Sell Used Items in Seattle
Sell used books, CDs, vinyl, phones and games in Seattle. Compare local buyback shops with online prices - often significantly more money with less effort.
Seattle is one of the most literate cities in America. From Elliott Bay Book Company in Capitol Hill to Easy Street Records in West Seattle, there’s a thriving secondhand culture here. But do local shops pay enough, or should you ship it?
We compared Seattle’s local buyers with online platforms. For everyday books and media, online typically pays more. But Seattle’s record shops are worth checking for vinyl.
What do you want to sell?
Books
Local options in Seattle:
- Half Price Books (multiple locations: U District, Lynnwood, Redmond) - buys almost everything, though at low prices
- Mercer Street Books (Queen Anne) - buys quality used books, literature-focused
- Magus Books (U District) - near UW campus, buys academic and scholarly titles
- Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park, Ravenna, Seward Park) - community bookstores that buy used books
The reality: Half Price Books is the easiest option - they take almost anything but pay accordingly ($0.10-0.50 per book). The independent shops are pickier but pay better for titles they want.
| Local | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| What they buy | HPB: everything. Others: selective | Mainstream too |
| Average price | $0.10-3 (varies widely) | $0.50-5 per book |
| Effort | Drive or bus ride | 30 min from home |
For most books, online pays more. Compare book prices →
CDs & Vinyl Records
Local options in Seattle:
- Easy Street Records (West Seattle) - institution since 1987, buys vinyl and CDs; also has a cafe
- Sonic Boom Records (Ballard) - great for new and used vinyl, buys collections
- Jive Time Records (Fremont) - excellent discount bins and quick turnover, buys vinyl
- Royal Records (Capitol Hill) - successor to the beloved Everyday Music
Seattle’s record scene is strong. Easy Street and Sonic Boom are both legit buyers, and the city’s music heritage (grunge, indie, hip-hop) means collectors pay for local interest vinyl.
| Local | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| What they buy | Most genres | Everything |
| Average price | $0.25-3 per CD | $0.15-3 per CD |
| Vinyl records | Strong local scene | Standard prices |
CDs: sell online. Compare CD prices →
Vinyl: try Easy Street or Sonic Boom first. Compare vinyl prices →
Phones & Electronics
Local options in Seattle:
- Best Buy (multiple locations: Northgate, SoDo, Bellevue) - trade-in for phones, tablets, laptops
- ecoATM kiosks - Westfield Southcenter and other mall 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 Seattle:
- GameStop (multiple Seattle-area locations)
- Pink Gorilla Games (U District & International District) - retro game specialist, great for older titles
- Half Price Books (takes games too, low prices)
Pink Gorilla is the local gem for retro gaming. They know their stuff and pay fair prices for sought-after titles.
| Local | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 game | $15-25 | $20-35 |
| Retro (SNES, N64) | Pink Gorilla pays well | Standard prices |
Current games: online. Retro: check Pink Gorilla. Compare game prices →
Nobody Buying? Donate
- Goodwill - multiple Seattle locations
- Seattle Public Library Foundation - accepts book donations for annual sale
- Third Place Books - accepts donations
- Little Free Libraries - throughout Seattle neighborhoods
How Online Selling Works in Seattle
- 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
Seattle perk: Amazon’s hometown means package infrastructure is everywhere. UPS Stores, Amazon Lockers, and USPS offices are never far.
College Semester Ending?
UW, Seattle U, Seattle Pacific, and dozens of area colleges mean textbook demand spikes at quarter and semester ends.
Compare Prices Now
Frequently asked questions
For books, Half Price Books has multiple Seattle-area locations and buys almost anything. Elliott Bay Book Company is beloved but doesn't buy used. For records, Easy Street in West Seattle and Sonic Boom in Ballard are great. For the best overall price, online buyback usually pays more.
Usually online. Seattle's used bookstores and record shops are selective. Online buyers accept everyday titles and compete nationally. Exception: Easy Street Records pays well for collectible vinyl, and specialty shops may pay more for Pacific Northwest interest books.
Seattle has USPS post offices, UPS Stores, and FedEx locations throughout the city. Amazon Lockers and UPS Access Points are everywhere too - fitting for Amazon's hometown. Most are accessible by bus or light rail.
Donate! Goodwill has locations across Seattle. Third Place Books accepts donations. The Seattle Public Library Foundation takes book donations for their annual book sale. Or use one of Seattle's many Little Free Libraries.