Selling Books on Amazon: Offering Used and New Books at a Profit

Why Selling Books on Amazon Is Still a Business Model in 2026

Amazon started as a bookseller. Today the platform is the most important sales channel for books in Germany — and the segment is growing. The total revenue of the German book market stood at around €9.7 billion in 2023, up 2.8 per cent on the previous year. The online share of the total market was 24.8 per cent — and rose by almost 30 per cent compared with 2019.

Physical books are not dying out. BookTok — the book trend on TikTok — has mobilised a new generation of buyers actively searching for specific titles. Publishers report sell-outs on titles that went viral through creator content. A large share of this demand lands on Amazon.

For sellers, this means: the marketplace offers real room to manoeuvre — particularly in the used books segment, where Amazon itself is not a direct competitor and competition works structurally differently from new goods. Anyone who approaches this systematically can build a stable business.

New Books or Used Books — Where Does the Real Potential Lie?

Anyone wanting to sell new books on Amazon quickly runs into two structural problems: publishers and book wholesalers require minimum order quantities that demand several thousand euros of start-up capital. And Amazon itself sells new books directly — and is generally cheaper than any independent seller. The margin for third-party sellers on new books is accordingly thin.

Used books work differently. There are no minimum orders, no wholesaler contract, and no listing fee for existing ASINs. Buy a book for €1.50, list it for €7.99 — and pay Amazon a commission plus a share of the postage costs. The barrier to entry is low, the risk manageable.

The catch: sourcing takes time. Not every used book can be sold profitably. Anyone working without a system burns hours for minimal return. Two things matter before every purchase: the BSR (Best Seller Rank) and a realistic cost calculation.

• New books: wholesaler contract required, high initial investment, Amazon as a direct competitor on new stock
• Used books: no minimum volume, low barrier to entry, Amazon not a direct competitor
• Bottom line: for most independent sellers, used books are the more economical choice

Reading the BSR Correctly: Which Books Are Worth It at All?

The BSR — Best Seller Rank — is the most important metric before buying a book. It shows how often a product sells compared with other items in the category. A BSR below 100,000 in the 'Books' category means: this book sells regularly, several times a week. A BSR above 1,000,000 means: weeks or months until the next sale — if at all.

For beginners, a simple rule of thumb applies: only buy books with a BSR above 500,000 if the purchase price is below €1 and the potential selling price clearly exceeds the costs. Anything with a BSR below 200,000 and a healthy margin is a clear buy.

A concrete example: book purchased for €1.50. Selling price: €7.99. Amazon's commission: approx. €1.20 (15%). Packaging and postage via book rate post (FBM): approx. €1.90. Net margin: approx. €3.39. That sounds modest — but at 60 books per month with an average margin of €3, that is €180 extra income for low capital outlay. Scaling is possible, but requires system and volume.

Where to Find Profitable Books for Resale

Sourcing is the heart of book reselling. Anyone who knows the right channels and works systematically has a genuine competitive advantage over sellers who buy indiscriminately.

Bookshops and second-hand bookshops regularly hold clearance sales. Many smaller bookshops offload surplus stock at the end of the season — often for €0.50 to €2 per item. A direct conversation with the owner is worthwhile and can establish long-term supply relationships.

Library clearances are an often-overlooked channel. Public libraries regularly cull their stock — particularly during renovations, relocations, or closures. These books are often in good condition, thematically organised, and found in popular non-fiction categories.

Car boot sales and house clearances yield irregular but cheap finds. You sometimes come across rare editions, collectibles, or textbooks at spot prices. An ISBN scanner app on your smartphone lets you check the current Amazon price and BSR on the spot — so you never buy blind.

Online classified ad platforms regularly offer job lots of books at flat rates. The risk is higher because you cannot check all titles in advance — but with a low flat rate, the potential loss is manageable. Request photos and ask for ISBNs before buying.

Retail arbitrage via online shops: buy discounted books in clearance sales and list them at the regular price on Amazon. This is legal and works particularly well with titles that are temporarily heavily discounted but still in demand.

• Bookshops & second-hand bookshops: clearance sales, seasonal stock — seek direct contact
• Library clearances: well-preserved non-fiction, organised stock, often cheap
• Car boot sales & house clearances: always have an ISBN scanner to hand, check BSR on the spot
• Classifieds: job lots at flat rates — request photos, calculate purchase price per title
• Online shops: retail arbitrage with discounted titles, legal and scalable

Assessing Book Condition Correctly — This Mistake Costs Feedback and the Buy Box

Amazon recognises five condition categories for used books: New, Like New, Very Good, Good, and Acceptable. Anyone who is too generous here risks returns, negative reviews, and in the worst case account problems. This is no small matter — feedback is one of the most common differentiating factors amongst book sellers.

'Like New' means: the book looks as though it just came off the shelf. No underlining, no creases, no smell, no old price sticker. If such a book arrives with a library stamp, the buyer is rightly disappointed — and says so in their review.

'Very Good' allows minimal external signs of use: a small mark on the cover, slight rubbing at the corners. Inside, no markings, no dog-ears. 'Good' means visible signs of use, but the contents are complete and legible. 'Acceptable' is the minimum: the book must be complete and readable — nothing more. Mould, strong odour, or missing pages disqualify a book entirely.

