Sell Used Items in San Francisco
Sell used books, CDs, vinyl, phones and games in San Francisco. Compare local buyback shops with online prices - often significantly more money with less effort.
San Francisco punches way above its weight in bookstores and record shops per capita. From Green Apple Books on the Richmond to Amoeba Music in the Haight, this compact city is packed with options. But do local shops pay enough to justify the trip?
We compared SF’s local buyers with online platforms. The result: online typically wins on price, but SF’s specialty shops are worth visiting for rare vinyl and collectible books.
What do you want to sell?
Books
Local options in SF:
- Green Apple Books (Inner Richmond) - SF’s legendary independent bookstore since 1967, buys used books for cash or trade credit
- Dog Eared Books (Mission & Castro) - buys select used titles, strong on literature and local interest
- Alley Cat Books (Mission) - community bookshop, buys used books selectively
- Adobe Books (Mission) - artist-run bookshop and gallery, buys art and culture books
The reality: SF bookstores are small and curated. They can’t buy everything. Green Apple is your best bet for volume, but even they’re selective.
| Local | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| What they buy | Curated selections | Mainstream too |
| Average price | $0-3 (if accepted) | $0.50-5 per book |
| Effort | Muni ride + wait | 30 min from home |
For everyday books, online pays more. Compare book prices →
CDs & Vinyl Records
Local options in SF:
- Amoeba Music (Haight-Ashbury) - the world-famous mega-store in a former bowling alley, buys CDs and vinyl for cash or credit
- Groove Merchant (Lower Haight) - specialist in soul, jazz, funk, and rare grooves
- Rooky Ricardo’s Records (Haight) - deep crates of soul, funk, and world music vinyl
- Stranded (Mission) - curated indie, jazz, and experimental vinyl
Amoeba is the obvious choice - they buy almost everything and the Haight location is a destination. For rare funk, soul, or jazz vinyl, Groove Merchant and Rooky Ricardo’s pay collector prices.
| Local (Amoeba) | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| What they buy | Almost everything | Everything |
| Average price | $0.25-2 per CD | $0.15-3 per CD |
| Vinyl records | Great for rare genres | Standard prices |
CDs: sell online. Compare CD prices →
Vinyl collectors: start at Amoeba. Compare vinyl prices →
Phones & Electronics
Local options in SF:
- Best Buy (multiple Bay Area locations) - trade-in for phones, tablets, laptops
- ecoATM kiosks - Westfield SF Centre and other mall locations; instant cash for phones
- Apple Store (Union Square) - Apple Trade In for iPhones, iPads, Macs
SF advantage: The Apple Store trade-in is competitive for recent Apple devices, and you get instant credit.
| Local | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 13 | $170-220 (trade-in) | $200-260 (cash) |
| Payout | Instant (credit/gift card) | 1-3 business days |
| MacBooks | Apple Store is competitive | Compare first |
Apple devices? Check Apple Trade In. Everything else? Compare online. Compare phone prices →
Video Games
Local options in SF:
- GameStop (multiple SF and Bay Area locations) - trades games, consoles, accessories
- Game Realms (nearby Burbank/suburban) - retro games specialist
| Local | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 game | $15-25 | $20-35 |
| Retro games | Limited local options | Standard prices |
Games: online is usually better. Compare game prices →
Flea Markets in SF - Worth It?
| Market | When | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Alemany Flea Market | Every Sunday, 7am-3pm | General goods (free to sell!) |
| TreasureFest | Last weekend of month (Treasure Island) | Vintage, food, art |
Alemany is unique - it’s free for sellers, making the math much better. But for books and media specifically, online still beats it.
Nobody Buying? Donate
- Friends of SF Public Library - accepts book donations, funds library programs
- Community Thrift - 100% of profits go to 200+ local nonprofits
- Goodwill - multiple SF locations
- Little Free Libraries - scattered throughout SF neighborhoods
How Online Selling Works in SF
- 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, or FedEx nearby
SF perk: The city is only 7x7 miles. You’re always within walking distance of a shipping drop-off.
College Semester Ending?
SF is home to SFSU, USF, UCSF, and Academy of Art. Across the bay: UC Berkeley, Stanford, and dozens more. Textbook prices spike at semester’s end.
Compare Prices Now
Frequently asked questions
For books, Green Apple Books on Clement Street buys used titles and is SF's most beloved bookstore. Amoeba Music in the Haight buys CDs and vinyl. For electronics, Best Buy and ecoATM kiosks at Westfield SF Centre offer trade-ins. For the best overall price, online buyback usually wins.
Usually online. SF's bookstores and record shops are selective buyers. Online services accept mainstream titles and compete nationally for your items. Exception: Amoeba Music pays well for collectible vinyl, and rare books can fetch more at specialty shops.
SF is compact and walkable with USPS post offices, UPS Stores, and FedEx locations throughout the city. Many Walgreens locations accept UPS packages too. In a 49-square-mile city, you're always close to a drop-off point.
The Alemany Flea Market runs every Sunday and is free for sellers, which makes the math better than most markets. But for regular books and CDs, online still pays more. Flea markets work best for vintage items, clothing, and unique finds.
Donate! Friends of the San Francisco Public Library accepts book donations at their bookstore. Goodwill has multiple SF locations. Community Thrift donates 100% of profits to local nonprofits. Or use SF's many Little Free Libraries.