Buying second-hand books comes down to a few simple rules: look for listings on platforms with seller history, check real photos and the stated condition, set the price by edition and condition, then close the deal in person with payment on collection. Never pay a stranger in advance.
The second-hand book market has moved almost entirely online. Book fairs in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca or Timișoara still exist, but most deals now happen through listings between private individuals. The difference between a good buy and a bad one isn't luck, it's how carefully you read the listing and what you ask before meeting the seller. Many readers search on their phone during a lunch break and need a short checklist they can use on the spot. This guide covers exactly that: where to find second-hand books, how to check a listing, what to do at the meeting and how much to pay, depending on edition and condition.
- Search on platforms where you can see the seller's history, not just a photo of the book.
- Check the real photos, the edition, the year and the signs of wear before messaging the seller.
- Don't pay in advance. Payment happens on collection, when you see the book.
- The right price depends on edition, condition and demand, not on what the first seller is asking.
Where to buy second-hand books
Most second-hand books are sold through classified listings between private individuals, through social media groups and through online second-hand bookshops. Each channel has a different seller profile and a different level of risk.
Classified listings are the main channel for individual volumes. On EX & GO, for example, you can filter by city and category, and the seller has a visible history. If you buy or sell often, it's worth reading the posting rules first, so you know what happens if a listing doesn't match: the platform rules explain it step by step.
Social media groups work well for cheap books, but they have no filters and no seller history. The risk of getting scammed goes up here, because anyone can post a photo and disappear once they've taken the money.
Online second-hand bookshops are a safe option for old editions or rare books. The price is higher, but you get an invoice and a place to complain. For school textbooks, cookbooks or contemporary fiction, a second-hand bookshop rarely justifies the price difference.
Big cities concentrate the supply. In Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Iași and Constanța you'll find the most listings and the most opportunities for face-to-face meetings. In smaller cities, supply is thin, but there's less competition from buyers, so prices can be better.
How to read a listing and spot a scam
A serious listing has photos taken by the seller, a concrete description and a price that matches the book's condition. A suspicious listing has the exact opposite.
The first red flag is stock photos taken from the internet. You can recognise them by the uniform background, the perfect lighting and the lack of any context details. Ask the seller for a photo of the spine and the title page, taken right now. A real seller sends it within minutes.
The second red flag is a request for advance payment. If the seller insists on a bank transfer or a payment link before you see the book, end the conversation. Payment on collection is the basic rule when you buy from someone you don't know.
The third red flag is courier tricks. Sometimes the seller suggests their "own" courier or a delivery service you didn't choose, with a link that asks for card details. Delivery should be arranged through a courier you choose, with cash on delivery, not through links sent by the seller.
At the meeting, open the book in the middle and check the binding between the sections. That's where cracks and loose pages show up, even if the outside looks fine.
We check listings in the catalogue every day, and the most common complaints we get from buyers are about exactly these three situations: photos that don't belong to the seller, requests for advance payment and payment links sent in the conversation.
A good listing includes the edition, the publisher, the year of publication and the condition. If that information is missing, ask for it before the meeting. The difference between a 1998 edition and a 2020 one can mean double the price, even for the same title.
What to check at the meeting: a concrete list
The meeting is when you decide. You have the book in your hand, you can check everything that isn't visible in photos and you can walk away with no obligation if something doesn't match.
The on-the-spot checklist
- Spine: check that it's straight, without deep creases or signs of damp.
- Binding: open the book in the middle and look for loose pages or weakened stitching.
- Title page: confirm the publisher, year and edition, so you don't get a different version.
- Handwriting: underlining, notes and ex-libris can lower the price or be a plus, if they belong to someone well known.
- Smell: damp and mould are immediately noticeable and can't be fixed.
- Page count: compare with the known edition, so no section is missing.
- Extras: maps, plates or CDs included in the edition, if the listing mentioned them.
If the seller won't let you open the book or is rushing you, that's a good reason to leave. You're not obliged to buy just because you made the trip.
For meetings, choose a public, well-lit place, a café or a metro station. In Bucharest, central areas are the most convenient for both sides. In Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Iași or Constanța, a café in the centre works just as well.
How much to pay: prices and negotiation
The price of a second-hand book is shaped by three factors: edition, condition and demand for the title. There's no fixed rate, but there are ranges that repeat.
A contemporary fiction book in good condition usually sells for 30 to 50 percent of the bookshop price. A university textbook or technical book holds its value better, especially if the edition is recent and required at university. An old edition with collectible value can exceed the original price, but that market is narrow and hard to estimate without careful research.
