Trade-In Program
Trade-ins & Donations are available both in-person and online.
Please review the [pilot] policy below before booking an appointment or mailing in books.
You can book an appointment by clicking "Book In-Person" page in the Menu or clicking the button below, or via LTFBooks@protonmail.com or 308-360-9465.
Light the Fire Books – Trade-In & Donation Policy
Light the Fire Books accepts gently used books for trade-in, store credit, or donation. This policy is designed to provide a fair and transparent process that benefits customers, the community, and the outreach work of Light the Fire Ministries.
1. Tiered Offer – Cash and Store Credit
Trade-ins are available for both store credit and, in limited cases, cash.
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New Title Trade-Ins (Published Within the Last 12 Months)*
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Books in New or Like-New condition may receive up to 25% of the current retail price in cash and up to 50% of the current retail price in store credit, for a combined potential return of 75%.
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Titles in Very Good or Good condition will receive proportionally lower combined offers, based on condition and demand.
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These trade-ins are accepted in person by appointment only, with a limit of 15 titles per visit.
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Store Credit (Standard Titles)
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Most used titles more than one year old receive 40–50% of their valuated resale price in store credit.
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Store Credit (Low-Value Titles)
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Books with limited resale potential or overstocked titles receive 10–20% of their valuated resale price in store credit.
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$0 Valuation Titles
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Some books may be assigned a $0 value if outdated, oversupplied, or unsellable.
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These titles may be added to the Little Free Library or donated to community partners.
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Mail-In Trade-Ins
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Accepted for store credit only.
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A trade-in form must be submitted in advance to expedite processing.
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Final valuation occurs after receipt; no preliminary estimates are provided.
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Books mailed to Light the Fire Books become property of the store and will not be returned, even if valued at $0.
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All valuations are final and determined at the discretion of Light the Fire Books.
2. Donations
Donations are always welcome and directly support the mission of Light the Fire Ministries.
Use of Proceeds: Revenue from donated book sales funds biblical education, outreach, and community service.
Local Impact: Donated books may be added to the Little Free Library or shared with local jails and community organizations to promote literacy and hope.
Donor Requests: Donors may indicate a preferred use ('Little Free Library,' 'Ministry Funding,' or 'Local Jail Donation'). Requests will be noted when feasible, but final decisions remain at the discretion of Light the Fire Books.
Receipts: Donation receipts for tax purposes are available upon request.
3. Accept & Reject Criteria
Books should be in Good condition or better. Each title is evaluated for condition, resale demand, and inventory needs before value is assigned.
Books showing the following types of wear will typically receive a low or no valuation, or may be declined altogether. Titles given a $0 value may be used to stock the Little Free Library or donated to community partners.
Examples of Wear That May Result in Low or No Valuation:
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Fair-condition wear: chewed or frayed edges, bent or warped spine, skewed binding, missing or detached dust jacket, or slight water damage (page thickening only).
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Acceptable-condition wear: cracked or broken binding, missing or torn pages, heavy writing or highlighting, staining, mold or odor, ex-library markings or attachments, or moderate water damage (wavy pages).
Unacceptable Items:
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Books with heavy water damage or visible mold
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torn, missing, or detached pages
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outdated textbooks, encyclopedias, or obsolete reference works
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magazines, periodicals, or promotional items
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Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) or book-club editions in poor condition
All valuations and acceptance decisions are final.
4. Credit Usage Rules
Store credit is issued electronically and linked to each customer’s account. It may be used toward eligible purchases through the website or at the location.
Eligible Purchases: Store credit applies only to used books currently in stock. It cannot be used for new releases, pre-orders, or special orders.
Combining Payments: If store credit does not cover the full purchase price, the remaining balance may be paid by cash or credit card. Store credit balances may be maintained for future purchases until the full amount is used.
Non-Expiring Credit: Store credit does not expire and remains valid for future visits or online purchases.
Frequent Trader Benefit: Customers who regularly trade in or donate books are eligible for 5% off new titles (books published within the last year). Eligibility is determined by Light the Fire Books based on trade or donation history. This discount cannot be combined with other promotions or applied retroactively.
Transferability: Store credit is non-transferable and redeemable only by the individual to whom it was issued.
5. Transparency & Evaluation Process
All trade-ins are evaluated carefully to ensure fairness and consistency. Customers may choose to stay during evaluation or leave books to be processed later.
Appointments Required: Local trade-ins are accepted by appointment only, allowing sufficient time for thorough evaluation.
Customer Presence: Customers are welcome to remain at the location during evaluation. If they leave before completion, an email or text notification will be sent within approximately two (2) business days once valuation is finalized.
Valuation Summary: Notifications include a list of traded-in titles, the store-credit amount for each accepted book, and identification of declined titles.
Rejected Books: Customers have one (1) week from the date of notification to reclaim any rejected titles. After that period, unclaimed books will be considered donated and may be used to stock the Little Free Library or distributed to community partners.
Final Decision: All valuations and acceptance decisions are final and based on current inventory, demand, and condition.
Closing Statement – Pilot Program & Review
This Trade-In & Donation Policy launches as a pilot program to allow refinement and feedback before full adoption. As Light the Fire Books continues to grow, portions of this policy may be updated to improve efficiency, fairness, or community impact. Customers are encouraged to share constructive feedback about their experience to help shape the final version of the program.
Effective Date: October 10, 2025 Last Reviewed: October 10, 2025
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Provide Title, Author, ISBN and basic description of the condition of the book.
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Take pictures of the covers, spine and any discoloration or defects noted on the book.
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Submit for assessment. After your book(s) are reviewed you will be contacted.
Feel free to send the email directly to LTFBooks@protonmail.com if you have multiple books you want to Trade-In or Donate.
