Books by Chance

Special Notice:

August 16, 2008

We are currently at capacity and not accepting items. Items already in our possession and waiting to be processed will be handled per normal. Please revisit this page for status updates.

The following places accept donations:

The response this summer has been amazing!!!

Thanks!

John and Stephanie

Books by Chance sells used books, CDs, and DVDs on consignment for clients in the Ann Arbor area. Our proprietary software allows us to inventory, track, and sell thousands of individual items and then pay a percentage to clients like you. Whether you have 1 book or thousands, there is no better choice than Books by Chance if you like great service and good money.

Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for you to sell your books. We are fantastic at finding new homes for books, CDs, and DVDS!

  • Free pick-up within the Ann Arbor city limits.
  • Convenient drop-off at...
    • iSold It Ann Arbor (on Eisenhower Blvd)
      Open 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday; Closed Sunday.
      [map and phone number]

  • We go through your books and find what is worth selling.
  • The items not worth selling, we donate and send you a receipt, or you can have them back.
  • We market your items aggressively through popular online venues such as Amazon.com. We have a top-notch reputation as a seller at Amazon, and this is to your advantage as well.
  • We store each item, and when it sells, we package it up and send it off.
  • We send you a check and detailed report monthly.
  • We combine cutting edge technology with extra friendly service and lots of hard work to relocate your books and make you happy.

Books by Chance was so easy to use that I will recommend it to all my friends and family! They make it a painless process and I really appreciate that. Thank you, Books by Chance!
Sincerely, Lynn R. Antisdel
 more comments...

We'd love to sell your books, CDs, and DVDs on consignment.

Send e-mail or give us a call any time! (734) 239-3172

Who is eligible to participate?

Any person or group with 1 or more items to sell! For instance...

  • Individuals like students, professors, moms and kids.
  • Groups and organizations like non-profits, schools, teams, and charities doing fundraising.
  • Libraries of schools, colleges, universities, and businesses with books, CDs, and DVDs to sell.

What percentage does Books by Chance pay out when an item sells?

We pay you a percentage of the Sale Proceeds as follows:  50% of the first $50, plus 60% of the second $50, plus 70% of the amount over $100. For example, if an item sells for $130 the Sale Proceeds are $110.50 and you earn $62.35 ($25 + $30 + $7.35 = $62.35). Given that the Sale Proceeds for most items sold are under $50, your earnings are usually 50% of the Sale Proceeds.

Please see consignment agreement [pdf] for complete details including definition of "Sale Proceeds".

How about about fundraising?

Books by Chance LLC donates a percentage of sales to charity. We are currently focusing on non-profit environmental and educational organizations in the Ann Arbor area.

We also offer our consignment clients the option to supplement our effort with a portion of their earnings. The percentage of the contribution is up to the client. Participating is as easy as writing in the percentage you would like to contribute when you complete a consignment agreement form.

Additionally, we enjoy helping with fundraising activities. Contact us for more information about how you can raise money for your organization through the sale of books, CDs, and DVDs.

The following organizations are currently collecting media items for us to sell on their behalf. Please consider donating your items to one of these great organizations.

Where is Books by Chance located? Is there a store?

Sorry, we do not have a store other than online. Our home office is in the Eberwhite neighborhood of Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. We do have a drop off location at iSold It Ann Arbor.

We sell all items online through venues such as Amazon.com, Abebooks.com, Alibris.com and our own web site www.booksbychance.com. These are incredible marketplaces serving a large portion of the globe.

What types of books work well?

This is hard to answer. First of all, you need to come to terms with the difference between the monetary value of a book and the personal value of a book. They are often at odds. The book you could not finish might have the best resale value, and the book you loved might not be worth a nickel. The market will decide.

Between the bestsellers of 3 years ago (worth little) and the highly rare and collectible books (worth a lot) are millions of great books with good monetary value and potential for resale. That's where we come in.

What about collectible and antique books?

This may be hard to understand, but we are not particularly interested in collectible or antique books. Other dealers love this stuff. If you want suggestions for who to try, let us know. It is a common mistake to think of old books as being valuable. Of course, sometimes an old book is valuable, but not usually just because it is old. Simply old books have charm, and charisma, but not much of a market. This is especially true of fiction. And while a book has to be old to be an antique, it doesn't have to be old to be collectible. If you think your old books really are special, by all means, get them appraised. Contact us for recommendations.

