Frequently asked questions
General
At P2P Bookstore, books find new homes directly from one reader to another, promoting reuse and creating a completely sustainable process.
Did you know that each book you buy and sell with us not only provides you with a captivating read but also saves between 2.5 and 5 books worth of water and reduces between 7 and 10 kg of carbon emissions from their production and distribution?
By choosing P2P Bookstore, you are actively participating in a positive change for the planet. Discover stories, save resources, and contribute to a more sustainable world with each transaction. Join us and read consciously at P2P Bookstore!
Next, the following sections examine each aspect of the P2P Bookstore operation to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the proposal.
Did you know that each book you buy and sell with us not only provides you with a captivating read but also saves between 2.5 and 5 books worth of water and reduces between 7 and 10 kg of carbon emissions from their production and distribution?By choosing P2P Bookstore, you are actively participating in a positive change for the planet. Discover stories, save resources, and contribute to a more sustainable world with each transaction. Join us and read consciously at P2P Bookstore!
Next, the following sections examine each aspect of the P2P Bookstore operation to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the proposal.
Yes, we have 2 referral programs:
- Discount vouchers for publishing books: Earn a 10% discount coupon for your next purchase for every 3 referrals who publish a book. You can find more details about your personal referral code in My Coupons.
- Rewards for generating sales: Earn 5% of each sale made by your followers, and simultaneously give them a 5% discount coupon (valid for the first year). For further information on the influencer program, please consult the program page.
Purchase
It is very easy, simply use our search page. You can search by title, author, edition, publisher, or ISBN of the book you are looking for. Additionally, you can use the labels we use to categorize our content (e.g., Fiction).
If you're looking for:
If you're looking for:
- Books on a specific topic, check out our list of topics.
- Books from a particular publisher, browse through our list of publishers.
- Books for a specific institution, take a look at our list of institutions.
To purchase a book from any part of the website, simply use the "BUY" button.
Since there may be multiple copies in stock for each book, when you press the "BUY" button on a book, you will be directed to a page where you must select the copy you wish to purchase. Conversely, if you press the "BUY" button on a specific copy, it will take you directly to complete the purchase details.
When purchasing a book, you'll have the option to either pick it up in person or have it shipped, depending on the options provided by the seller. After selecting the copy, the first step will be to complete your details (name and contact phone number for coordination) and, if necessary, the shipping information.
Once your details are completed, you'll be presented with a summary of the purchase to verify that all information is correct. Finally, you'll find a button to proceed with payment using the corresponding payment method.
Ultimately, the purchase of a book comprises three steps:
Lastly, if you need assistance or have any questions, you can always contact us here. Our team is here to help and provide any support you may need throughout your book-buying journey.
Since there may be multiple copies in stock for each book, when you press the "BUY" button on a book, you will be directed to a page where you must select the copy you wish to purchase. Conversely, if you press the "BUY" button on a specific copy, it will take you directly to complete the purchase details.
When purchasing a book, you'll have the option to either pick it up in person or have it shipped, depending on the options provided by the seller. After selecting the copy, the first step will be to complete your details (name and contact phone number for coordination) and, if necessary, the shipping information.
Once your details are completed, you'll be presented with a summary of the purchase to verify that all information is correct. Finally, you'll find a button to proceed with payment using the corresponding payment method.
Ultimately, the purchase of a book comprises three steps:
- 1
Choose a Copy
- 2
Fill in Your Details
- 3
Confirm and Pay
It is possible that a particular book may not be in stock at the time you visit the site. In that case, you will see a button to notify you once the book is back in stock.
Lastly, if you need assistance or have any questions, you can always contact us here. Our team is here to help and provide any support you may need throughout your book-buying journey.
Yes, of course. The return process varies depending on the delivery method (shipping or in-person pickup), and there are two sections below that explore these points. Briefly, for in-person pickup, you must reject the book upon picking it up (not subsequently), and for shipping, at the moment of receiving it.It's worth clarifying that if the video intentionally or unintentionally omits to correctly show the book's condition (for instance, if some pages are torn and not visible in the video), you can still return it and, of course, receive a full refund.
