How to Make Money Selling Used College Textbooks Online: College Bookstores

The following websites buy back textbooks. Some are more expensive than others. Of course, you want to make the most money for your books that you can, so finding the store that offers you the best deal is important. All the stores listed offer one great feature. They allow you to just print a pre-paid label that pays for the shipping of the book. All you have to do is find a box. Tape the label on the box. Attach your printed shipping packing slips from their website that they give you and seal it. Then, you can just drop it off at the Post Office. No shipping charges or additional charges of any kind. After that, within a couple weeks, you will receive a check in the mail for the amount agreed upon for the used textbook. They will usually give you a tracking number of some kind that you can follow the process as it goes to see how soon you will get your check. This is the best way to “make money.”

If your goal is just to get rid of your book and get your next textbook for your next semester’s book, then you may want to just “trade in” the book and get a credit on the website. This is really only a good idea if that site charges a fair amount for their books. Typically, this is not the best option, because a site that is the best at buying back books usually is not the cheapest at selling books. You can usually get a better deal by doing these actions separately.

The following information contains information about each website, a brief description of the website, which textbooks I used as “buy backs” to see how much they would pay me for them and the price they offered me for each book. I used many because I wanted a strong control group that would give me the most accurate results.

I carefully chose the textbooks that were used in this analysis. I wanted newer textbooks which sites would actually want to buy. I chose books that current courses would actually use or have recently used. These may even be textbooks you own and can sell. This is the list:

Cost Accounting by Madhav Rajan, Charles T. Horngren and Srikant M. Datar (2011, Hardcover, Revised); ISBN 0132109174

Marketing Management by Kevin Lane Keller and Philip Kotler (2011, Hardcover, Revised); ISBN 0132102927

Elements of Ecology by Thomas M. Smith and Robert Leo Smith (2011, Paperback, Revised); ISBN 0321736079

College Algebra by James Stewart, Lothar Redlin and Saleem Watson (2012, Hardcover); ISBN 1111990166

Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases by Manuel G. Velasquez (2011, Paperback, Revised); ISBN 0205017665

Exploring Geology by Reynolds (2012, Paperback); ISBN 0073524123

Business Law and the Legal Environment, Standard Edition by Susan S. Samuelson and Jeffrey Beatty (2012, Hardcover); ISBN 1111530602

Macroeconomics by Paul Krugman and Robin Wells (2012, Paperback, Revised); ISBN 1429283432

Fundamentals of Corporate Finance Standard Edition (Mcgraw-Hill/Irwin Series in Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate) (edition 10); ISBN 0078034639

Description of Website: It’s a comparison book site that lists a lot of bookstores and their prices for the book in question. I found all prices to be accurate when I double checked them. Every ISBN has to be entered separately. If you decide to use this site and choose the first item listed, there is a link that says, “Sell Here,” that takes you to the separate company’s website. There, of course, you can easily add the text to your cart once you set up an account.

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Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $110.50

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $64.81 (with Amazon Buyback) or for cash $61.05 at RentText

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $67.50 (Textbooksrus)

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $45.04 (RentText)

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $98.54 at RentText

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $94.52 at RentText

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $73.00 (Textbooksrus)

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $88.30 (RentText)

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $165.25 (with Amazon Buyback) or for cash $155.31 at Textbooksrus

Description of Website: This bookstore allows gives you a limit of 5 ISBN’s at a time (and each must be separated by the “Enter” key). Very easy one click once you get the quote. You just proceed to checkout. I found most of their prices to be quite a bit less than those of its competitors.

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Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $82.01

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $43.29

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $44.87

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: <Said they are not buying this book>

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $67.98

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $66.34

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $54.67

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $59.99

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $124.15

Description of Website: Unfortunately, I could not find a way to get an actual check for buy backs. Instead they give you a trade in, where you can sell your textbook and buy your next one. You can also receive an Amazon credit, which is very helpful if you use this site often. However, if you need cash, this option isn’t very helpful. When you get on the site, look on the left side for “Books.” Put your cursor over that word, and you will see “Textbooks,” which you can click on. There, you can sell your books. You enter your ISBN and click the button “go.” Then, choose to “trade-in.” At that point, you will need to have your account information ready.

