Sell Used Items in New York City
Sell used books, CDs, vinyl, phones and games in New York City. Compare local buyback shops with online prices - often significantly more money with less effort.
New York City is the secondhand capital of America. From legendary bookstores in the Village to electronics trade-in spots in Midtown - there’s a buyer for everything here. The question is: where do you get the most money?
We compared local NYC buyers with online platforms. The result: for most items, online pays more - unless you have rare collectibles or need instant cash.
What do you want to sell?
Books
Local options in NYC:
- The Strand Bookstore (East Village) - the legendary “18 Miles of Books” buys used books, but only on Saturdays 10am-2pm and they’re very selective
- East Village Books (99 St Marks Place) - pays top dollar for scholarly libraries and estate collections
- Book Culture (Morningside Heights) - buys literary fiction, nonfiction, and academic texts
- Westsider Books (Upper West Side) - rare and used books, academic collections
The reality: NYC bookstores are famously selective. Your bestseller paperbacks and old textbooks? Most won’t touch them. They want rare titles, first editions, and niche academic works.
| Local | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| What they buy | Rare & academic only | Mainstream too |
| Average price | $0-3 (if accepted) | $0.50-5 per book |
| Effort | Schlep across town, wait in line | 30 min from your apartment |
Online wins for everyday books. Compare book prices →
CDs & Vinyl Records
Local options in NYC:
- Academy Records (Flatiron & East Village) - buys and sells all genres of vinyl and CDs
- Rough Trade NYC (Rockefeller Center) - new and used vinyl
- A1 Records (East Village) - specializes in dance, electronic, hip-hop vinyl
The reality: NYC’s record shops are amazing for digging, but they’re picky buyers. Common CDs and mainstream pop vinyl get low offers. Rare pressings and jazz/soul/hip-hop vinyl can command real money locally.
| Local | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| What they buy | Selective genres | Everything |
| Average price | $0.10-2 (often rejected) | $0.15-3 per CD |
| Vinyl records | Local often better for rare | Standard prices |
CDs: sell online. Compare CD prices →
Rare vinyl: try local shops first. Compare vinyl prices →
Phones & Electronics
Local options in NYC:
- Best Buy (multiple locations: 5th Ave, Union Square, Brooklyn) - trade-in program for phones, tablets, laptops; pays in gift cards
- GameStop (multiple locations) - trades phones, tablets, and gaming hardware for cash or store credit
- ecoATM kiosks - automated kiosks in malls that give instant cash for phones
NYC advantage: With so many locations, you can compare offers in person on the same day.
| Local | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 13 | $180-220 (trade-in credit) | $200-260 (cash) |
| Payout | Instant (gift card or cash) | 1-3 business days |
| Broken devices | Yes, reduced price | Often accepted too |
Need cash today? Go local. Can wait 2 days? Online usually pays more. Compare phone prices →
Video Games
Local options in NYC:
- GameStop (multiple Manhattan & Brooklyn locations) - trades games, consoles, and accessories
- Videogamesnewyork (East Village) - retro game specialist, pays well for rare titles
- Brooklyn Flea (DUMBO, weekends) - decent for retro gaming collectibles
Retro advantage: NYC has serious collectors. Rare SNES, N64, or original PlayStation games can fetch premium prices at specialty shops or flea markets - more than online buyers typically offer.
| Local | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 game | $15-25 | $20-35 |
| Retro (SNES, N64) | Collector prices possible | Standard prices |
| Consoles | GameStop is convenient | Often pays more |
Current games: online. Compare game prices →
Flea Markets in NYC - Worth It?
Let’s be honest: for selling everyday items, usually not.
| Market | When | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Flea | Sat-Sun 10-5 (DUMBO) | Vintage, artisan goods |
| Grand Bazaar NYC | Sunday 10-5 (UWS) | Antiques, vintage clothing |
| Chelsea Flea | Sat-Sun 8-5 | High-end antiques, collectibles |
The math:
- Vendor fee: $50-150
- Time investment: 6-8 hours
- Typical revenue: $50-150
With Bonavendi, you sell the same items in 30 minutes - often for more money.
Nobody Buying? Donate
Not everything sells. For the rest:
- Housing Works - 14+ thrift shops across NYC, 100% of proceeds fight homelessness
- The Strand - accepts book donations
- Little Free Libraries - hundreds across all five boroughs
- Stoop sales - the quintessential NYC way to pass things on
How Online Selling Works in NYC
- Enter your item - ISBN, EAN or select your model
- Compare prices - All buyers at a glance
- Pack your box - From your apartment
- Drop it off - USPS, UPS Store, or FedEx on practically every block
NYC perk: You’re never more than 5 minutes from a shipping drop-off. Most online buyers provide free shipping labels.
College Semester Ending?
NYC has NYU, Columbia, The New School, CUNY, Fordham, and dozens more schools. At semester’s end in May and December, textbook demand spikes - online prices often jump 20-30%.
If you’ve got textbooks to unload, now is a good time. Compare textbook prices →
Compare Prices Now
Frequently asked questions
It depends on what you're selling and how fast you need cash. For books, The Strand buys on Saturdays but is very selective. For electronics, GameStop and Best Buy offer trade-ins at multiple locations. For the best overall price on books and media, online buyback services typically pay more because they compete nationally.
In most cases, online. NYC bookstores and record shops are picky - they only buy what they know they can resell. Online buyers accept mainstream titles too and offer fixed prices without haggling. Exception: if you have rare first editions or collectible vinyl, local specialty shops may pay a premium.
For selling everyday books or CDs, usually not. You'll pay a vendor fee, invest an entire weekend day, and deal with hagglers. For vintage items, collectibles, or if you enjoy the market atmosphere, it can be worthwhile. For regular media, online buyback is faster and pays more.
NYC has thousands of shipping options. USPS has post offices in every neighborhood plus blue collection boxes everywhere. UPS Stores and FedEx locations are on nearly every commercial block in Manhattan. Many bodegas and pharmacies also accept UPS packages. You're never more than a 5-minute walk from a drop-off point.
Donate them! Housing Works has 14+ thrift shops across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens - all proceeds fight homelessness and AIDS. The Strand also accepts donations. For books specifically, leave them at one of NYC's many Little Free Libraries or stoop sales.