We don't allow the sale of books in poor condition. However, since the condition of a book may vary, we use photos and videos as evidence of its condition for prospective buyers. Hence, the question: "Can I return a book if it doesn't match the video?".
No, returns are not accepted for this reason. Returns are only permitted if the book you purchased does not match the video provided by the seller, or if its poor condition was concealed, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
It's crucial to review the cover photo and, especially, the book's video, as they are used to validate the condition of the book you're purchasing.
In some cases, multiple editions of a book may correspond to the same ISBN code. If the edition of the book is important to you, make sure the photo or video shows the one you want to acquire, or contact us to clarify before making the purchase.
In some cases, multiple editions of a book may correspond to the same ISBN code. If the edition of the book is important to you, make sure the photo or video shows the one you want to acquire, or contact us to clarify before making the purchase.
Yes, there are primarily 3 types of discounts:
- A welcome discount if you are a student.You need to request the code from your educational institution. We provide welcome discount coupons to all educational institutions without any associated costs or requirements. Most likely we are already in contact, but if not, just ask them to contact us here.
- A discount for every 3 users referred by you who publish a book on the platform.You can obtain the referral link and view the coupons you generated onMy Coupons.
- Discount coupons obtained from influencers.Find more details on theInfluencer Program page.
Yes, if a book is out of stock when you visit the site, you can request to be notified once a new copy becomes available. There are no priorities or privileges for acquiring the new copy by having subscribed to the waiting list earlier. We will notify all individuals on the waiting list simultaneously, and the first person to make the purchase will secure the book.
You can see the number of people waiting to purchase each book, as well as details of the last 5 orders placed.
Please note that there may be stock of a book, but still people on the waiting list, as they may choose not to purchase the existing copy and wait for others in better condition (for example, copies in better condition or available for in-person pickup).
Also, be aware that there may be copies of the book that are not shown to you due to shipping options or location constraints (for example, if you live in New York but there is a copy in San Francisco that can only be picked up in person, it will not be shown to you).
You can see the number of people waiting to purchase each book, as well as details of the last 5 orders placed.
Please note that there may be stock of a book, but still people on the waiting list, as they may choose not to purchase the existing copy and wait for others in better condition (for example, copies in better condition or available for in-person pickup).
Also, be aware that there may be copies of the book that are not shown to you due to shipping options or location constraints (for example, if you live in New York but there is a copy in San Francisco that can only be picked up in person, it will not be shown to you).
Sell
Creating a seller account is quick and easy.
Anyone can sell books on our platform, and all you need to do is register using any of the available methods (for example by filling out the form on the registration page or when selling your first book from the sell page).
Once registered, you can list your books for sale.
Anyone can sell books on our platform, and all you need to do is register using any of the available methods (for example by filling out the form on the registration page or when selling your first book from the sell page).
Once registered, you can list your books for sale.
It's very simple. Go to the sell page, enter the ISBN, upload a photo and a video, adjust your selling preferences, and you're done. A team member will review your listing and activate it in no time.
The following video briefly demonstrates the process:
The following video briefly demonstrates the process:
To sell books on the site, you need to meet the following requirements:
- You must have an account and agree to the terms of service. Simply create an account by filling out the form on the registration page or when selling your first book from the sell page.
- It is mandatory to upload a photo and a video of the book. The terms of service page provides detailed specifications for the video and photo, emphasizing the accurate representation of the book's condition.
- The sale of books in poor condition is not permitted. The terms of service page outlines what is considered as poor condition.
Record a short video of your book (less than 30 seconds), clearly showing the front cover, back cover, and pages to appreciate its condition. Here we show you an example of how you should record the video of a book.
We also recommend showing the spine, barcode, and any details the book may have.
Remember that the purpose of the video is to showcase the book's condition and potentially resolve disputes with the buyer. Buyers may return a book if its condition does not match the video you provided, so if it's properly recorded, there will be very few chances of a sale being canceled, and if it does happen, it clearly won't be your fault.
Also, remember that your book may compete with other copies from other sellers. If another seller showcases their book better, they will likely get the sale instead of you.
