COURSE MATERIALS FAQ Why should I buy textbooks at the A.S. Bookstore? Do you rent textbooks? Are all textbooks available Used?How long do I have to return my books? Do you buy back Used books? What determines how much I get paid when I sell my books back? When does the Bookstore buy back textbooks? Do I save money when I purchase a used textbook?Why should I buy textbooks at the A.S. Bookstore?We order books for every class taught each quarter.
The right book at the best price. We receive our information directly from the faculty, so you get the book you need for your class.
We are local, university owned and self-supporting.
Every purchase at the A.S. Bookstore helps fund campus activities.
Best used book selection in town.
Up to date and accurate information on what books you need for your classes.
Convenient price comparison tool (Verba) to help you find the best deal for your text books. Anywhere.
One stop shopping for all your college needs.
Return to top of page Do you rent textbooks?Yes. Please visit our online store or stop by the Textbook Department.
Return to top of page Are all textbooks available Used? We do our best to provide used textbooks, but cannot guarantee availability.Used book availability depends on a variety of factors, including publication edition, faculty requirement and publisher availability.
Return to top of page How long do I have to return my books?We offer refunds on textbooks through the second Friday of the quarter (except Summer). You
must have your receipt to refund any textbooks. New books must be in new condition (no binding
damage, highlighting, writing, etc.). Shrink-wrapped packages must be in the original packaging.
Return to top of page Do you buy back Used books?Yes. We buy back textbooks year round. We do require current WWU ID.
Return to top of page What determines how much I get paid when I sell my books back?The buyback price is determined by a variety of factors. For buyback pricing, textbooks fall into one of two categories. During the course of a quarter or buyback period, a title may move from one category to another based on demand. The categories are as follows:
If a faculty member has notified the University Book Store that a book will be used on campus next quarter, in most cases we will pay ½ of the current new book price, even if you bought the book used or the new book price was lower at the time of your purchase. When we have met our anticipated needs for that title for the upcoming semester, we will purchase that title for the used book wholesalers if the book has wholesale value.
Used book wholesalers determine the prices they will pay for certain books. We technically act as the wholesaler's agent and buy the book for the company from the student, and must use their prices. Nationwide demand, current wholesaler supply and anticipated revision dates are some of the factors that the wholesale companies use in determining the prices they offer.
There are four reasons why a book may not have any buyback value: A new edition has been publishedThere is little or no nationwide demandThere is excess wholesale supplyThe book is in poor (non-salable) condition
Return to top of page When does the Bookstore buy back textbooks?We buy back books year-round during normal business hours - Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Best buy back price occurs in the final two weeks of each quarter.
Return to top of page Do I save money when I purchase a used textbook?Absolutely! By purchasing used books and participating in buyback, you can save up to 75% off the new book price. (For example, if you bought a used copy of a $50 book for $37.50 and then sold it back at ½ price of $25, you would pay only $12.50 for the use of that book; that's only 25% on the new book price.)
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