Textbook Department Buyback

The Cornell Store:
May 5-16, Weekdays 8:30-5
May 10, Saturday Noon-4:30
May 17, Saturday Noon-4:30

Plus 3 other locations:
RPCC (Room 220), Stella's (403 College Ave) and Noyes Center (Room 106)
May 8-16, Weekdays 8:30-5
May 10, Saturday Noon-4:30

RPCC (Room 220) and Noyes Center (Room 106)
May 17, Saturday 8:30-1:00

Other Great Reasons to Sell Books to The Cornell Store:
Receive a 25% off any in-store item* coupon!
Receive a free full-size candy bar!
*some exclusions apply

Here's how to maximize what you can earn by selling textbooks:

Watch for your personalized email from the Cornell Store showing the titles in your courses for which we're paying 50% of the new book prices. (We pay 50% on titles adopted for Fall 2008 until we reach quantities needed.)
Check our web site to learn the wholesale prices for your titles that are not on our 50% list. (List will be posted May 5; click on "Book Buyback." Prices change daily, so check regularly.)
Bring everything, even if you bought it somewhere else. In addition to the over 1,000 titles on our 50% list, we're buying over 121,000 additional titles for use at other campuses.

Disclaimers:
1. Quantity and price are subject to change without notice. 2. Book must be precise edition sought. Not accepting international editions.3. Some books are parts of bundles; in some cases we can buy back the book alone, in some cases we'll need all the components. We'll explain your options when you present the books and the components at the counter. 4. First-come first-served. For some titles we're only buying small quantities.5. We cannot reply to individual emails about buyback prices.

What is book buyback?

Book buyback is a service provided by The Cornell Store to students who wish to sell back textbooks that they do not want to keep for future reference.

Why should I sell my books back to The Cornell Store?

It is an opportunity for you to help other students reduce the cost of their textbooks, while assisting you to cover the expense of your own textbook purchases by giving you cash for your unwanted books. Having a large supply of used books available is the single most significant way that The Cornell Store can assist you to reduce the cost of your textbooks. You are our best source of used books. Our preference is to purchase them from you rather than from a used book supply dealer.

When is the best time to sell my books back?

The best time to sell is right after classes have ended and during finals week each semester. Remember that during this period, we are buying books for the upcoming term so the prices will be higher. Once the semester has begun, we have all the books we need. At this point, none of your books will be purchased at the 50% price but rather at whatever the used book dealer has determined their value.

How much will I get back for my books?

If we have received a firm order from a professor that your textbooks will be used again in the upcoming semester, we will pay 50% of the list price whether the books were purchased new or used. If we have not yet received an order for a particular title, it may still have a resale value so all titles should be brought into buyback for price quotes.

How much will I get back for books not yet ordered for the upcoming semester?

If you have a current edition of a title that has not yet been ordered at Cornell for the upcoming semester, we check the database of a nationally recognized used book dealer, Follett Campus Resources, for demand. If the book is listed, it will be purchased and recycled into Follett's used book market for purchase by other universities.

The prices paid can range from 0-30% of the retail price determined by copyright, subject matter and demand. Due to frequent edition changes, used book companies take a huge calculated risk in purchasing these titles with the potential of worthless inventory.

Do I need my receipt to sell my books?

No, a receipt is not needed. However, the books must be in good condition. The bindings must be in good shape, with covers and pages intact and with no heavy highlighting or underlining to make the text illegible.

Do you buy packaged texts or books with disks and tapes if they have been ordered for the following semester?

If your textbook was sold as part of a package, all components must be intact when you sell back the book. If any piece is missing then the book will not be bought back at the 50% price.

However, due to concerns about mishandled disks or tapes and the inability to check them at buyback, decisions to buy them back is at the discretion of the buyer.

Do you buy study guides and workbooks?

Generally, yes if there are no pages missing and they have not been excessively written in making the text illegible. Once again, the purchase is at the discretion of the buyer.

Why do I see books on the shelves the following semester when I was told at buyback time that an order had not yet been received for those books?

There are three different reasons why this could happen:

(1) Buyback prices are driven by professor's book requests. Unfortunately, some book orders are received at The Cornell Store after the heavy buyback period has ended. Therefore, you received less money than you could have if the information had been known earlier.

(2) We are still receiving textbook orders as buyback is occurring. Prices change daily as new book orders continue to arrive. A title worth $10.00 today could be worth $30.00 tomorrow but, as stated in reason number 3, the reverse could also happen.

(3) Purchase quantities are based on the estimated enrollments that professors supply when they submit their orders. Our standard is to buy back up to 80% of the number to be ordered because not all students want used books. When The Cornell Store has reached it's limit of used books needed of a title, the price will then drop from 50% of the retail price to a lower price.

If I know that a book is only used in the fall semester should I try to sell it back in December?

That's a tricky one. To receive the best price, you should wait until the May buyback. However, if the book has been around for a couple of years, you then run into the possibility of the title going into a newer edition, resulting in the book having no resale value.

What can I do with my books that have no resale value?

Either keep them for your reference library or donate them to the Cornell Tradition Program. There are drop sites available at all four buyback locations.

The Cornell Store, 135 Ho Plaza, Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-4111 • (800) 624-4080 (M-F 8:30am-5pm EST)

Fully owned & operated by Cornell University; store revenue
supports university operations, facilities & programming.

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