We love books, and don't worry if a few sneak through, but please...

  • No mold.
  • No mildew or cigarette odor.
  • No caked-on dust.
  • No moisture damage or stains.
  • No romance novels.
  • No loose pages.
  • No teeth marks.
  • No encyclopedias.
  • No advance readers - promos.
  • No Reader's digest condensed books.
  • No dirty books (If they are visibly dirty or they make your hands feel grimy, please clean them off.)
  • Minor damage and flaws such as a creased cover corner, missing dustcover, and a reasonable amount of notes and highlighting are totally acceptable.

We especially like...

  • Non-fiction in general (it holds its monetary value better than fiction).
  • Very current fiction.
  • College books.
  • Textbooks less than 3 years old.
  • Technical books.
  • CDs and DVDs.
  • Any book with an ISBN (International Standard Book Number), and if it has a barcode, even better.
  • Slightly esoteric is good.

How are the books priced?

We have developed an amazing software program that monitors prices on Amazon.com and resets the price of each book, CD, and DVD several times each day. Competitive pricing is key to our phenomenal success at selling items quickly and getting the "right" price. The goal is not to be the lowest price. The "right" price depends on a variety of factors, including our sensational customer feedback rating which sets us apart from much of the competition. Over time, our system reduces comparison factors to make the item more competitive until sold. Many items do sell at the lowest price, but not until we have attempted to get a bit more.

The following figures are based on items we have sold on consignment.

  • The average sale price per item $7.98 (2007 as of March 26th). $6.95 (all-time as of March 26, 2007).
  • The highest sale price for any one item to date is $455.00 (as of March 26, 2007).

I've seen books for sale on Amazon.com for a penny. What's up with that?

If the market is flooded or there is no demand for a book the price can get driven down very low as sellers compete for your dollar (or, in this case, your penny!) This happens fairly frequently with popular fiction. It can be a shock to learn that a nice hardcover book you paid $15 for new is worth almost nothing in the used market, but consider buying used next time and you might save a lot of money.

We routinely accept low priced items that are hot sellers because our incredible reputation allows us to get a couple dollars for an item even when our competitors are offering it for much less. Our goal is to not drop below $1.49, and it is rare that we do. If a low priced item is not a very hot seller or it is not in very good condition, we will refuse it at the outset because it probably has more monetary value as tax deduction from a donation.

How long does it take for an item to sell?

We sell to a global marketplace and our items are available for purchase day and night, year-round, with only rare exceptions. We try to only accept books that we believe will sell. This is a science, and an art, and we are masterful in both aspects. That said, there is always something new to learn.

Of All Items Sold by Books by Chance in 2006

44% sold within 15 days
59% sold within 30 days
71% sold within 60 days
78% sold within 90 days
86% sold within 180 days
92% sold within 360 days

  • Real example of one person's sales in the month of September, 2006. The sample report shows earnings based on the terms of our current consignment agreement.

What is the duration of the consignment period?

The consignment period is indefinite. If we find we just cannot sell a book, we will eventually contact you about dropping it from our inventory. We're flexible folks. If you want to cancel at any point for any reason, we're not likely to put up a fuss. Read the agreement [pdf] for yourself.

How many is too many?

If you have a lot of books you might wonder if Books by Chance can handle them all. The largest collection we have ever accepted had about 15,000 books. That was a lot of work, but it also gave us a chance to develop our workflow process to handle such large quantities. We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss your situation to see if we can help. As of September 9 we've processed about 37,775 books in 2007.

How long has Books by Chance been in business?

Books by Chance started selling in 2001. Consignment services were formally introduced in April 2005. As of September 9, 2007 we have sold over 34,821 items. We sold 12,152 items in 2006, and 10,885 so far in 2007 (as of September 9th). Sales doubled in 2006 and the might double again in 2007!

Exactly who is Books by Chance?

Books by Chance is owned and operated by John Weise and Stephanie Bentley, Ann Arborites for over 20 years and U of M grads. Find out more...