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Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $110.50 (trade in amount)

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $64.81 (trade in amount)

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $67.45 (trade in amount)

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $37.24 (trade in amount)

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $104.00 (trade in amount)

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $90.00 (trade in amount)

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $68.42 (trade in amount)

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $81.58 (trade in amount)

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $165.25 (trade in amount)

Description of Website: On this site, you have to enter each ISBN separately. They can pay you in store credit, a check, and by direct deposit – your choice. This has always been one of my favorite websites – for decades! There were quite a few textbooks that were underpriced, so I would not recommend trying to get money via this site.

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Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $78.00 (or a $93.60 credit in www.ecampus.com)

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $48.00 (or a $57.60 credit in www.ecampus.com)

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $49.00 (or a $58.80 credit in www.ecampus.com)

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $36.00 (or a $43.20 credit in www.ecampus.com)

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $78.00 (or a $93.60 credit in www.ecampus.com)

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $75.00 (or a $90.00 credit in www.ecampus.com)

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $58.00 (or a $69.60 credit in www.ecampus.com)

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $84.00 (or a $70.00 credit in www.ecampus.com)

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $100.00 (or a $120.00 credit in www.ecampus.com)

Description of Website: Barnes and Noble has a Buyback Program. You can easily copy and paste all of your ISBN’s and get quotes. Then, you can accept quotes, and go on to your account to get paid. I found a couple prices to be very low compared to the competitors.

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Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $98.50

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $55.50

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $62.00

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $45.00

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $98.50

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $94.50

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $72.00

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $86.00

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $100.50

Description of Website: At this bookstore, you have to “enter” after each ISBN, so it isn’t as fast as some of the others. You can enter the ISBN on the first page which is nice, and then, you can immediately complete your order. I found the prices to be quite lower than those of the competitors so I would not recommend this site.

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Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $81.90

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $46.20

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $51.45

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $37.80

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $81.90

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $78.75

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $59.85

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $72.45

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $85.05

Description of Website: It’s a comparison book site that lists a lot of bookstores and their prices for the book in question. It is very simple to copy and paste your ISBN’s at the end of your semester. However, you do have to click on each one in order to get the price comparison. There is a link offered for each one linking you to that site. I found their prices on a few of them to be considerably lower.

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Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $89.50 (CollegeBooksDirect.com)

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $64.81 (Amazon trade-in)

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $56.50 (CollegeBooksDirect.com)

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $41.50 (CollegeBooksDirect.com)

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $89.50 (CollegeBooksDirect.com)

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $86.00 (CollegeBooksDirect.com)

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $65.50 (CollegeBooksDirect.com)

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $79.50 (CollegeBooksDirect.com)

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $153.70 (BookRenter)

Description of Website: This was a simple website that was super easy to use. I could copy and paste all of the ISBN’s very easily. These prices in comparison seemed to be almost 1/3 less than other places.

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Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $52.22

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $45.15

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $46.19

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $37.92

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $52.22

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $51.60

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $47.85

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $50.35

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $52.84

Description of Website: This was a simple website that was super easy to use. I could copy and paste all of the ISBN’s very easily. These prices in comparison seemed to be almost 1/3 less than other places.

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Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $55.76

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $44.25

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $49.30

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $36.17

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $55.76

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $55.15

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $51.52

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $53.94

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $56.36

Description of Website: This was a simple website that was super easy to use. I could copy and paste all of the ISBN’s very easily. These prices in comparison seemed to be almost 1/3 less than other places.

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Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $54.37

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $40.50

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $45.10

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $33.14

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $54.37

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $53.81

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $50.50

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $52.71

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $54.92

Description of Website: This was a simple website that was super easy to use. I could copy and paste all of the ISBN’s very easily. The majority of the books were priced lower than the competitors.

