The University Store buys used textbooks back daily during regular store hours throughout the year and also has major Book Buybacks during final exams of both fall and spring semesters.
There are several factors affecting the price offered for your book:
- Condition of the book (water damaged books are not bought back)
- National demand for title
- New edition has been published (generally old editions are not bought back)
Daily Book Buyback
NOTICE: The Daily Book Buyback is unavailable September 4 through 16. It will resume during regular store hours on September 17. Try the Online Buyback service by clicking the link below.
- You may sell your books for cash to the University Store during regular store hours at the Daily Book Buyback.
- The University Store advises that you do your research before selling your books to get the best price possible. Ask the competition for their buyback policy before you sell.
- Photo ID is required to protect you from book theft.
Online Textbook Buyback Service
- The University Store has partnered with MBS Textbook Exchange to offer the convenience of CASH for your books online with FREE SHIPPING.
Textbook Refund Policy Fall 2008
Textbooks purchased for the FAll 2008 semester may be returned for a full refund according to the following terms:
- An ORIGINAL SALES RECEIPT IS REQUIRED for ALL RETURNS.
- New books must be in new, unmarked condition without highlighting, writing or underlining. The cover and pages of the book must be intact and unsoiled.
- All used books must have the "original" University Store barcode sticker.
- Books purchased shrinkwrapped must be returned with the shrinkwrap intact.
- New or used textbooks with water damage are not returnable.
- Defective books will be accepted for an even exchange during the semester.
- Credit Card Refunds : If you paid for the books with a credit card and want your account credited, you must have your credit card or credit card information (account number and expiration date). You do have the option of receiving a store credit that must be used in the University Store.
- Personal Check Refunds: If you paid with a personal check, a 10-day waiting period from the date of purchase is required before a cash refund can be issued. A store credit can be issued immediately that can be used to purchase merchandise in the University Store.
Last Date to Return Textbooks:
Day and Evening Classes...................September 16
Dropped Classes .................................September 27
Textbooks may also be returned within 48 hours of purchase except during the final two weeks of the semester when all textbook purchases are final.
Textbook Questions
1. Why should I buy my textbooks at the University Store?
The University Store has the most up-to-date, accurate information direct from the faculty which means you get the RIGHT BOOK for your class. You also benefit from the CONVENIENCE of on-campus shopping and the opportunity to buy all of your books at the same time. Since the University Store is owned and operated by Towson University, all of the money spent in the store goes back into the university to directly benefit you.
2. Who decides which textbooks are required for a course?
The instructor of the course determines the specific required and recommended textbooks for the course. Instructors are responsible for providing the book information to the Textbook Department by an established deadline so that the books are on the shelves when the semester begins.
3. What purchase methods exist to buy textbooks?
You can choose to shop in the University Store or online.
4. How do I know which textbooks to buy? Where are they located in the University Store?
Your course schedule is the key to identifying the textbooks that are needed for each class. So please bring your course schedule with you because it contains the course and section numbers that are needed to identify the required textbooks. The Textbook Department is located at the back of the store and is arranged alphabetically by academic department and numerically by course and section numbers within each academic department. Faculty names are not used to identify courses and textbooks because faculty are sometimes reassigned.
5. What is the recommended best time to buy textbooks?
Textbooks for the fall, spring, and summer semesters are available for sale 1 -2 weeks prior to the first day of classes. Since many changes to course and book information occur before a semester starts, the University Store can be reasonably sure by this date that the correct books are on the shelf and that the majority of new and used books have arrived.
6. How much do textbooks cost?
The average cost of required textbooks and supplies for a full-time student is $350-$500 per semester. For more accurate costs, use the online textbook search function.
7. May I reserve textbooks for pick-up over the phone or online?
You may not reserve textbooks over the phone. However, you may reserve online textbook orders for pick-up at the University Store for a limited time at the beginning of the semester.
8. If I call the store, can someone look up textbook title information or check the shelf for me?
If you have a question about a single course or a particular textbook, the Store's staff will try to assist you. If you are a Towson University student, you will need to know your department, course and section. If you are not a Towson University student, you must have the ISBN # for the particular book you would like to have checked. Depending on current inventory of the textbook, we can hold the textbook for you for 48 hours.
9. Are used books available and where are they located?
Used books are available and are priced 25% lower than the new books. Since they sell quickly, all used copies are shelved when received with the new books.
10. Can textbooks be returned if an instructor is not using the book or a course is dropped?
Textbooks can be returned for any reason within the first two weeks of fall and spring classes if:
- You present the ORIGINAL RECEIPT.
- New or Used copies are not water damaged.
- New copies have not been marked in any way including writing, highlighting, and underlining.
- New copies do not have worn, creased, soiled, or dog-eared pages.
- The shrink wrap has not been removed.
For dropped classes, textbooks may be returned within the first three weeks of classes. In addition to the conditions listed above, the "drop" must be verified. Please check your sales receipt for exact refund deadline dates for the current semester.
11. Does the University Store buy textbooks back? How much is paid for them?
The University Store has major Book Buybacks during final exams of both fall and spring semesters and also purchases books daily during regular store hours.
During the end-of-semester book buybacks, the University Store pays 50% of the new book price for current texts and 33% of the new book price on current edition mass market books* if:
A) The store has received a book order from an instructor for the upcoming semester AND
B) The store needs copies for its inventory based on enrollment data. When the store's inventory quota is satisfied, buyback prices drop to the wholesale value.
Old edition textbooks are NOT purchased by the Uiversity Store or the book wholesaler. Most current edition textbooks not bought back by the University Store for its inventory will be bought at a wholesale value of 10% to 30% of the retail value.
* A mass market book is a pocket size paperback book which is usually pre-priced.
The prices offered for textbooks bought during the Daily Book Buyback are based on a national book wholesaler's buying guide and will fluctuate with demand.
