I love PangoBooks! I mainly use it to sell books, and it’s really helped to sustain my habit of compulsively buying books! (My page is: https://pangobooks.com/bookstore/megan451529). I haven’t quite developed a good strategy for buying books on PangoBooks, but you offer some great tips! The one issue I have is that shipping tends to be a lot so sometimes the cost of a single used book is comparable to one that is new in my local bookstore or on Amazon. Any tips for keeping shipping costs low?
They use Media Mail through USPS so the shipping prices are set and can't be changed! I agree, though, it is a bummer when you want to purchase a $4 or $5 book and then have to pay another $5 for shipping. That's why I save some of the money I make when I sell my books and use it towards new books!
When you create a listing and scan your book they have a helpful tool that shows you what other similar listings are priced at. So I usually follow that!
And PS I really enjoyed Women and Children First. It’s not an “enjoyable” book (due to content), but the way it’s written with interwoven stories is really interesting.
I love PangoBooks! I've sold more than I've bought so far (trying to make space!) but the app makes it so easy to do both, and I've been so happy with all the books I've purchased. And I love saving up my earned money so that when I want a book, I can get it with what feels like free money.
I love Pango and use it much like you do—especially for buying books I’ve already read (or, more often, listened to) and adored! I like the math of using my Pango $$ to buy books and calling them "free books" 😂.
I have a heap of books I need to list and sell since I’ve become more selective about my home library—and more honest with myself about how much I can realistically read (a truth I never want to accept, but here we are). It’s time to offload the ones I know I won’t get to so someone else can enjoy them.
I had no idea you could do some of these things—I’m definitely trying a few of your tips. And yes to living in far-off lands where mail takes forever, the best cure for breaking up with Shmamazon a few years ago.
It's such a freeing feeling to let go of the books we won't ever read!
I'm sometimes still annoyed that the mail takes forever here, but I love that it has made me shop in person more often. Instead of waiting two weeks for something, we usually grab it at the local hardware store. I also try to shop for clothes in person more now which saves so much money/time/resources since I don't have to do returns.
I haven't tried Pango yet, but you are so persuasive that I probably will soon! I also bought a copy of SEARCH for my forever shelf after reading it from the library ~ what a special book. Thanks for sharing about all of the insider tricks for the site ~ definitely helpful for new users!
Me too! I usually get too overwhelmed trying to sell any of my books, so default to just leaving them at work for people or donating them to my library. I will definitely be checking out for buying used books though!
I’ve been wanting to sell on Pango but wasn’t sure how to make it work with boxes/shipping materials. Do you just reuse ones you have lying around or do you buy shipping boxes (which seems like it would eat a lot into what you’d make from selling?).
That's a great question! I save boxes and packing material and reuse that to ship orders. It seems like a lot of other folks do that, too, from the packages I've received.
I also bought a package of bubble mailers for single book orders. I think they were ~$20 for 40 mailers, so that lasts a while and is pretty economical for 40 orders.
I love that! When we lived in NYC, I always traded with the bookstore near my office. It was the best getting those bookstore dollars to use towards new books ◡̈
I love PangoBooks! I mainly use it to sell books, and it’s really helped to sustain my habit of compulsively buying books! (My page is: https://pangobooks.com/bookstore/megan451529). I haven’t quite developed a good strategy for buying books on PangoBooks, but you offer some great tips! The one issue I have is that shipping tends to be a lot so sometimes the cost of a single used book is comparable to one that is new in my local bookstore or on Amazon. Any tips for keeping shipping costs low?
They use Media Mail through USPS so the shipping prices are set and can't be changed! I agree, though, it is a bummer when you want to purchase a $4 or $5 book and then have to pay another $5 for shipping. That's why I save some of the money I make when I sell my books and use it towards new books!
Thanks for the inspiration & information, I think I’ll set-up a page on Pango to sell some books, I’ve got boxes of them that need to leave my house!
Good luck! I bet you have some gems to sell ◡̈
I have some great titles, for sure. How do you determine the price?
When you create a listing and scan your book they have a helpful tool that shows you what other similar listings are priced at. So I usually follow that!
And PS I really enjoyed Women and Children First. It’s not an “enjoyable” book (due to content), but the way it’s written with interwoven stories is really interesting.
Proud owner of some hand-me-downs from your Pango shelf! I haven't sold much of my own collection but I love the service for buying used books.
I'm so happy to know that some of my books are off on their next chapter on your shelves. That makes me happy!
That's a great book haul, and I love your pics! Would love to know your thoughts on Bliss Montage when you read it.
I think I impressed even myself with this haul, haha
I love PangoBooks! I've sold more than I've bought so far (trying to make space!) but the app makes it so easy to do both, and I've been so happy with all the books I've purchased. And I love saving up my earned money so that when I want a book, I can get it with what feels like free money.
Yes! It's such a good feeling when you just recycle your dollars. I'm glad you've been able to sell more than you've bought ◡̈
I love Pango and use it much like you do—especially for buying books I’ve already read (or, more often, listened to) and adored! I like the math of using my Pango $$ to buy books and calling them "free books" 😂.
I have a heap of books I need to list and sell since I’ve become more selective about my home library—and more honest with myself about how much I can realistically read (a truth I never want to accept, but here we are). It’s time to offload the ones I know I won’t get to so someone else can enjoy them.
I had no idea you could do some of these things—I’m definitely trying a few of your tips. And yes to living in far-off lands where mail takes forever, the best cure for breaking up with Shmamazon a few years ago.
It's such a freeing feeling to let go of the books we won't ever read!
I'm sometimes still annoyed that the mail takes forever here, but I love that it has made me shop in person more often. Instead of waiting two weeks for something, we usually grab it at the local hardware store. I also try to shop for clothes in person more now which saves so much money/time/resources since I don't have to do returns.
I haven't tried Pango yet, but you are so persuasive that I probably will soon! I also bought a copy of SEARCH for my forever shelf after reading it from the library ~ what a special book. Thanks for sharing about all of the insider tricks for the site ~ definitely helpful for new users!
I am literally SHOCKED you haven't tried Pango yet!
Me too! I usually get too overwhelmed trying to sell any of my books, so default to just leaving them at work for people or donating them to my library. I will definitely be checking out for buying used books though!
I love using Pangobooks!
It's the best! <3
I am always so jealous of everyone’s Pango hauls—this one is incredible!! I wish we had it or something similar in Canada!
Sending good thoughts into the universe that one day they expand their shipping to Canada!!
I’ve been wanting to sell on Pango but wasn’t sure how to make it work with boxes/shipping materials. Do you just reuse ones you have lying around or do you buy shipping boxes (which seems like it would eat a lot into what you’d make from selling?).
That's a great question! I save boxes and packing material and reuse that to ship orders. It seems like a lot of other folks do that, too, from the packages I've received.
I also bought a package of bubble mailers for single book orders. I think they were ~$20 for 40 mailers, so that lasts a while and is pretty economical for 40 orders.
Wait I really need to use this??
Yes! You do ◡̈
Thanks for this tip! We have an amazing used bookstore in town where I live to trade, but it is good to have options for all things!!
I love that! When we lived in NYC, I always traded with the bookstore near my office. It was the best getting those bookstore dollars to use towards new books ◡̈
Love this! I started selling/buying on Pango this year because of you and have enjoyed it so much so far :)
It's such a gem of a bookish site. We are lucky!
Oooh, this is the first I've heard of PangoBooks! Sounds amazing.
Happy shopping ◡̈
You really need to read The Wedding People! Enjoy!