Sell Used Items in Philadelphia
Sell used books, CDs, vinyl, phones and games in Philadelphia. Compare local buyback shops with online prices - Joseph Fox, Philadelphia Record Exchange and more.
Philadelphia has a scrappy, authentic secondhand culture. From South Street’s book and record shops to the sprawling flea markets, Philly keeps it real. But are local prices worth the SEPTA ride, or should you just ship it?
We compared Philly’s local buyers with online platforms. For most everyday items, online pays more. But Philly’s record shops are worth checking for vinyl.
What do you want to sell?
Books
Local options in Philadelphia:
- The Book Trader (South Street) - Old City institution, buys used books for cash or trade credit
- Joseph Fox Bookshop (Rittenhouse) - upscale independent, buys select architecture and design titles
- A Novel Idea (South Philly) - community bookstore, buys select used titles
- Big Blue Marble Bookstore (West Philly) - independent community bookstore near Penn
The reality: Philly’s bookstores are charming but small. They can’t buy everything. The Book Trader is your best bet for volume selling.
| Local | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| What they buy | Select titles | Mainstream too |
| Average price | $0-3 (if accepted) | $0.50-5 per book |
| Effort | SEPTA + walk | 30 min from home |
For everyday books, online wins. Compare book prices →
CDs & Vinyl Records
Local options in Philadelphia:
- Philadelphia Record Exchange (NoLibs) - one of the city’s best record shops, buys vinyl and CDs
- Repo Records (South Street) - buys and sells CDs, vinyl, DVDs, and games
- Long In The Tooth (South Street) - vinyl specialist, curated and selective
- Sit & Spin Records (South Philly) - punk, indie, and experimental specialist
South Street is record shop row - multiple shops within walking distance makes it easy to compare offers. Philadelphia Record Exchange in Northern Liberties is worth the trip for serious collections.
| Local | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| What they buy | Most genres | Everything |
| Average price | $0.25-2 per CD | $0.15-3 per CD |
| Vinyl records | Good local scene | Standard prices |
CDs: sell online. Compare CD prices →
Vinyl: walk South Street and compare. Compare vinyl prices →
Phones & Electronics
Local options in Philadelphia:
- Best Buy (multiple locations: King of Prussia, Cherry Hill, Philadelphia Mills) - trade-in for phones, tablets, laptops
- ecoATM kiosks - King of Prussia Mall and other locations; instant cash
- GameStop (multiple locations) - trades phones and gaming hardware
| Local | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 13 | $170-210 (trade-in) | $200-260 (cash) |
| Payout | Instant | 1-3 business days |
Best price? Compare online. Compare phone prices →
Video Games
Local options in Philadelphia:
- GameStop (multiple Philly-area locations)
- Repo Records (South Street) - also buys games and DVDs
- Level 7 Games (Jenkintown) - retro and modern game specialist
| Local | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 game | $15-25 | $20-35 |
| Retro games | Check specialty shops | Standard prices |
Games: online usually pays more. Compare game prices →
Thrift & Donate
Philly has excellent thrift shopping:
- Philly AIDS Thrift (South Street) - beloved institution since 2005, all proceeds fight HIV/AIDS
- Goodwill - multiple Philly locations
- Free Library of Philadelphia - accepts book donations for annual sale
- Little Free Libraries - throughout Philly neighborhoods
How Online Selling Works in Philadelphia
- Enter your item - ISBN, EAN or select your model
- Compare prices - All buyers at a glance
- Pack your box - From your rowhome
- Drop it off - USPS, UPS, or FedEx on your commute
Philly perk: Affordable cost of living means the extra money from selling online goes even further here.
Semester Ending?
Penn, Temple, Drexel, Villanova, Saint Joe’s, La Salle - Philly is packed with universities. End of semester means textbook prices spike online.
Compare Prices Now
Frequently asked questions
For books, the Book Trader on South Street and Joseph Fox Bookshop in Rittenhouse are good options. For vinyl and CDs, Philadelphia Record Exchange and Repo Records buy collections. For the best overall price on everyday items, online buyback usually wins because of national competition.
Usually online for mainstream items. Philly's used bookstores and record shops are selective. Online buyers accept everyday titles and compete nationally. Exception: Philadelphia Record Exchange pays well for vinyl, and specialty bookstores pay for rare or academic titles.
Philly has USPS post offices, UPS Stores, and FedEx locations throughout the city. Many CVS and Walgreens locations accept UPS packages too. SEPTA connects most neighborhoods to convenient drop-off points.
Donate! Philly AIDS Thrift has been a neighborhood institution since 2005. Goodwill and Salvation Army have locations across the city. The Free Library of Philadelphia accepts book donations for their annual sale.