Negotiation is normal and expected. Sellers usually leave themselves some margin. You have more leverage if you take several books from the same seller: a bundle of five volumes is easier to negotiate than a single one.
The arguments that work are concrete: a loose page, a cracked spine, an edition older than you thought. Vague arguments like "it's too expensive" don't move the price. If the seller won't come down, compare with other listings for the same title before deciding. On EX & GO you can see the prices asked by several sellers in the same city, which gives you a quick reference.
For online orders with delivery, check who pays for shipping and whether payment is cash on delivery. The courier cost can wipe out the savings on a cheap book, so it's worth factoring in from the start.
Comparison of buying channels
| Channel | Typical price | Risk | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private individual via listing | 30-50% of the bookshop price | Medium, if you don't check the seller | Individual volumes, face-to-face meeting |
| Online second-hand bookshop | Close to or above the bookshop price | Low, you get an invoice | Old editions, rare books, textbooks |
| Platform with seller history | Varies, comparable across listings | Low to medium, you can see reviews | When you want to compare and check the seller |
The important difference isn't just the price, it's how easily you can check the seller beforehand. History and reviews reduce risk more than any promise in the description.
Your rights when buying second-hand books
Your rights differ depending on who's selling. Between two private individuals, the deal is simple and commercial guarantees don't apply. When you buy or sell through a platform, the platform's rules are added on top of the legal framework.
If the seller is a professional, meaning a second-hand bookshop or an online store, you have consumer rights. That's where the National Authority for Consumer Protection comes in, which explains on its website what you can do when a product doesn't match its description: ANPC. For a book delivered with missing pages or in a different condition from the listing, you have the standard complaint channels available.
For the exchange of personal data in an online transaction, data protection regulations are relevant. The National Supervisory Authority for Personal Data Processing provides information about your rights: ANSPDCP.
On a listings platform, the deal is closed directly between the parties, and the site doesn't hold the money. That means responsibility for payment and delivery is yours and the seller's. The terms of use state exactly this, and if problems come up with a listing, you can check the support centre for the steps to follow.
Keep the conversation on the platform. If a dispute arises, the messages are proof of what was promised. Don't move the discussion to other channels, especially before you've seen the book.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a second-hand book usually cost?
It depends on the edition, condition and demand. For contemporary fiction in good condition, the price usually sits around 30 to 50 percent of the bookshop price. Recent university textbooks hold their value better. Older collectible editions can cost more than the original, but that market is narrow. Compare several listings for the same title before you accept a price.
Where can I find the cheapest second-hand books?
The lowest prices show up with private individuals selling single volumes, especially when they're clearing out a bookshelf or selling off university books after graduating. Social media groups and classified listings concentrate these offers. Low prices come with higher risk, though, so check the seller and don't pay in advance. For safety, second-hand bookshops charge more but give you an invoice.
What should I do if the seller asks for payment in advance?
Don't pay. An advance payment request from a stranger is the most common fraud signal. Offer to pay on collection, once you see the book. If the seller refuses and insists on a bank transfer or a payment link, end the conversation. For delivery, choose a cash-on-delivery courier that you arrange yourself, not a link sent by the seller.
How do I check a book at the meeting?
Open the book in the middle and check the binding between the sections, that's where cracks show up. Look at the spine, the title page for edition and year, and the page count. Check the smell, dampness can't be fixed. Look for loose pages, underlining and notes. If the seller won't let you examine the book, walk away without feeling obliged to buy.
Can I return a book bought from a private individual?
No, between two private individuals there's no right of return. The deal is closed on the spot, and you're responsible for checking beforehand. If the seller is a professional, such as a second-hand bookshop or an online store, you have consumer rights, including the standard complaint channels. Always check who is selling before you pay.
Is it worth buying second-hand books online with delivery?
It's worth it if the seller has history and reviews, and the shipping cost doesn't cancel out the savings. For a cheap book, the courier can cost as much as the book, so check the total. Ask for real photos before shipping and choose cash on delivery. For expensive volumes or rare editions, meeting in person remains the safest option.
How to buy second-hand books without losing money
The rule that matters most: see the book before you pay. Everything else, the city filters, the seller history, the price comparison, are tools that help you get to a good offer faster, but the final decision is made with the book in your hand.
When you buy second-hand books, start from the exact title and the edition you want. Filter by city to cut down on travel, check the seller, ask for real photos and agree the price after you've seen the condition. If something doesn't match, walk away. You've lost nothing, because the next listing is a click away.
For sellers, the same rules work in reverse: real photos, honest description, realistic price. A clear listing sells faster and cuts down on pointless messages. Buyers who know exactly what to check are also the easiest to satisfy.
See also: second-hand books, second-hand books in Bucharest.