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Accepting Trade-Ins

BookWish makes it easy to accept trade-ins from customers, whether you're paying cash or offering store credit. The trade-in system helps you quickly evaluate books, get pricing guidance, and add traded-in books directly to your inventory.

Starting a Trade-In Session​

  1. Go to the Shop tab in the BookWish app
  2. Select Trade-Ins from the menu
  3. Tap Start New Trade-In

This creates a new trade-in session where you can add books one at a time.

Adding Books to a Trade-In​

You can add books to the trade-in in two ways:

Scanning Barcodes​

  1. Tap the scanner icon to open the barcode scanner
  2. Point your device camera at the book's barcode (usually on the back cover)
  3. The app will automatically scan and retrieve the book information
  4. Once scanned, you'll see the book details and available pricing

Manual ISBN Entry​

  1. Type the book's ISBN into the text field
  2. Tap the search icon or press Enter
  3. The app will look up the book and display available pricing

Evaluating Book Condition​

After adding a book, you'll need to select its condition. The app will display available condition grades with corresponding prices:

  • Like New - Appears unread, no visible wear
  • Good - Minor wear, all pages intact, no major damage
  • Acceptable - Noticeable wear, may have highlighting or writing, but fully readable

Selecting Condition​

  1. Review the book's physical condition
  2. Tap the condition chip that best matches the book
  3. The price for that condition is shown on the chip

Note: Only conditions with available pricing will be displayed. If BooksRun or your pricing rules don't offer a price for a condition, that option won't appear.

Adding Multiple Books​

  1. After selecting a condition, tap Add to Trade-In
  2. The book is added to the session list
  3. The ISBN field clears automatically
  4. Continue scanning or entering ISBNs to add more books

You can see all added books in the list below the scanner. Each entry shows:

  • Book title
  • Selected condition
  • Accepted price

Removing Books​

If you need to remove a book from the trade-in:

  1. Find the book in the list
  2. Tap the trash icon next to it
  3. The book is removed and the total updates automatically

Completing the Trade-In​

Once you've added all books to the session:

  1. Review the Total Payout shown at the bottom
  2. Choose your payment method:
    • Pay Cash - Pay the customer immediately in cash
    • Store Credit - Add the amount to the customer's store credit balance

Cash Payouts​

When you select Pay Cash:

  • Have the cash ready from your register
  • Confirm the payout with the customer
  • The transaction completes immediately
  • Books are added to your inventory

Important: Make sure you have enough cash in your drawer to complete the transaction.

Store Credit Payouts​

When you select Store Credit:

  • The customer must have a BookWish account
  • The credit is added to their account automatically
  • They can use it for future purchases at your store
  • No cash handling required

Tip: Many stores offer a bonus (like 10-20% extra) for choosing store credit over cash to encourage customers to shop with you again.

What Happens After Completion​

When you complete a trade-in:

  1. Books Added to Inventory - All traded-in books are automatically added to your store's inventory with the condition you selected
  2. Payment Recorded - The transaction is logged in your system
  3. Customer Notified - If using store credit, the customer can see their new balance immediately
  4. Labels Generated - The system can generate labels for the books (useful for organizing your shelves)

Canceling a Trade-In​

If you need to cancel a trade-in session:

  1. Tap Cancel in the top-right corner
  2. Confirm the cancellation
  3. All books in the session are cleared
  4. No changes are made to inventory or payments

This is useful if a customer changes their mind or if you need to start over.

Best Practices​

Check Condition Carefully​

Take time to accurately assess book condition. This ensures:

  • Fair pricing for customers
  • Accurate inventory listings
  • Fewer customer complaints when books are sold

Communicate Pricing​

Before completing the transaction:

  • Show the customer the total payout
  • Explain any books you're declining (if prices are $0)
  • Mention store credit bonuses if applicable

Keep Sessions Short​

  • Complete or cancel trade-in sessions promptly
  • Don't leave sessions open while helping other customers
  • Process one trade-in at a time

Handle Cash Safely​

  • Count cash carefully
  • Have the customer verify the amount
  • Record large cash transactions according to your store policies

Troubleshooting​

Book Not Found​

If the scanner can't find a book:

  • Try entering the ISBN manually
  • Check if the ISBN is correct (look for the 10 or 13-digit number)
  • Some older or rare books may not be in the database

No Prices Available​

If all condition prices show $0 or no conditions appear:

  • The book may not have resale value in the current market
  • BooksRun might not be buying that title currently
  • You can decline the book or make a custom offer

Scanner Not Working​

If the barcode scanner isn't functioning:

  • Check your device's camera permissions
  • Make sure there's adequate lighting
  • Clean the barcode and camera lens
  • Use manual ISBN entry as a backup