John recently had a Teeter Talk with Homeless Dave. To kick things off, Dave hauled a load of books, plus John, to the post office on his new cargo bike trailer. See the pictures and read the Talk!

Read about us [pdf] in the May 2007 issue of Ann Arbor's Old West Side News. Thanks to author/editor Dan Madaj for a great article and permission to post it online.

 

What do Books by Chance consignment clients say?

Thanks for all the work you do. It's a great service to have you price, sell, and ship books, and I can think of few better ways to easily make sales on the Internet.
 --- Edward Vielmetti

I'm so glad I saw the Books by Chance ad in the Ann Arbor Observer! It's the perfect way for us to make some room in our bookcases. Books by Chance is efficient and effective and, best of all, it's fun.
 --- Lois Kane

I have been very impressed by "Books by Chance": the service is efficient & effective, far beyond my expectations! Thanks so much!
--- Name Withheld

I am very impressed by your efficiency and reliability.
--- Todd M. Endelman

I think you people are great! It was so easy to dispose of the 300+ items-- you donated some, and have sold most of the rest and it has been great $! Thank you!
--- Name Withheld

This is awesome! It is neat and organized and easy to do. Thanks!
--- Name Withheld

Love this service - it's so easy and convenient - and it makes me money! Thanks for the service - I'll be sure to continue using -
--- Name Withheld

Your service is great! We would recommend it to anyone; especially in the hectic days before moving, it was tremendously helpful to have our no-longer wanted books picked up, sorted, and then weeks later - surprise! - a check in the mail for those that sold - Best wishes from North Carolina.
--- Paula Clark

"Books by Chance" is a dream!
 --- Zoran Minderovic

Very professional and well organized. We would use this service again.
--- Name Withheld

Great work! Very organized and timely.
--- Name Withheld

Dear Books by Chance- You provide a tremendous service and I have found your help invaluable. I found myself in a position with books, books and more books -- and minimal shelf space. You made it effortless to sell/donate these books. Every so often, I receive an unexpected check for books I never thought would sell -- and did! Thanks for your professionalism.
--- Lou Schiavone

Your service is a wonderful incentive to clean house... especially for busy families. Thanks so much!
--- Linh Song

My husband and I are very satisfied with your courteous and professional handling of selling our books.
--- Name Withheld

Excellent! Appointments were kept and timely. All staff are very professional and courteous. And, everything has been done in a very timely fashion.
--- Glen Ulrich

Fantastic! John, I'm thrilled! I had a common problem - too many books! - and Books by Chance offers a better solution, and far better service than I ever could have imagined! I've already referred friends to you! Thanks!
--- John Bacon

A clever business. Pleasant, intelligent, conscientious, friendly & reliable proprietors. Wonderful service. I made a nice profit with almost no effort on my part.
--- Name Withheld

So glad to have discovered your service (via "A2 Observer") and am passing along your name to my friends and colleagues. You do a wonderful job and make things super convenient for the customer. THANKS!
--- Mrs. B. Schnitzer

You are wonderful to work with! I really appreciate your service. And you are great people to deal with.
--- Bobby Frank

Hello- Just a note to say wow and thanks! How wonderful to have you come to us and handle all the details. Of course it was wonderful to get a check in the mail and know that I'm providing books to others instead of sitting on my shelf collecting dust. Sincerely,
--- Cindi Ruhl

Your service was great, the terms were clear and as soon as I have a bagful, I'll get in touch. Thanks.
--- Name Withheld

Working with you has been a pleasure. You have been dependable and responsible and responsive. You have made the job of finding new homes for our books easy. We have enjoyed working with you and will certainly continue to do so.
--- Name Withheld

Books by Chance has given us an excellent opportunity to raise funds effortlessly. We are a small cooperative nursery run, in part, by parents. As parents of toddlers, we don't always have the time to dedicate to the fund-raising efforts so needed by our school. That is where Books by Chance plays an essential role for us. Selling books by consignment is painless- everyone has books they have read and would like to pass along; knowing that the sale benefits the school makes it that much easier. John has helped us from the beginning where he offered to pick up books from our garage sale, to advising us on which books sell consistently, through the most recent months where he figured a way to make the consignment percentages work in our favor. Each month the check from Books by Chance takes us by surprise. We are thrilled with these funds for our school, which seem to arrive magically, but actually reflect the effort Books by Chance makes for us.
--- Tish Campbell, Ann Arbor Cooperative Nursery School

