Book Trade Policy

Bring Your Items

Come in during store hours with the books or items you'd like to trade

We Evaluate

Our staff reviews condition, current stock, and demand for each item

Earn Credit

Accepted items earn store credit added to your account — no expiration

Shop & Save

Use your credit for up to 50% off any used book purchase

Store Credit

How Trade Credit Works

When we accept your items for trade, we issue store credit to your account. That credit never expires and is always waiting for you next time you're in.

Trade credit can be applied toward used book purchases only and holds no cash value. It cannot be applied toward new books, artisan items, bar and bakery, or Makers' Basement memberships.

Credit can cover up to 50% of any used book purchase. This keeps the trade program sustainable while still giving you meaningful value for the books you bring in.

Credit never expires — use it whenever you're ready

Up to 50% of any used book purchase can be paid with credit

Applies to used books only — not new books or other merchandise

No cash value — credit cannot be redeemed for cash

Credit is tracked by name — ask any staff member for your balance

Example Transaction

Used book price$10.00

Your trade credit balance$7.00

Maximum credit usable (50%)$5.00

Credit used$5.00

Remaining credit after purchase$2.00

You pay at checkout$5.00

High-Value Items

Books and items we assess at $50 or more may be placed on consignment rather than standard trade. See the Consignment section below.

What We Take

Accepted & Not Accepted

We accept a carefully curated range of items for trade. Quality and condition are always the primary factors. When in doubt, bring it in — we're happy to take a look, though we can't guarantee acceptance without seeing the item.

✓ We Accept

Hardcover Books Dust jacket required if the book was originally issued with one. Good to excellent condition only.

Paperback & Trade Paperback Books Spine intact, no excessive creasing, pages clean and secure.

Children's Books Must be clean and complete. Board books accepted in excellent condition only.

Vinyl Records (LPs & 45s) Original sleeve or cover preferred. No significant scratches affecting playback. We assess based on condition and demand.

Historical Pamphlets Must be of genuine historical interest. Age, rarity, and subject matter all considered. Appalachian, Southern, and Georgia history especially welcome.

Antique & Historical Newspapers Must be genuinely old and of historical significance — not simply old. Papers covering major events, local history, or significant dates considered on a case-by-case basis.

National Geographic Magazines Accepted selectively based on date and condition. Pre-1980 issues in good condition most welcome. We may be overstocked on certain years.

Classic & Collectible Magazines Vintage Life, Look, Saturday Evening Post, Time, Collier's, and similar publications of genuine historical or collector interest. Must be complete and in good condition.

Vintage Cookbooks & Regionals Older cookbooks, church cookbooks, and regional Appalachian or Southern titles are especially welcome.

Local & Regional History Books and ephemera relating to Georgia, the Appalachian region, and the rural South are a particular interest of ours.

✕ We Do Not Accept

Regular Magazines We do not accept standard consumer magazines — Reader's Digest, People, People, Better Homes, etc. See Classic Magazines above for what we do take.

Encyclopedias & Dated Reference Encyclopedias, outdated atlases, phone books, and similar sets. Exceptions may be made for genuinely antique reference works.

Textbooks & Workbooks School textbooks, workbooks with completed exercises, and test prep books. Exceptions for vintage academic texts of historical interest.

Series Romance (Harlequin, etc.) Mass market series romance imprints. Literary romance and standalone romance novels are welcome.

Books with Damage Loose or missing pages, torn covers, water damage, mildew, stains, highlighting or heavy annotation, insect damage, or strong odors of any kind.

Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) Uncorrected proofs and advance review copies are not accepted for trade as they are not for resale.

CDs, DVDs, VHS & Cassettes We focus on books, vinyl, and printed ephemera. We do not currently accept other media formats.

Condensed Books & Book Club Editions Reader's Digest condensed fiction, certain book club editions without proper ISBNs, and similar formats.

Recently Published Nonfiction (within 2 years) Very recent nonfiction may be declined if the topic is time-sensitive or if we already have sufficient stock.

Items We're Overstocked On Even good books may be declined if we have too many copies. This changes daily — what we can't take today we may welcome next month.

Always at Our Discretion All trades are made at the discretion of [ash-ling] Booksellers. We reserve the right to decline any item for any reason, including current stock levels, condition assessment, or fit with our store. We cannot provide valuations for items you are not trading in. We do not give estimates over the phone.

Condition Standards

What We Mean by Good Condition

Condition is the single most important factor in our trade decisions. Here's a plain-language breakdown of what we accept and what we pass on.