Here are some additional suggestions:
We also recommend showing the spine, barcode, and any details the book may have.
Remember that the purpose of the video is to showcase the book's condition and potentially resolve disputes with the buyer. Buyers may return a book if its condition does not match the video you provided, so if it's properly recorded, there will be very few chances of a sale being canceled, and if it does happen, it clearly won't be your fault.
Also, remember that your book may compete with other copies from other sellers. If another seller showcases their book better, they will likely get the sale instead of you.
Here are some additional suggestions:
- Make sure to hold your phone correctly so the video doesn't end up upside down.
- Don't rotate the phone after you start recording.
- Ensure there's good lighting when you record the video.
- A vertical (also called portrait) video is usually better.
- Don't record the video too close; it's okay if the book and some of the surroundings are visible.
- Avoid creating a video with photos; spontaneously recorded and unedited videos work better.
- We will automatically remove the video's sound, so you don't need to worry about that.
- You can re-record the video if it doesn't turn out well by accident.
The process is quite swift; your listing is reviewed promptly by a team member, and once approved, it is immediately published.
You will receive an email notification once your listing is approved.
You will receive an email notification once your listing is approved.
No, there are no fees for selling on the platform. The price quoted is exactly the amount you will be paid, with no additional commissions or discounts.
Unfortunately, it's not possible. Our strategy is to establish a price that is attractive for both buyers and sellers, and we adjust it based on market trends. For example, textbooks tend to increase in price over time, while novels typically depreciate after a while.
This mainly pursues two objectives:
Finally, we believe in keeping books in constant circulation. The idea is that, by selling one, you can practically acquire another, making the buy-read-sell cycle of your favorite books "almost free".
This mainly pursues two objectives:
- We want buyers to perceive a significant benefit when purchasing your used book. Nowadays, it's relatively easy to find interesting discounts on new books through credit cards or special offers. If our offer isn't appealing to the buyers, they're unlikely to buy your used book.
- We aim for sellers to be able to sell their books quickly and at a fair price. Usually, the quote we offer will be better than what you'd get from a regular bookstore or someone who sells things for you (for example on consignment), because our system is really good at selling books efficiently. And those other places have to offer good prices too, so people will choose to buy used books instead of new ones. Even you might have a hard time trying to sell your book if the price is not the right one.
Finally, we believe in keeping books in constant circulation. The idea is that, by selling one, you can practically acquire another, making the buy-read-sell cycle of your favorite books "almost free".
The way you'll receive payment for the sale of your book will depend on whether it's picked up in person or requires shipping.
If the book is picked up in person, the buyer will pay you directly upon collection.
For shipping, once the buyer has received and accepted the book, you must indicate your preferred payment method from My Sales. Once you confirm the payment method, our team will proceed with the transfer and we'll send you a confirmation via email.
If the book is picked up in person, the buyer will pay you directly upon collection.
For shipping, once the buyer has received and accepted the book, you must indicate your preferred payment method from My Sales. Once you confirm the payment method, our team will proceed with the transfer and we'll send you a confirmation via email.
Yes, in the sales form, there's a barcode-shaped icon (). If you tap it, your camera will activate to scan the barcode and load it into the field automatically. Just ensure that the barcode fits within the frame displayed on the image.
Please note that the ability to scan barcodes depends on the quality of your phone or computer's camera, particularly its ability to focus well at short distances.
If the scan isn't successful, you can always correct the scanned code manually or input it manually, as the scanner is an optional tool.
Please note that the ability to scan barcodes depends on the quality of your phone or computer's camera, particularly its ability to focus well at short distances.
If the scan isn't successful, you can always correct the scanned code manually or input it manually, as the scanner is an optional tool.
What happens when you sell a book depends on whether the book will be picked up in person or shipped. Remember, you can configure whether you'll enable one or both options.
The sections below explain the processes in detail. In short, you will receive an email notifying you about the sale and to confirm the address for pickup (in case of in-person pickup) or the possibility of shipping the book (if the buyer requested it to be shipped).