Books by Chance has been a great gift to me. Now I can part with books I've held on to for so long because I love them, but no longer have room for them. BBC (Books by Chance) finds good homes for these books with efficient and hassle free methods. Their service has been outstanding.
--- Carol Morris, Ann Arbor

 

What do people who buy from Books by Chance say?

We work very hard to provide the best service to people who buy from us too. Our Amazon.com feedback hovers around 100% positive on average earning us 5 of 5 stars. It isn't that we don't make the occassional mistake. We do. And when we do, we do our best to make things right.

What to expect.

  • Expect extra-friendly, efficient, and professional service from people who enjoy what they are doing.
  • Expect some of your items will be worth less than you hoped, and some to be worth more.
  • Expect to be impressed by how fast we sell your books.
  • Expect more money for your books than if you sell them to a used book shop.
  • Expect a different, fun, and interesting selling experience. In fact, we are willing to wager it will be the best book selling experience you have ever had.
  • Expect detailed reporting of every book refused, accepted, and sold.
  • Expect to tell your friends!

What's the process?

  1. Contact us.

    2. Send us an e-mail ( info@booksbychance.com ) or give us a call (734) 239-3172. Call anytime. Please leave a message if we cannot answer. We return our messages.

  2. Schedule a time for pick-up.

    We'll work with you to schedule a time for pick-up.

    We also have two drop-off locations.

    iSold It Ann Arbor located in the Colonnade shopping center on Eisenhower [map and phone number] . They are open 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday; Closed Sunday.

    Got other stuff to sell? iSold It will sell your things on Ebay. Give them a try!

     

  3. Sign the agreement [pdf].
    4. view consignment agreement PDF Please read the terms of the agreement [pdf] ahead of time and ask questions if necessary. We will have printed copies to sign at pick-up or drop-off.
  4. Acceptance and refusal.

    Once we have your items we will investigate each one. This can take several days or just a few hours depending on how busy we are and what you have given us. We will accept into our inventory those we think we can sell. Items will appear online at Amazon.com almost immediately, and on other sites a bit later. We also generate an itemized list of refusals which we send to you via e-mail. You can decide whether you would like us to donate the books and send you a receipt for tax purposes, or return the books to you. Sometimes we recommend recycling. We appreciate hearing back from you promptly on these issues. We will call if you do not reply to e-mail.

    Now and again we receive a batch of books that we know right-off we cannot sell due to condition or lack of monetary value. In such cases we cannot look-up each book individually nor provide an itemized list of refusals. We simply need to refuse the batch as a whole. Some folks want their refusals back, and that's fine. We also offer to handle donation and/or recycling.

    Some examples where batch refusal is necessary:

    • A box of books that smells bad because it has sat in a damp basement or garage too long.
    • Several bags of very old and beat-up paperbacks.
    • Several hundred romance novels.
    • Leftovers from a different sale where a sampling shows little potential.
  5. Get paid.

    We send you a check at the beginning of each month for the previous month's sales. If you have earned at least $5, you will get a check in the mail, along with an itemized report of your sales. If you have earnings less thana $5 we'll send you a brief email status report. Here is a real example of one person's sales report for the month of September, 2006. The sample report shows earnings based on the terms of our current consignment agreement.

  6. Tell your friends.

    We are a small but growing business and greatly appreciate referrals. And if you really like us, and you would like to help us in a very tangible way, mention Books by Chance in your blog and be sure to include a link to http://www.booksbychance.com. Even if you only have a small number of readers, the link is invaluable. Thanks!!!

 

We'd love to sell your books, CDs, and DVDs on consignment.

Give us a call! (734) 239-3172

 

Sell Your Books, CDS, and DVDs-- Free Pick-up in Ann Arbor

Got other stuff to sell? Try our friends at iSold It Ann Arbor
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