selling out in DC

May 25, 2006 10:19 AM

Anyone know of used bookstores in the Washington, DC area that give cash for books? Second Story and Idle Times do not. Thanks.
posted by mookieproof to Shopping (10 answers total)

When I finally left that swampy hellhole I sold all my stuff at Second Story's outlet in Rockville. They were very picky about what they would take (most of my books didn't pass muster and ended up at Goodwill) and I didn't get much cash for the ones they did take. But it was better than nothing.
posted by CunningLinguist at 10:40 AM on May 25, 2006

When I moved in 2001 I sold a bunch of books to a place off Dupont Circle, but I can't seem to remember the name. They were picky, but gave a good price.
posted by InfidelZombie at 10:52 AM on May 25, 2006

Response by poster: Yeah, that one off Dupont was probably Second Story. They only give credit for books these days (but cash for cds)...thanks though.
posted by mookieproof at 10:57 AM on May 25, 2006

Best answer: Capitol Hill Books gives cash; check their purchase policy. Riverby Books, also on Capitol Hill, buys books, but you'll need to call them ([phone]) to see what their policy is.
posted by MrMoonPie at 11:40 AM on May 25, 2006

Bookholders (College Park) will sell them for you and take a cut.
posted by callmejay at 12:17 PM on May 25, 2006

(Their website makes it look like it's for textbooks, but when I moved a year ago, I just gave 'em all my books, including novels and the like, and they sold them and I got a bunch of checks in the mail. You can specify the lowest price you're willing to sell each book for.)
posted by callmejay at 12:18 PM on May 25, 2006

Are you willing to/able to drive? Wonder Book and Video in Frederick, MD.
posted by ersatzkat at 1:21 PM on May 25, 2006

I think Hole in the Wall in Falls Church (on rt 7) might.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 1:35 PM on May 25, 2006

Another vote for Wonder Books. But you probably don't need to drive that far, there used to be (and probably still is) a lot of used book stores in Silver Spring. I know there was a place right on Georgia Ave which I got cash for from; but that place was further out on Georgia, in Wheaton. This list of used bookstores in DC, MD and VA might help, as well as a brochure of Antiquarian Bookstores a lot of them have available at the counter.
posted by Rash at 9:22 AM on May 26, 2006

Response by poster: Thank you Mr. Moon Pie. Capitol Hill Books does give cash--but the policy on their website is different from that on the door, so I showed up at the wrong time with too many boxes and offended the extremely prickly owner. Riverby Books was a total winner, though.
posted by mookieproof at 8:24 PM on May 28, 2006