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Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $86.19

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $53.04

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $54.15

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $39.78

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $86.19

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $82.88

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $62.99

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $76.25

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $89.51

Description of Website: This was a simple website that was super easy to use. I could copy and paste all of the ISBN’s very easily. These books were well priced.

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Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $100.00

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $61.00

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $62.25

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $44.75

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $91.15

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $87.43

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $72.75

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $88.25

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $124.50

Description of Website: This was a simple website that was super easy to use. I could copy and paste all of the ISBN’s very easily. They give you the option of a store credit or cash/paypal.

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Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $109.91

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $59.35

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $67.50

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $45.00

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $93.60

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $90.00

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $73.00

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $81.58

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $155.31

Description of Website: This was a simple website that was super easy to use. I could copy and paste all of the ISBN’s very easily. One book was considerably underpriced, but the rest were priced well.

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Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $100.00

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $61.00

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $62.25

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $44.75

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $84.75

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $84.75

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $72.75

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $88.25

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $131.75

Description of Website: This was a simple website that was super easy to use. I could copy and paste all of the ISBN’s very easily. It was all on the front page. Very easy. The prices were very good on this site.

* * * * *

Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $106.25

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $59.57

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $62.55

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $43.24

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $98.80

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $95.00

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $72.95

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $88.15

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $116.72

Description of Website: This was a simple website that was super easy to use. I could copy and paste all of the ISBN’s very easily. This site allows you to get cash, Paypal credit, or website credit.

* * * * *

Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $109.91

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $59.35

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $67.50

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $45.00

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $93.60

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $90.00

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $73.00

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $81.58

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $155.31

Description of Website: This was a simple website that was super easy to use. I could copy and paste all of the ISBN’s very easily.

* * * * *

Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $100.04

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $61.05

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $62.29

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $45.04

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $98.55

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $94.52

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $72.95

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $88.30

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $131.79

Description of Website: This was a simple website that was super easy to use. I could copy and paste all of the ISBN’s very easily. It was all on the front page. Very simple. It was also fast. I like the layout. It was very clear what each price was. Only a couple of textbooks were well underpriced.

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Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $98.50

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $55.50

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $62.00

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $45.00

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $98.50

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $94.50

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $72.00

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $86.00

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $100.50

Description of Website: This was a simple website that was super easy to use. I could copy and paste all of the ISBN’s very easily. It was all on the front page. It was pretty easy. The majority of the books were not priced as high as the competitors. I would not recommend the site.

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Textbook / ISBN: Fundamentals of Corporate Finance / 0078034639

Price Quoted: $82.10

Textbook / ISBN: Exploring Geology / 0073524123

Price Quoted: $46.31

Textbook / ISBN: Elements of Ecology / 0321736079

Price Quoted: $51.57

Textbook / ISBN: Business Ethics / 0205017665

Price Quoted: $37.89

Textbook / ISBN: Cost Accounting / 0132109174

Price Quoted: $82.10

Textbook / ISBN: Marketing Management / 0132102927

Price Quoted: $78.94

Textbook / ISBN: Macroeconomics / 1429283432

Price Quoted: $59.99

Textbook / ISBN: College Algebra / 1111990166

Price Quoted: $72.62

Textbook / ISBN: Business Law / 1111530602

Price Quoted: $123.65

So which bookstore gives the best price? That’s what this analysis shows. This will also determine how I rate each bookstore. I did not include Amazon since they are offering a credit, not cash. I narrowed it down the top 5.

1. Write down all of your ISBN’s that you wish to sell.
2. Price them all at the following sites:
   1. www.bookscouter.com
   2. www.textbooksrus.com
   3. www.bookstores.com
   4. www.phatcampus.com
   5. www.renttext.com
   6. www.bigwords.com
   7. www.bookbyte.com
   8. www.textbooks.com
   9. www.bn.com
3. Find which one gives you the best price for your book.
4. Sell your book to that website.
5. Find your own box for the textbook, print the packing slip from the store’s website and include it in the box, and paste on the free shipping label to the front of the box.
6. Drop the box at the post office free of charge.
7. Wait for your check in the mail.