The system will guide you at all times through emails, indicating what to do and what to pay attention to.
The sections below explain the processes in detail. In short, you will receive an email notifying you about the sale and to confirm the address for pickup (in case of in-person pickup) or the possibility of shipping the book (if the buyer requested it to be shipped).
The system will guide you at all times through emails, indicating what to do and what to pay attention to.
Shipments
When a purchase is made, you must send the package to the buyer, either by covering the shipping costs or delivering it in person.We will refund you the configured shipping cost, even if you deliver it in person.
IMPORTANT: If you wish to be refunded a different amount than the default, you need to adjust it before the book is purchased. You can check the details below.
You have two options:
- Ship the book through a postal service directly to the buyer's address.
- Hand-deliver it if you're nearby.
Regardless of your choice, we'll reimburse you the configured shipping cost. Hand-delivery is completely optional. You must not send the package with charges to the recipient.
Once you ship the book, please enter the shipment details onMy Sales.
We use predetermined shipping costs based on the shipping destination, whether it's within the same city, the same region, or nationwide.These shipping costs can be adjusted for each book from My Sales.
Here are the steps on how to change the shipping costs for your book:
- Go to My Sales.
- Click the "change" link on the book you want to change.
- Adjust the shipping cost for the zone (local, regional, or national) you want to change.
- Click the "Modify" button to confirm the change.
Yes, you can opt-out of shipping for your book sale. When you list your book for sale, you can choose to offer in-person pickup only. You can change this setting at any time before the book is sold. However, you cannot opt-out of shipping after the book has been purchased. You also cannot opt-out of both shipping and in-person pickup, as the buyer would not have any way to receive the book.
Here are the steps on how to opt-out of shipping for your book sale:
- Go to My Sales.
- Click the "change" link on the book you want to change.
- In the "Want to offer shipping?" section, select "I don't want to offer shipping".
- Click the "Modify" button to confirm the change.
Absolutely! Sellers have the opportunity to earn the shipping cost by personally delivering the book directly to the buyer, rather than using a postal service.
We will reimburse you for the shipping expense, treating you as if you were a postal service.
This approach not only allows you to earn more, but it also offers advantages such as quicker delivery and immediate resolution of any potential disagreements, as no intermediary is involved.
We will reimburse you for the shipping expense, treating you as if you were a postal service.
This approach not only allows you to earn more, but it also offers advantages such as quicker delivery and immediate resolution of any potential disagreements, as no intermediary is involved.
Certainly, but bear in mind that you're in competition with other sellers offering the same book. If you charge more, buyers might overlook your book even if it's in better condition.
Loading...
No problem, just remember to adjust the shipping cost for each area of the country accordingly as we will reimburse you exactly for that amount.
Here are the steps on how to adjust the shipping costs:
- Go to My Sales.
- Click the "change" link on the book you want to change.
- In each section, adjust the shipping cost according to the corresponding rate.
- Click the "Modify" button to confirm the change.
No need to worry! If the book you receive doesn't match the one you saw in the video, you can reject it and get a full refund. In such cases, we'll ask you to ship the book back. It's important to note that all shipping fees for returns due to a discrepancy in the book's condition will be covered by the seller.
In-Person Pickup
When you list a book for sale, you'll specify the neighborhood where the buyer must collect the book. After a purchase is made, you need to provide an address within that neighborhood and coordinate with the buyer to schedule a time for them to pick up the book in person. Both parties need to be present during the pickup, as this is when you'll receive payment for the book. Additionally, you'll need to ensure the buyer accepts the book in our application at that exact moment.
No need to worry! If the book you receive doesn't match what was shown in the video, you can decline it at the moment of pickup and receive a full refund.
In such cases, it's mandatory to record a video of the book's condition at the moment of pickup. This evidence will support your claim. It's also important that the seller confirms they didn't hand over the book to you, which could become challenging if not done immediately. Therefore, doing it at the time of picking up the book is key.
In such cases, it's mandatory to record a video of the book's condition at the moment of pickup. This evidence will support your claim. It's also important that the seller confirms they didn't hand over the book to you, which could become challenging if not done immediately. Therefore, doing it at the time of picking up the book is key.
