Frequently Asked Questions |
Below we've attempted to capture and provide the answers to the most commonly asked questions we receive. If, however, you still have any questions we have not addressed here, please send us an e-mail or give us a call at 978.284.2500.
| What kind of books do you accept? |
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We accept all books including hardcover and paperback books, new and old, textbooks, children's, fiction and non-fiction - we accept them all. We pretty much take anything in basic functional condition except encyclopedias, magazines, newspapers, and catalogues. We have the most success finding new uses for books published in the last 40 years. In addition to books, we also are happy to accept CDs, DVDs, Audio Books and Records. We never turn books away*. We are also able to accept records on a pick-up which includes other items, as we cannot schedule a pick-up for only records and reserve the right to refuse a record donation as necessary. You may also donate records in one of our drop-off containers. We are happy to collect books from residents and other individuals, organizations, businesses, schools, libraries, or any other groups that want to take advantage of our exclusive pick-up service offered in many areas of MA and Southern NH.
*Got Books reserves the right to refuse the collection of books and other items which it deems unsafe or unsanitary for employees.
What about donating encyclopedias, magazines, and newspapers? |
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Encyclopedia sets become outdated quickly and thus provide little to no value. We prefer that you recycle them through other means because we are unable to find new uses for these kinds of publications. We pretty much take anything in basic functional condition except encyclopedias, magazines, newspapers, and catalogues, though we have the most success finding new uses for books published in the last 40 years.
Is there a minimum or maximum number of books I can donate? |
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No. One bag or one hundred boxes, no donation
is too big or too small.
Do you get all of your books for free?
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No. All of the books we receive via container donations, our pick-up service, or in-store donations have costs associated with them.
- Many of our books come from our hundreds of local drop-off containers around New England. Each of these containers is being hosted by a local nonprofit group, such as a school, church, or community organization, and every time the container fills up we BUY the books inside the container from that group. This way, we get a great variety of books and we are able to raise thousands of dollars every month for all of our fundraising partners. In fact, we raised $467,600.00 for our fundraising partners in 2008-2009.
- While we don’t pay donors directly for donations made through our pick-up service, the act of coordinating and picking up these books is quite costly for Got Books. The costs for staffing phones, paying drivers, running a fleet of large trucks, having employees sort the books after pick-ups and more pile up quickly, and they pile up high. We offer this as a free service for the community to make donating unneeded items easy for everyone. Who else would help you box up the books and carry them out?
- All books donated at any of our Used Book Superstore locations benefit our exclusive nonprofit book store partner RARA (Retarded Adult Rehabilitation Association). When books are donated at the stores we buy them from RARA, who gets paid for every donation and donors are able to get a tax receipt. Since partnering with RARA, we’ve been able to raise more than $68,000.00 for them and they’ve even been able to buy a brand new 15-passenger van for their services.
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What happens to the books? |
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Donations are sorted by Got Books employees
and local volunteers to determine the best possible
use for each item. Some books will be sent overseas
to local servicemen and women as part of the 'Books
for Troops' initiative, in which Got Books has pledged
to send at least 25,000 books overseas each year. Some
will be given to teachers for their classrooms as part of our 'Books for Teachers' program or given
away to schools, libraries, and other groups in need through our Get Books program.
Others are sold online or at the Used Book Superstores to cover costs.
As a last resort, items that are unsalvageable will
be recycled. That is a last resort only. Items will
never, ever end up in the dump.
Are you a nonprofit organization and are my book donations tax-deductible? |
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Got Books is a for-profit professional fundraiser and used book seller. Though we do not directly issue tax-deduction receipts, contributions made onsite at the Burlington, Danvers, Nashua, or Salem Used Book Superstore and the following book donation containers are tax deductible (NOTE: book donations collected by way of our home pick-up service or any other book drop-off containers are not tax deductible):
Town Hall Annex (Benefits
RARA), 1009 Main St Tewksbury, MA 01876
You'll need to call RARA at 978.453.5598 to arrange tax receipt details. They will mail one to you; there is no need to enter the Town Hall to get a receipt.
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Lowell Wish Project, 1A
Foundry St Lowell, MA 01852 978.441.9474
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RARA, 295 High
St Lowell, MA 01850
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Meadow Glen Mall (Benefits
RARA) 3850 Mystic Valley Parkway Medford, MA 02155
You'll need to call RARA at 978.453.5598 to arrange tax receipt details. They will mail one to you; there is no need to enter the mall to get a receipt.
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So. New Hampshire HIV/AIDS
Task Force, 12 Amherst St Nashua, NH 03064
603.595.8464
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Donations made inside the Burlington, Danvers, Nashua, or Salem Used Book Superstore help raise money for our exclusive nonprofit book store partner RARA (Retarded Adult Rehabilitation Association). We pay RARA for every book donated at these locations and you get a tax receipt on behalf of RARA.