✓

Excellent / Like New

Appears unread or minimally read. No writing, highlighting, or stickers. Spine tight, pages clean and bright. Dust jacket present and intact (if applicable). We actively seek these.

✓

Very Good

Light wear consistent with careful reading. Minor shelf wear acceptable. No damage to pages or binding. A previous owner's name on the title page is acceptable. No highlighting.

✓

Good

Clearly read but fully intact. Some wear to cover and spine expected. Pages secure and readable. Light pencil notes may be acceptable — heavy annotation is not. No water damage.

Fair / Poor

Heavy wear, writing throughout, broken spine, water staining, loose pages, torn covers, or odors. We cannot accept books in this condition regardless of title or age.

Water Damaged

Any evidence of water damage, warped pages, tide marks, or swelling of the book block. Even if dry, water-damaged books are not accepted.

Mildew or Insect Damage

Mildew, musty odor, foxing (brown spots), or any evidence of insect activity. These books cannot be accepted as they pose a risk to our entire inventory.

Beyond Books

Vinyl, Ephemera & Collectibles

We accept more than just books. Here's what you need to know about trading vinyl records, historical printed materials, and collectible magazines.

Vinyl Records (LPs & 45s)

Records should be clean, unwarped, and free of deep scratches that affect playback. Original sleeves strongly preferred. We assess each record individually — desirability, pressing, and condition all factor into credit offered. Classic rock, jazz, blues, folk, country, and classical are our strongest categories.

Historical Pamphlets & Documents

We have a genuine interest in printed ephemera with historical significance — particularly anything relating to Georgia, Stephens County, Toccoa, or the broader Appalachian region. Church programs, civic documents, local event programs, and similar items are welcome for evaluation.

Antique Newspapers

Historical newspapers covering significant events — wars, disasters, elections, notable deaths — or local history are of genuine interest. The paper should be relatively intact (not crumbling) and the date and subject matter must be of collector or historical value. We do not accept newspapers simply because they are old.

Classic & Collectible Magazines

National Geographic is our most commonly accepted magazine. We also welcome vintage Life, Look, Saturday Evening Post, Collier's, and similar publications with genuine historical, photographic, or social documentary value. The magazine must be complete (no torn-out pages or ads) and in readable condition. We do not accept common consumer magazines.

Not Sure if Something Qualifies? Bring it in and we'll take a look. We can't evaluate items over the phone or by email, and we can't guarantee acceptance, but we're always happy to see what you've got. Genuinely old and interesting printed materials are always worth showing us.

High-Value Items

Consignment

Books & Items Valued at $50 or More

When We Consign Instead of Trade

We do not accept general consignments. However, for books and items that we assess at $50 or more in value, we may offer consignment rather than standard trade credit. This is typically better for you — consignment means you receive payment at the actual sale price rather than a trade credit estimate.

Under consignment, your item is placed on our shelves or offered to collectors. When it sells, you receive payment the month following the sale. Consignment is offered entirely at our discretion based on our assessment of the item's value and our ability to sell it.

If you have a book or collection you believe may qualify, bring it in during store hours and our staff will evaluate it. We do not provide appraisals for items you are not looking to sell or trade.

Getting the Most from Your Trade

Tips for a Successful Trade

A few things that help your trade go more smoothly and earn you more credit.

Clean Your Books First

Wipe off dust, check for loose pages, and remove any bookmarks or personal items before bringing books in. A little care goes a long way toward a better credit offer.

Don't Bring Large Quantities Without Calling

If you're bringing more than a few boxes or bags, please call ahead at 706-886-2665. Walk-ins with a car full of books can be difficult to process during busy periods.

Come During Store Hours

Trades are evaluated Tuesday through Saturday, 11 AM to 5 PM. We do not evaluate trades outside of store hours and do not accept items left at the store.

Take Back What We Can't Accept

Please plan to take home books we're unable to accept. Items left behind without prior arrangement may be donated at our discretion.

Understand Our Stock Needs Change

What we can't take today we may welcome next month. Our needs change based on what's already on our shelves. If we pass on something today, try again in a few weeks.

Ask About Your Credit Balance

Credit is tracked by name in our system. Any staff member can look up your balance while you're shopping. You don't need a card or account — just your name.

Questions About a Trade?

We're happy to answer general questions about what we accept. We cannot evaluate specific items over the phone or by email — bring them in and we'll take a look in person.

Call 706-886-2665