It's crucial to encourage the buyer to accept the book on our platform since we have no other means to verify that you've delivered the book. Therefore, if the buyer decides to contest this aspect, you may lack evidence to justify that you have indeed delivered it.
In practice, a member of our team will analyze the case and try to determine how to proceed. If you've already received payment for the book, it might not be a significant issue beyond its impact on your seller history. However, if you haven't (for example, because the money is going to a cause), it could be more challenging to handle.
Regardless, we guarantee that it's extremely simple and quick for a buyer to accept a book on the platform.
In practice, a member of our team will analyze the case and try to determine how to proceed. If you've already received payment for the book, it might not be a significant issue beyond its impact on your seller history. However, if you haven't (for example, because the money is going to a cause), it could be more challenging to handle.
Regardless, we guarantee that it's extremely simple and quick for a buyer to accept a book on the platform.
Suggestion: If you want to make sure you have all the necessary elements to justify that you have delivered the book, you can also print the following form and ask the buyer to sign it when they come. This way, you'll be able to use it later if needed as evidence.
Manual Book Acceptance Form
Tip: You can have it printed without completing it and fill it out at the moment if you see that the buyer cannot accept the book in the application at the time of pickup.
Manual Book Acceptance Form
Tip: You can have it printed without completing it and fill it out at the moment if you see that the buyer cannot accept the book in the application at the time of pickup.
Here are the steps the buyer should follow to accept the book:
- Go to My Sales.
- Click on the "ACCEPT BOOK" button next to the book they wish to accept.
- Rate the transaction (1 to 5 stars) and optionally add a comment.
- Click on the "Accept Book" button to confirm the action.
Causes
The causes are a simple and effective way to raise funds for a specific purpose, such as funding a primary school class's end-of-year trip, a high school graduation party, or supporting a specific institution or organization.
Causes raise funds through the sale of used books. Anyone sympathetic to the cause can donate books, and the money generated from the sale, which would typically go to the seller, is redirected to the cause.
The buying and selling of books can occur among individuals associated with the cause, such as grandparents of children raising money for their trip, or any other user of the platform.
The buying and selling of books can occur among individuals associated with the cause, such as grandparents of children raising money for their trip, or any other user of the platform.
The process is quite simple. Once the buyer has received and accepted the book, the user who created the cause (the cause administrator) should specify their preferred payment method from My Cause's Sales. Once the payment method is confirmed, our team will proceed with the transfer and send a confirmation via email.
The user who created the cause can request the money immediately after selling one or several books, or at the end of the fundraising campaign (for example, at the end of the year).
The user who created the cause can request the money immediately after selling one or several books, or at the end of the fundraising campaign (for example, at the end of the year).
Anyone can create a cause to raise funds for a purpose, anything from an end-of-year trip or party, support for the local clinic, aiding those affected by a flood, or any other cause meaningful for you.
The only requirement is to have an account on the platform and the desire to contribute.
The only requirement is to have an account on the platform and the desire to contribute.
Each cause will be assigned a URL on our website where anyone can exclusively view the books for that cause. This URL can be shared with anyone who wishes to contribute to the cause.
Each cause will have an assigned URL on our website where anyone can donate books to the cause. It's important to note that this is the only place where books can be donated to the cause. If someone lists a book for sale in the traditional way, the proceeds from the sale will go to the seller and not to the cause.
Anyone, including the person who created the cause, can add books to support the cause. By adding books to the cause, the seller is donating the money generated by the sale to the cause. In practical terms, this means that the account that created the cause will receive the funds.
To create a cause, simply go to the New Cause page and enter a name and description for your cause. If you don't yet have an account with us, it will be created at the same time. Next, you can add books to the cause. Finally, reach out to your community to promote your cause, encouraging others to either add more books or to buy them.
Certainly! You can absolutely test it out. You can create the cause (or even a completely test version), share it with your friends or colleagues, add books, purchase them, and collect the proceeds. Once you're done testing, you can continue using it for actual fundraising, pause it, or even delete it if you wish.