Used Book Superstore, 256 Cambridge Street, Burlington, MA 01803
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Used Book Superstore, 139 Endicott Street, Danvers, MA 01923
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Used Book Superstore, 293 Daniel Webster Highway, Nashua, NH 03060
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Used Book Superstore, 419 South Broadway, Salem, NH 03079
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Why should I give my books to you if you're a for-profit company? |
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We are a for-profit company and we make no claims otherwise, but we are also extremely adept at finding great new uses for used books and media. Many people who give us their books are primarily looking for a way to clear some space, while also helping their used items get a second chance. This is what we provide. Our goal is to reuse as many donated items as we can and recycle whatever we can’t so that no books ever end up in the trash. While we are a for-profit company, we also work with and help support hundreds of local nonprofit groups through our fundraising program. All of the books which are dropped into our donation containers help to raise money for the charitable group hosting it. We buy the books inside the container from each group, so they get paid every time their container fills up. We also use a portion of profits to fund our Books for Troops, Books for Teachers and Get Books programs, so that we can provide needed and useful services to local community members at no cost to them. If you are looking for an easy, convenient way to lighten your book load and ensure your items will have a second life, we can offer you that. With almost a decade of experience under our belt, we are the absolute best at finding great new uses for your used books. Schedule a pick-up here or find a local drop-off location here.
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How much money actually goes to nonprofit groups?
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We’ve partnered with hundreds of local nonprofit groups through our container fundraising program and every time a group’s container fills up we send them a check to buy the items inside the container. It’s a win-win situation because we get a great variety of books and hundreds of groups in need are able to effortlessly make hundreds of dollars a month. We also have a major nonprofit partner, RARA (Retarded Adult Rehabilitation Association), who gets paid for all donations made at our Used Book Superstores, as well as when their several fundraising containers fill up. We also regularly donate books and Used Book Superstore gift cards to local groups who need them for educational purposes.
Some actual financial figures:
Money raised for fundraising partners in 2008: $206,800.00
Money raised for fundraising partners in 2009: $260,800.00
Money raised for RARA in 2006: $5,952.25
Money raised for RARA in 2007: $12,026.99
Money raised for RARA in 2008: $15,995.81
Money raised for RARA in 2009: $17,264.09
More each month in 2010
TOTAL RAISED FOR RARA: $67,954.96
Money raised for Salvation Army in 2008: $28,400.00
Money raised for Salvation Army in 2009: $33,100.00
Money raised for Charity Book Sale nonprofit partners in 2008: $25,000.00
Money raised for Charity Book Sale nonprofit partners in 2009: $12,500.00
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Why give us books? |
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We'll find a great use for them! We are
dedicated to keeping books out of the trash and putting
them in the hands of those who need and want them. The
majority of books you give allow us to raise funds and
support local
nonprofits and other groups within the community.
Plus, we make donating simple by offering an exclusive,
complimentary pick-up service to your home or place of business (in many areas of MA
& Southern NH). There are a variety of additional
reasons why you should donate to us, but if you still
have any unanswered questions, please do not hesitate
to call us at 978.284.2500.
We sincerely appreciate the items you
give us and therefore provide a variety of convenient
ways for you to donate your books. Visit the Donate
Books page of our website to schedule an appointment
for our exclusive pick-up service in many areas of MA and Southern NH or find a local drop-off donation container in your area. Books can also be dropped off at our Burlington, Danvers, Nashua, or Salem Used Book Superstore.
What areas are covered by your free pick-up service? |
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We offer free pick-up in many areas of eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. If you're outside this area, please visit our Donate Books page to choose an alternative donation vehicle that best suits your needs.
How do I schedule a pick-up? |
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It's easy. Here are the ways:
» fill out our quick online pick-up request form
» download our form and fax your request to 978.284.2596
» send us an e-mail and a representative will call to arrange a time that's convenient for you
» or simply call us at 978.284.2500
I donated a book that I need back. Can I get it? |
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Unfortunately, once you have deposited a book or other item into one of our book donation containers or donated an item through our free pick-up service, we are unable to retrieve it if you then decide that you want it back. Please make sure that the items you donate are intended to be given away by either yourself or the owner. Because our containers are only emptied when they are completely full for efficiency purposes, causing each book to mix with thousands of others, and because the daily schedules for our drivers are very structured, we would not be able to dispatch an employee to retrieve your item. Also, when books return to our warehouse they are put through a sorting process to determine their best possible use and they join many other books, making it impossible to locate any one specific item. |
Where can I donate my other items? |
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We are more than happy to take your books, CDs, DVDs, audio books, and records. If you have other items which you are looking to get rid of we recommend calling 1-800-GOT-JUNK or visiting their website here.
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