Use the condition notes field consistently: 'No markings inside, cover lightly rubbed at the edges, pages complete and clean' is far better than no text at all. Buyers who know exactly what they are getting return items less often. And fewer returns mean a better feedback score.

• Like New: no stamp, no creases, no markings — literally as new
• Very Good: minimal external signs, immaculate inside
• Good: visible use, contents complete and legible
• Acceptable: clear signs of use, no mould, no strong smell, complete contents

Step by Step: Listing Your First Book on Amazon

Before the first book goes live, you need an active seller account. Amazon offers two variants: the Individual seller account (no monthly fee, but an additional €0.99 per sale on top of the commission) and the Professional account (€39.99 per month, no per-sale fee). From around 40 sales per month, the Professional account pays for itself. For starting out with a few books, the Individual account is sufficient.

Registration requires: a form of ID, bank details, a valid credit card, and tax information. For commercial selling, a trade registration is also required. The process is straightforward and typically completed within one working day.

The listing process works as follows: in Seller Central under 'Catalogue → Add a Product', enter the ISBN. Amazon finds the existing listing automatically. Then select 'Add your offer', choose the condition, enter a price, write a condition note, and set the postage option. Done.

Price research before listing: check the prices of other sellers in the same condition. As a new seller with no feedback, it makes sense to start slightly cheaper in order to gather first sales and reviews. Do not undercut too aggressively — this unnecessarily squeezes margins and brings no long-term advantage.

FBA or FBM — What Actually Works Out for Books?

This question largely determines profitability. With books, both models show their strengths and weaknesses clearly — and the answer depends heavily on the price range.

FBM (Fulfilment by Merchant): you pack and post yourself. With books, this is often the cheaper option because Deutsche Post offers a special 'Büchersendung' book rate: books up to 1,000 g can be sent for under €2. This is considerably cheaper than FBA's minimum fees for small items.

FBA (Fulfilment by Amazon): Amazon stores, packs, and ships. This brings the Prime badge and therefore better visibility and a higher conversion rate — particularly for buyers who exclusively purchase Prime products. However, FBA fees start at around €2.50 per item for small books. For a book with a €6 selling price, this — combined with the 15% commission — eats up almost the entire margin.

Recommendation for beginners: start with FBM. This gives you full control over the margin and teaches you which titles sell quickly. FBA only becomes worthwhile once you are managing large volumes or offering higher-priced books (from around €15 selling price), where the FBA fee weighs proportionally less.

Important with FBA: check stock levels regularly. Books that sit in Amazon's warehouse for more than 365 days are subject to elevated long-term storage fees. Slow-moving titles should be delisted or repriced in good time.

• FBM: book rate postage from under €2, full cost control, no Prime badge
• FBA: Prime badge and higher visibility, but minimum fees from approx. €2.50 per item
• Long-term storage fees: books in FBA storage for over 365 days become expensive — clear them out regularly
• Rule of thumb: FBM for books under €12 selling price, consider FBA from approx. €15 upwards

Common Mistakes — and How to Avoid Them From the Start

Buying without a BSR check is the most expensive mistake in book reselling. Purchasing books without checking demand leads to stock that does not shift for months. Every purchase — whether at a car boot sale or a second-hand bookshop — starts with a BSR check via the smartphone app.

Being too optimistic about condition: 'Very Good' on a book with dog-ears and markings ends in returns and negative feedback. Better to assess one grade lower and avoid any unpleasant surprises for the buyer.

Underestimating costs: many beginners only compare purchase price against selling price. But 15% commission, postage costs, packaging materials, and a buffer for potential returns (approx. 2–3% of sales) — all of this feeds into the margin. A simple spreadsheet with fixed costs per book creates clarity and prevents nasty surprises.

Lack of category specialisation: anyone buying indiscriminately across all categories learns slowly and buys poorly. Anyone who focuses on two or three areas — such as non-fiction, textbooks, or self-help — quickly learns which titles are worthwhile and which are not. Specialisation improves sourcing quality.

Ignoring feedback: every negative review points to a systematic problem — wrong condition assessment, poor packaging, too long a delivery time. Anyone who takes these signals seriously and improves accordingly builds an account over the long term that holds its own against cheaper competition.

Is Selling Books on Amazon Worth It — An Honest Assessment

Selling books on Amazon is not a quick route to riches. But it is one of the most accessible entry-level models on the marketplace: low capital requirement, manageable risk, real demand, and a growing market.

Anyone who works systematically — checks the BSR, assesses condition correctly, calculates costs accurately, and takes feedback seriously — can build a stable secondary income. Full-time sellers who specialise in books do exist: they work with large volumes, automated repricing, and structured sourcing channels.

Anyone hoping to buy job lots indiscriminately and list without analysis will be disappointed. The books segment rewards preparation and discipline — as does every other area on Amazon. The book market is growing, online demand is rising, and Amazon is the central sales point. The question is not whether you can sell books — but whether you do so with the right system.

Frequently Asked Questions