Where Do Used Bookstores Get Their Books?

Have you ever walked into a used bookstore, looked at thousands of books on the shelves, and wondered:

Where do all of these books actually come from?

At LiquidBooks in Manteno, Illinois, the answer isn’t just one place.

In fact, building inventory for a used bookstore is a constant process. Books are coming in, books are being sold, and we’re always looking for the next batch of inventory to keep our shelves changing.

And because LiquidBooks is more than just a bookstore, we’re not only looking for books.

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes look at where our inventory actually comes from.

Customers Bring Inventory Directly to Us

One of the biggest ways inventory finds its way into LiquidBooks is through our customers.

People regularly bring items directly into the store.

Sometimes they’re cleaning out a bookshelf.

Sometimes they’re moving.

Sometimes they’re downsizing.

Sometimes they’re going through boxes that have been sitting around for years.

And sometimes they simply finished with something and would rather see someone else enjoy it than throw it away.

Customers can bring items to us as a donation or for store credit.

That creates a pretty simple cycle.

Someone brings us something they no longer want. We potentially put it back into circulation. Another customer discovers it.

That’s one of my favorite parts of the used-book business.

Something that was sitting unused in one person’s house might become someone else’s next favorite book.

What Can You Bring In?

Despite having “Books” in our name, LiquidBooks has grown into much more than a traditional used bookstore.

That’s also reflected in what we accept.

Customers can bring us things such as:

Books
CDs
DVDs
Vinyl records
Video games and consoles
Toys
Collectibles
Board games and puzzles
Costume jewelry
And more

We’re always willing to take a look at what someone has.

That doesn’t necessarily mean every single item will end up on our shelves, but you don’t have to assume we’re only interested in books just because we’re called LiquidBooks.

How Does Store Credit Work?

If you bring items into LiquidBooks for store credit, we’ll go through what you have and make an offer based on the items we’re interested in.

If you accept the offer, you receive LiquidBooks store credit.

And here’s an important part:

Our store credit doesn’t expire.

You don’t have to rush back next week because you’re worried about losing it.

You can save it and use it when you find something you actually want.

For some customers, that creates another fun part of shopping used.

You might bring us a stack of books you’ve already read and eventually use that credit toward another stack of books you haven’t.

Or maybe you trade in DVDs and eventually find a record you want.

Bring in some video games and later find a collectible.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be a book-for-book exchange.

Donations Are Another Important Source

Not everyone wants store credit.

Some people simply want their stuff gone.

That’s where donations come in.

We receive donations from people who are cleaning out their homes, reorganizing collections, downsizing, or simply trying to find somewhere for items they no longer need.

For us, those donations can become another source of affordable inventory.

For customers, it means there’s always the possibility of something completely unexpected showing up in the store.

That’s one of the things that makes a used bookstore different from a traditional retailer.

We don’t always know exactly what’s going to come through the door.

We Also Buy Inventory Wholesale

Not everything comes directly through the front door.

Another way we acquire inventory is by purchasing larger quantities from people we reach out to.

Sometimes we’re looking for specific types of inventory. Other times we come across someone with a large collection or a significant quantity of items they’re looking to sell.

Buying wholesale allows us to bring in a larger amount of inventory at once.

And sometimes those purchases can completely change a section of the store.

One large collection might suddenly add hundreds of books to a category.

Another purchase might bring in CDs, records, collectibles, or other merchandise.

Then comes the fun part:

Sorting all of it.

We Go to Sales Lots of Sales

Another source of inventory is sales.

And there are plenty of different kinds.

Estate sales, garage sales, yard sales, auctions, liquidation sales, and other opportunities can all potentially lead to inventory.

Sometimes you walk away with almost nothing.

Other times you find enough inventory to keep yourself busy sorting and pricing for days.

That’s part of the hunt.

You never really know what you’re going to find.

Then the Real Work Begins

Getting the inventory is only the first step.

Once everything arrives at LiquidBooks, someone still has to go through it.

Items need to be sorted.

Condition needs to be checked.

Things need to be researched.

Prices need to be determined.

Inventory needs to be organized.

And finally, everything needs to make its way onto the shelves or into our online inventory.

If we bring in hundreds of items at once, that can turn into hours—or even days—of work.

So when you see a cart, box, or pile of books waiting to be shelved at a used bookstore, there’s usually quite a process happening behind the scenes.

Why We Use So Many Different Sources

A used bookstore can’t simply call a publisher and order another identical shipment whenever something sells.

Used inventory is different.

Once a particular copy is gone, we might never see that exact edition again.

That’s why having multiple ways to acquire inventory is so important.

Customer trade-ins keep merchandise circulating.

Donations bring unexpected items through the door.

Wholesale purchases allow us to acquire larger collections.

Sales give us opportunities to hunt for inventory ourselves.

All of those sources work together to keep LiquidBooks changing.

That’s What Makes Shopping Used Fun

You could visit LiquidBooks today and come back a few weeks later to find completely different things on the shelves.

That’s part of the experience.

We’re constantly buying, accepting donations, offering store credit, sorting, pricing, shelving, and searching for more inventory.