Books.. Pretty sure I can make a deal - but what's a reasonable offer?

[C.Ann]

There's a place over in town where a woman sells used books out of her garage.. I'm a "regular" over there, so she knows me when she sees me..

She acquires her books through garage sales; book sales; books she has read herself; books that family and friends give her; etc.. She has a really big variety (although not always what I am looking for) and has them organized very well so it's easy for buyers to find what they might be interested in..

Besides the books I already have here at my place (which are quite a few), I am now adding on more and more with the books I've been purchasing from Amazon.com - as well as some I have been given..

I think this seller might be open to a "deal" - where I give her x# of books - for a few less in return..

And before anyone suggests me selling them online, that would be next to impossible from here at the lake because it would eat up any profit running back and forth over to town to the post office each time someone ordered a book.. (Can't do the postal pick-up here and don't want to spend money on mailers and such..)

I am more interested in simply obtaining additional books for me to read - without purchasing them and waiting for them to arrive in the mail..

So - what do you think would be a fair offer to approach her with (keeping in mind that she also needs to be able to turn over a profit).. I give her 3 books and she gives me one for free? I give her 5 and she gives me 2 for free?

One area I know she is in need of is true crime - of which I have quite a few - as well as the Beverly Lewis series and Karen Kingsbury series I've been reading (and either have finished or will be finished with soon)..

Thoughts?

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

There is a used bookstore in downtown Sarasota where they sell the books for half what the original cover price was. Then, when you're finished you can sell them back to them for half that price so I would say trade her 2 of yours for 1 of hers.

 

[donald&daisy]

I would propose 2 for 1 as well. She can always ask for more, but I would start low. ETA: I'm sure you already know this or it isn't feasible, but the public library is awesome and free. I just re-discovered ours about a month ago. I know it can be a pain when they don't have a good selection. I think you have a good idea though. Just be open to negotiation, but I wouldn't do more than 3 for 1.

 

[C.Ann]

I would propose 2 for 1 as well. She can always ask for more, but I would start low. ETA: I'm sure you already know this or it isn't feasible, but the public library is awesome and free. I just re-discovered ours about a month ago. I know it can be a pain when they don't have a good selection. I think you have a good idea though. Just be open to negotiation, but I wouldn't do more than 3 for 1.

There is no public library in the town that I am located in (up in the mountains) and the very small library in the next town over (where this woman is located) charges $100 for a summer library card for us "out-of-towners"..

I'll try the 2 for 1 and we can haggle from there.. Very, very nice woman, so I'm sure we can come to some sort of agreement that will work for both of us..

 

[Rora]

OP, that sounds like a great idea!!

Good luck and happy reading!