooks and they sell them for you, though I suspect the payout won't be very good.
My feeling is to just get rid of everything but your better or best books - save the best, donate the rest. It'll help clear the decks.
caldreamer
·5 months agoThere is a place called BookDrop.com which does FREE HAULING of books (but you must box them and put them on the curb). They accept any books or magazines as long as they don't have "water damaged or mildew". Must have minimum of 750 books to donate.
Schedule a Book Pickup | BookDrop
Our Mission
We collect, sort, and redistribute books to keep them out of landfills and in circulation. Through partnerships with libraries, thrift stores, community organizations, and everyday readers, we've built a network that gives every book the best chance at a second life.
keziak
OP5 months agoThank you! What I need though is someone to go to my basement and pull the books out of there and boxes of unlisted stuff on the second floor. Someone(s) who can box and carry them.
soh.maryl
·5 months agoOur local library, which has book sales several times per year, accepts donations. If yours does that, could you take them there a few at a time, like when you go to get books for yourself?
keziak
OP5 months agoMy main problem is the way hauling boxes up the stairs kills my knees. I was thinking about someone coming to buy books but that may be unrealistic unless I advertise on MP and accept visits by dealers to scan. I am having trouble choosing the donation or sale route.
chapeau-noir
·5 months agoI'm sure he means well, but I think husband needs to either help or get out of the way. 😖
keziak
OP5 months agoI had the idea when talking to a friend to target my hubby's out of town trip for having people come to the house. That way no stressing about it right?
IF I am going down the donation route I think I"ll see what people say on Marketplace who advertise book hauling. Presumably dealers.
chapeau-noir
·5 months agoThis is true - you can run things the way you want! I just think he could help if he's not already - after all, he will get the benefit, too.
keziak
OP5 months agoHe is very careful about his back so he has maybe 3 times in 26 years carried a box for me. My son lives at home and carries boxes for me but I do not want to ask him to box up and bring up so many books from the basement. That's on me, not on him.
dhbookds
·5 months agoYou've got over 2000 books listed and many more, from what you say.......so it's not going to be a one pickup truck job.
I looked at Fairfax county..........quite a number of used books stores. I would call each one and ask if they would be interested in giving you an estimate of what they would pay....tell them approximate number or "over 3000, etc"......Tell them you are an ebay seller but have to quit for health reasons and can't deliver them. Many will say no, but I'll bet you find one that will take them. If you offer for free.....pretty sure someone will come. Stress they have to take all. I'd try that first.
Don't know what to say about husband..........does he expect YOU to haul the all out?
keziak
OP5 months agoat one time there was a store here that picked up. The remaining store doesn't (as far as I know) maybe because they already get in enough books. Can't hurt to ask.
funfactorychannel
·5 months agoafter so many threads about this to just toss the books out.
Go to nextdoor or offer up and just post free and put the books outside and let them take it or toss in trash afterwards.
inhawaii
·5 months agoI would only let "friends" help me with such a laborious task.
That's why I don't have many friends.
keziak
OP5 months agoI'm giving my friend who sells on FBA first dibs so by the time she is done I might be lucky enough to have a lot less to have hauled away or something.
dwding1212
·5 months agoIf you want to donate the books Salvation Army will take them as well as Saint Vincent DePaul stores.
keziak
OP5 months agoI think the local Salvation Army is phasing out books based on what I saw there in the store. However they may be sending books to a larger facility. Worth inquiring, thanks for the tip.
meme6253
·5 months agoIf you just want it out of your house you will need to pay a company to haul it away, One company I know of that is reasonable is 1-800-got-junk
inhawaii
·5 months agoIf you're looking for someone to haul away (not buy) the books, I would take oui a craigslist ad and hire some high school or college student looking for quick cash.
keziak
OP5 months agothanks for the tip!
dirk12955
·5 months agowe were visiting an assisted care facility recently. In the
common room or Central area for entertaining (We were there for
my daughters Baby shower)
Nice and organized library available
for the residents.
jdbelt1960
·5 months agoThat may work in Hawaii but in a metropolitan area that is not a good idea. If salvaging any money is no concern there are plenty of companies who will haul them away.
the.era.edit
·5 months agoHello! I think I can help you! Theres a company called WORLD OF BOOKS - Sell your Books. They offer cash back for your books when you scan them in on the app. Its super easy! just search on your app store on your phone for World Of Books and where it says SCAN go around and scan the barcodes on all your books, cds, movies i think even magazines. It may not be what youre wanting to sell them for but at least you get something rather than just giving them away. I go to a home depot or menards and buy their large box to put them in. Also dont get carried away because the box can get really heavy so be sure to close out one box and start a new one under the same label.
After you have all of them scanned you close the offer and print out the label(s) and they pay for the shipping.
you then get your money in about 2-3 weeks after it is sent, they check the books for condition and then issue the payment.
They usually take all my books except water damage, writing or missing pages. even books with library marking they will take!
hope this helps! 🎀
keziak
OP5 months agothanks for the tip! I am pretty sure I don't want to scan everything plus pack and carry upstairs Home Depot boxes. In fact that would be impossible (knees).
If I am thinking of hauling there are many junk dealers in town so it I go down that route it shouldn't be hard to hire someone. I am targetting JUne when Hubby is away so I can surprise him when he gets back!
taylor_memorial
·5 months agoThe world of gig-selling books has pretty much collapsed when it comes to most books.
Library groups are giving their unsold books away--when our FOL closed we weren't paying them to pick up (yet) and probably wouldn't because they had a pulper bin they could fill at their leisure.
At this point, it is primarily Thriftbooks dominating the market--they have a hundred different storefronts (I haven't counted) all of them hungry enough for books to be worth trying to contact for a come-and-get-it-all deal.
Down load your current listings into a PDF or excel file so they can see what they are gathering.
Usually they send young strapping fellas.
luckythewinner
·5 months agoIf the advise was to hire a company to do it, I think there is an underlying assumption that the company would get paid, not you.
keziak
OP5 months agogood point. It's probably not logical to expect payment for hauling it all away. My hubby is not keen on letting individuals into the house to scan and pay.
luckythewinner
·5 months agoHe's not keen on people in the book business coming to buy books, but he would be okay with laborers from a moving company coming to move books while he was away on a trip?
keziak
OP5 months agoBecause it would be a moving company not individuals. Maybe more trustworthy? Not sure.