Finding Used Books

We offer a selection of used and out of print books for sale in our used book room. You can search those titles on the Biblio or Alibris web sites. If you're interested in selling some of your own books, we invite you to bring us those, too!

Selling Your Books

A book is like a living thing — its life cycle is ideally long and fruitful, bringing joy to many eyes and minds. We invite you to bring us those volumes which have fulfilled their role in your life, and which now yearn to be shared with another. Your reward? Your choice - cash or 50% more in store credit, to fill that momentarily liberated shelf space with a brand new (to you) treasure chest of words and ideas. Plus, the satisfaction of passing books along to come alive once again in the imagination of someone else.

How It Works

1. Bring in your books to the Elliott Bay Used Buy Counter, accessed via our Used Department entrance on Main Street. Our booksellers will gladly assist you in transporting your materials into the store. We're interested in books of all varieties, from paperback mysteries to 18th century cookbooks to signed first editions.

2. Your materials will be assessed item by item by one of our trained book buyers. We will make you a cash offer, or will offer you 50% more in store credit.

3. Any materials we cannot use we will gladly donate to charity on your behalf. The Elliott Bay Book Company donation program donates thousands of books to local area libraries, literacy programs and non-profits each month.

4. Photo I.D. is required to sell used books to us.

Where to Park & Unload Your Books

When selling your used books to Elliott Bay, we recommend that you use our side entrance on Main for easiest access. Look for the two 15-minute parking meters located just outside this entrance. These are available for you to unload your books. If you need assistance transporting materials from the car, one of our used book employees will be happy to help.

Other Selling Tips

1. We cannot give quotes or make used purchases over the phone without seeing the books you wish to sell.

2. We generally do not purchase Textbooks, Serial Romance Novels, outdated Computer and Travel Guide Books, Magazines or Encyclopedia Sets. Hardcover books missing their dustjackets, and all books with excessive underlining, highlighting, moisture damage or broken binding are also usually passed on. Due to limited shelf space, we also may not purchase additional copies of titles already in current stock.

3. Please allow time for our buyers to inspect your books to give you the best possible offer and remember that books are bought in the order that they arrive and there may be many other customers ahead of you. We are not able to store your uninspected materials overnight.

Elliott Bay Used Books Buying Hours:

10 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday
11 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Sunday
Our Used Buying is closed on major holidays

We will gladly make special arrangements to view and evaluate large collections. For more information, please call (206) 624-6600 and ask for our Used Department Manager, or email him directly.