The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is used for more than just identifying textbooks.
It also plays a huge role when selling textbooks online using the ISBN lookup process. 

Don’t know what ISBN lookup means? 

There are numerous websites where you can search for books via ISBN and get price quotes without buying. This process is called ISBN lookup. It’s also called ISBN book search or ISBN search. 

search-by-isbn

The ISBN makes it super-easy to sell your textbooks on BookDeal. We’ll dive deeper into the following discussions: 

  • what you need to know about the ISBNs, and 
  • how you can search for books via ISBN on BookDeal. 

With that said, let’s begin. 

ISBN Lookup: What Is An ISBN? 

An ISBN is a unique 13-digit number that identifies books, including book-like products internationally published. 

Each book’s edition is given its unique ISBN, used by bookshops, libraries, and publishing houses to keep track of copies in stock and purchases. 

But you can also use the ISBNs to search for specific editions or sell your textbooks online. 

ISBNs are non-transferable and fixed. That means you’ll need two different numbers if you plan to release a print and digital edition (ebook) of the same book. 

That also means you’ll need new ISBNs if you publish that same book in different languages. 

 What About The 10-Digit ISBNs? 

The ISBN numbering system went from 10 to 13 digits as of January 1, 2007, beginning with 978. So every ISBN now is 13-digits long. You can convert 10-digit ISBNs to 13-digit ISBNs at ISBN.org. 

But remember that you can’t change a 10-digit ISBN to a 13-digit by merely placing three-digit numbers in front. That’s because an algorithm frequently changes the ISBN’s last digit. 

You can find the ISBN on the back of any book. If it’s not there, check the barcode section for a 13-digit number beginning with 978. Moreover, you can find a copyright page at the beginning of the book that also lists the ISBN.

Are Barcodes And ISBNs The Same Thing?

Not exactly. You can find the barcode on the back of a book, just like the ISBN. However, unlike the ISBN, it only contains information relevant to the book’s sale, such as the textbook’s price and the currency it’s sold in. 

Unlike barcodes, which might be interpreted differently at different stores, ISBNs are uniform and feature numbers solely.

Aside from the barcode, other numbers such as an EAN or IAN may be present (International or European Article Number). These also include information on the book’s pricing that may vary by store.

Related: How To Sell Books By ISBN For Profit

How To Search For Books Via ISBN On BookDeal

One of the easiest ways to search for textbooks on BookDeal is the ISBN lookup. The process is simple, and you can get all the necessary details, including current offers for those books! 

Let’s go through a step-by-step process of the ISBN book search on BookDeal: 

  1. First, enter the 10- or 13-digit ISBN into the search bar. Let’s use the American Electricians’ Handbook, Sixteenth Edition, with ISBN 9780071798808, as an example. 
  1. After clicking enter, you’ll get several crucial details about the textbook. For example, you’ll see various offers of the book, ranging from “New,” “Very Good,” “Good,” to “Acceptable.” And each comes with its price. Check the example below: 
  1. When you scroll down, you’ll see multiple offers from various buyers. Also, you’ll see the price quote, book condition, buyer information, and maximum quantity. So, if you want to sell your textbook, you can choose the buyer that offers the better deal. 
  1. When you scroll down further, you’ll see the product details such as the ISBN, publisher, edition, book pages, etc. 

You’ll still get the book details if there are no book offers. 

ISBN Lookup: How To Sell Your Textbooks On BookDeal

Selling your textbooks on BookDeal is simple, and the ISBN book search makes the process even faster. You’ll use a similar process in the previous section to sell textbooks. 

Here’s how the process works: 

  1. Use the ISBN book search to enter your textbook’s 13-digit number. You’ll get various offers; choose your preferred quote, then click “Add to Seller Cart” If you want to sell more books, there’s an option to enter ISBN in bulk. You can enter up to 100 ISBNs. 
  2. Next, click on the cart in your screen’s top right corner. It’ll take you to a deal summary page. Choose how you’ll get paid and add your shipping address information. 
  1. Finally, after confirming the deal, it’ll take you to the shipping label page. BookDeal offers free shipping, so you only need to print your shipping label. However, be careful to choose the correct shipping label for the right books, especially if you’re selling different books. 

Check our BookDeal tutorial video to get more detailed information. 

Related: How To Ship A Textbook

ISBN Lookup: Tips For ISBN Book Search On BookDeal 

  1. You can use the 10- or 13-digit ISBN on BookDeal’s search box. 
  2. Avoid using dashes or spaces. Instead, enter the numbers without any spaces. 
  3. Since ISBN refers to a particular textbook edition, you should be able to get a specific book edition or format. Therefore, it’s especially useful for updated textbooks. 
  4. Hardcover and paperback editions have their unique ISBNs 
  5. The ISBN is helpful if you need a specific book edition, such as a large print version or a U.K. print.
  6. If you’re interested in reading a book but aren’t specific about the edition you read, don’t limit yourself to one ISBN. You can use the book’s title or author’s name to narrow your search on BookDeal.
  7. Keep in mind that unless the book has been reissued, it won’t have an ISBN if it was first published before 1970.

Final Thoughts 

One of the easiest ways to sell textbooks on BookDeal is the ISBN lookup. The ISBN book search makes it easy to find all the details you need about a book and sell them without hassle. 

BookDeal’s selling process is easy and only takes a few minutes of your time.

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