Can I Send Books From eBay to an Inmate?
Can I send used books if they come from eBay???
No. eBay is not an approved vendor for sending books to inmates and orders placed through it will almost certainly be rejected at the mail room.
The rule at virtually every correctional facility is that books must be sent directly from a publisher or an approved retailer. The reasoning is security: a book coming from a verified commercial source has a traceable chain of custody that a used book from an individual eBay seller does not. Facilities cannot verify where a used book actually came from, which makes it a potential contraband risk in their view.
Most eBay sellers are private individuals or small resellers, not publishers. Even if the book itself is legitimate, the shipment does not meet the facility's vendor requirements and will be returned.
Amazon is the most reliable option for ordering books to send to inmates, as long as the item is sold and fulfilled directly by Amazon and not a third-party seller. New books shipped from Amazon are recognized as coming from an approved commercial source at most facilities. InmateAid also has publisher partnerships that can be used to send books directly.
My situation is different — ask your own question.
Our advisors answer within 24 hours. Free, always. Former federal and state inmates with direct experience.