Along with saying goodbye to classmates, the end of the semester also means getting rid of textbooks.
One option students have to get money back for their course materials is the Campus Store’s buyback period, from Dec. 12 to 20. Melanie Hortin, a junior in elementary education, has done this in previous semesters and was surprised by the amount she got in return.
“It was easier than I thought,” she said. “I brought in three books and was able to sell two of them for $150, which was way more than I thought I would get back.”
Paige Westenskow, a student supervisor in the textbook section of the Campus Store, said students can bring in their textbooks to the designated buyback counter, where they will be scanned and inspected. If the books are deemed “readable,” the individual will receive a cash amount. Westenskow said readability depends on whether or not the book was damaged and if covers are left intact.
Hailey Draxler, a junior in psychology and sociology, said she once paid $200 for a book and got just $3 during buyback.
“It’s one of the easiest ways [to return textbooks], but not necessarily the best,” she said.
Representatives from the Campus Store could not give figures as to how many students sold to the bookstore or the sales made in previous years. The only direct amount the U can guarantee for a buyback is up to 50 percent. Titles that are guaranteed this price are listed on the bookstore’s website. If an instructor has notified the Campus Store that a specific textbook will be reused, students will usually receive a higher return for those books until quantities are met. The cash amount a student receives for a book also depends on who purchases it, which could be the U or a wholesaler.
An alternative to selling in person is selling to an online retailer, such as Amazon or Chegg. Karriann Johnson, a sophomore in gender studies and sociology, said students should explore more of these kinds of options.
“There are plenty of other alternatives to buy and sell textbooks,” Johnson said. “A lot of people — younger undergrads in particular — don’t know that, but it might save them a lot of money down the line.”
Katie Guido, a sophomore in biomedical engineering, said she tends to keep her books but is planning to sell her math textbook to someone on campus.
“It’s a special edition to the U, and I don’t think I’ll have a hard time finding someone who needs it for next semester,” she said.
Guido has never sold to the bookstore but feels other selling alternatives are more effective.
“I feel like you’d get a decent amount from Amazon,” she said, “rather than the bookstore because you can do your own listing price.”
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