USI Bookstore

	Textbook buyback
	Hours
	Did You Know?
	Graduation Center
	Bookstore Forms
	Faculty Center
	Orders

Licensing

Click here for dates & times

TEXTBOOK BUY BACK is always an interesting topic on campus.  BUY BACK is not the same as REFUND.   A refund is only given the first 10 days of class with a receipt or with a drop slip and receipt after the ten days.  A RECEIPT is needed for a REFUND.  This is a full refund if you have the receipt and the book is in the same condition in which you purchased it.  BUY BACK takes place at the end of the semester when you are finished with the book.  No receipt is required but you will need your USI ID or driver's license and you get only a portion of your money back. Buy-back takes place in the store.  Dates will be posted throughout the campus.

The Most Frequently Asked Buy Back Questions  

• What is being bought?

1. Textbooks for the store (retail buyback) at 1/2 the new price.  It does not matter whether you originally bought the book new or used, as long as it is in good condition.
2. Textbooks not used in the Bookstore the next semester will be purchased at wholesale prices (market demand).  The wholesalers set these prices.

• Why does the Bookstore buy back only certain titles?

1. The instructors select and the department heads must have confirmed, prior to buy, that the title will be used next semester.  If we do not have confirmation, we can only buy books at the wholesale price.
2. Titles must be the newest edition available.  Remember that someone has to be the last to use a book.  From time to time, it may be your class that gets stuck.

• Why does the wholesaler only buy back certain titles?
1. The title must be the newest edition available.
2. The title must have national resale value.
3. It cannot be a workbook or a lab manual, where answers can be filled in or pages torn out.
4. The book must be in good condition.  Hi-lighting is okay.  A book with a broken spine or that has water damage is not okay.

 

• How does the store price USED books?
  1. On titles bought for the store, students have been given 50% of retail.  We resell it for 75% of retail. eg. -$10.00, $5.00 to student, $7.50 in the store.
  2. On used books ordered directly from a company, we do the same markup, so when buying a used book, you will always get it for at least 25% off the new retail price.

A few closing comments about Buy Back

We try to find as many used books as possible because we know they are a great expense, but we must be reasonable.  We cannot buy a book that, because of its condition, could not be resold to another student.  Remember -- there are very few things in this world that we can purchase, use for a few months, and then return for our money back.

1. The Bookstore has no say in the selection of books -- orders are sent to the store by the department heads.  We also have no say in the frequency of edition changes -- publishers decide this, based on changes in technology and the need for updated information and YES, sometimes to reduce the number of used books.  But remember every time we sell a used book to you, they have not sold a new book to us.  They are in business too, and must be able to continue with what they do best -- providing current relevant information in a professional manner.

2. Our favorite comment at Buy Back aside from "you're kidding!" is "The teacher never even used that book."  Please remember that you are not in high school anymore.  Your instructor is not there to walk you through the reading of a textbook.  It is your responsibility to attend classes, read your texts, complete your assignments, and learn.  It is your job to use that book, not your teacher.  Contrary to popular perception, the Bookstore is not getting rich off of textbooks.  It is very different from the "best seller" type sales you see in general bookstores, in shopping centers, and malls.  Bottom line -- the value of a textbook is in your hands.

 

---

Academics | Calendar | Athletics | Visitors | Events and News | Administration

8600 University Boulevard - Evansville, IN 47712-3596 - 812/464-8600

Copyright © 2008 University of Southern Indiana. All rights reserved.