General Questions

What forms of payment does the Bookstore accept?
We accept all major credit cards, cash, AS Bookstore gift cards, and Student Account charges. For information about your Student Account and directions on how to make payments, visit the Student Business Office's website.

How do I return or exchange an item?
Please review our return policy.

If I have more general questions, who do I contact?
The best way to reach us is via email at asbookstore@wwu.edu.

My organization is holding an event. How do I request a Bookstore donation?
All donations from the Bookstore must be approved by the Associated Students. To ask for a donation, submit the Donation Request form here.

Course Materials

When will class textbooks be posted?
Course textbooks are posted online 4 weeks (28 days) before the start of each quarter. Please be aware that the list continues to update regularly through the first several weeks of class. If no books are listed for your course the best thing to do is to check your syllabus and/or contact your professor to confirm no materials are required.

What do the Required/Optional/Choice/etc. titles mean?

• Required - The professor requires this book to pass the class. Your class readings and assignments will be based on the materials in this book.
• Choice - You can choose either of the books with this option. Only one is needed for the class.
• Either/Or - You can choose either of the books with this option. Only one is needed for the class. They are different formats of the same title (i.e. one is loose-leaf and the other is hardbound)
• Optional - This book is not needed for the class. This is usually listed for study guides or solution manuals.
• Optional eBook - There is an alternative format available as an eBook. Please check with your professor to determine acceptability of this format (eBook) for your course.

Am I guaranteed I get the textbook condition (new/used) I ordered?
We work hard to provide the exact books you requested, however availability (especially for used books) can be limited, and are sold on a 'first come first serve' basis.

We will fill your order with the condition we have on hand. If you do not wish to keep the book in the condition you receive you are welcome to return it. Click here to view our return policy for further details.

Do you rent textbooks?
Yes, we do. We work hard to offer as many rental options as possible each quarter, but not all titles will be available to rent. To learn more about rentals, visit Textbook Rental Info.

When are rental returns due?
Rentals are due on the last day of the quarter. Please return texts in person, if able. Review Textbook Rental Info for more information.

Do you buy back used books?
Yes! Book Buyback is held in-store during Finals Week each quarter. For more information, visit Textbook Buyback.

Digital Materials

How do I access the eBook I ordered?
After checking out on the website, you will receive an email from RedShelf or VitalSource that contains the access code and/or instructutions for accessing your materials. For more information, visit Inclusive Access/eBooks.

The materials listed for my course say IA or Inclusive Access. What is this?
Inclusive access materials will be provided digitally via Canvas. You will have access to a digital book and any supplimental materials. These materials have a cost associated with them which will be charged to your student account.

You are automatically opted in to buying IA materials by enrolling in a course with IA and must manually opt out if you do not want to be charged.

If you would like to opt out of having the digital materials please follow the prompts after logging into your Canvas course to opt out. You must opt out by the add/drop date, otherwise your student account will be charged. Once you opt-out, you will no longer have access to the links in Canvas. Charges to student accounts occur 5-7 business days after the add/drop date. The optional discounted loose leaf is only available to those students who remain opted in after this date. For more information, visit Inclusive Access/eBooks.

Online Orders

I'm having trouble placing an order, who do I contact?
The best way to reach us is via email at bookstore.onlineorders@wwu.edu.

How do I cancel my order?
If you need to cancel your order email us: Bookstore.OnlineOrders@wwu.edu.

How long does it take for online orders to be processed?
Order processing time will be delayed during peak processing times, such as the beginning of the quarter. We appreciate your patience and will fulfill your order as quickly as possible.

Are all items guaranteed in stock?
No, during peak times inventory levels can change quickly. If an item on your order is not in stock you will receive an email stating that the item is on backorder. In most cases reorders of course materials take two business days to arrive. Apparel and gift items vary depending on the vendor.

What happens if my book is not available when I order it?
We will mark the item as backordered and notify you. We will not process payment for that the item until it arrives. Re-orders generally take 2-4 business days.

Is shopping on your website secure?
For your security, we use the same industry standard SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) as leading major commercial shopping sites to obtain confidential user information.