How to Sell Books (General) in Australia
The best platforms for selling books (general) in Australia are eBay. Condition and edition matter; textbooks have seasonal demand spikes.
Best Platforms for Books (General)
eBay
FreeAustralia's largest marketplace with 12M+ monthly users. Strong search traffic for books (general) and built-in buyer protection.
Pricing Books (General)
Most general fiction isn't worth listing individually — bundle by genre or author. Textbooks and non-fiction in niche topics are where the money is. Ship via Australia Post's book rate for cheaper postage.
Market context: eBay's penetration in Australia fell from 62% in 2023 to 51% in 2026.
Source: ValueAddedResource, 2026
Where to Source Books (General) in Australia
Lifeline book fairs are the best bulk source in AU — pricing is usually $1-2 per book. Op shop book sections are hit-or-miss but check weekly. University textbooks sourced at end of semester sell well at start of next semester. Scan ISBNs with the eBay app to check sold prices before buying.
Photography Tips for Books (General)
Photograph the cover, spine, and any damage. For textbooks, show the edition number and copyright page. Note highlighting or annotations in used copies.
Shipping Tips
- Australia Post Parcel Post with tracking is the go-to for most items. Budget $10-15 for standard-sized parcels.
- Poly mailers work for clothing and soft goods — they're lighter and cheaper to post than boxes.
- For rigid items, use a box with at least 2cm of padding on all sides. Newspaper works in a pinch, but bubble wrap is better.
- Print labels at home if you're shipping regularly — it saves time at the post office and gives you tracking automatically.
- Offer combined shipping if you sell multiple items. Buyers appreciate the discount and you save on packaging.
- Always get proof of postage. A tracking number or Australia Post receipt is your only defence in a delivery dispute.
Sell Books (General) on Each Platform
Each platform has different strengths for books (general). Check the individual guides for platform-specific tips.
What Sellers Say
“We are dealing with a demographic of entitled people — but some lowballers just don't know any better. Don't take it personally.”
— Australian Depop seller, 2026
“Write 'the 3 stripe brand' instead of Adidas. Let photos show the brand, not the text.”
— Australian seller tip on Facebook Marketplace workarounds, 2026
“What band are you on? Once you hit Band 3 on MyPost Business the savings really kick in.”
— Australian Depop Sellers Facebook group, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best platform to sell books (general) in Australia?
eBay is generally the strongest platform for books (general) in Australia. Condition and edition matter; textbooks have seasonal demand spikes
How much can I make selling books (general)?
Most general fiction isn't worth listing individually — bundle by genre or author. Textbooks and non-fiction in niche topics are where the money is. Ship via Australia Post's book rate for cheaper postage.
Where can I source books (general) for resale in Australia?
Lifeline book fairs are the best bulk source in AU — pricing is usually $1-2 per book. Op shop book sections are hit-or-miss but check weekly. University textbooks sourced at end of semester sell well at start of next semester. Scan ISBNs with the eBay app to check sold prices before buying.
How should I price used books (general)?
Most general fiction isn't worth listing individually — bundle by genre or author. Textbooks and non-fiction in niche topics are where the money is. Ship via Australia Post's book rate for cheaper postage. Always check recently sold listings on eBay (filter by "Sold" and "AU Only") to get current market pricing rather than relying on active listing prices, which are often inflated.
What shipping method works best for books (general)?
Standard Australia Post Parcel Post with tracking works well for books (general). Most items in this category ship for $10-15 domestically. Use poly mailers for soft goods and boxes with padding for anything rigid. Always get proof of postage — it's your protection in any buyer dispute.
Sell Books (General) Across Multiple Platforms
List your books (general) once and crosslist to eBay automatically. When an item sells on one platform, Shopfront marks it as sold everywhere — no double-selling, no manual updates.
Start Crosslisting FreeAU Reselling Market Data
Etsy agreed to sell Depop to eBay for $1.2 billion in February 2026, with the deal expected to close in Q2 2026.
Source: Digital Commerce 360, February 2026
59% of Gen Z plan to maintain or increase their secondhand spending.
Source: Gen Z shopping stats, 2026