The Fresno City College Bookstore is implementing a new program which will make it easier for students to sell their used textbooks.
Mary Beth Wynn, an interim assistant bookstore manager at Fresno City College says that students can return their textbooks that they have purchased this semester, last semester or even a semester before and get cash for them.
“Usually we had buyback at the beginning of semester, at the end of the semester. But now it’s every day [as well],” said Wynn.
According to Wynn, the new everyday buyback program started in mid-October this year but so far it has been in a test mode and not many students know about it yet. The bookstore is planning on marketing a new program after its beginning of the semester buy back in January of 2013.
To sell a textbook back students just have to come into the bookstore and ask whether their book qualifies.
“We have a list that we go off that we’re purchasing certain books,” said Wynn. “And so if that textbook is on the list, then we’ll purchase the book from the student. If it’s not on the list then basically we’re not using the book anymore.”
If the title and the edition of the book are still on the list of the books that the bookstore is planning on using next semester, students can get the wholesale price of it back. FCC Bookstore sales clerk Deborah Stovall says that the bookstore is constantly updating the list of the buyback eligible books according to what the textbook company wants.
According to Wynn, students cannot only sell back textbooks that they bought from the FCC bookstore but they could have been bought from other different stores as well. The only important criteria is that the bookstore would be able to resell it next semester and it’s in a good condition.
“It needs to be, kinda gently used, because a student will buy that book again and they’ll need it,” said Wynn. “The pages have to be there, there can’t be anything tored out. There could be highlight in there but if it’s very damaged we won’t take it back.”
Both Wynn and Stovall say that the amount of money a student can get for their book varies depending on the book itself. But the most that students can get during an everyday buyback is a wholesale price.
“The publisher, the buyback company sets the wholesale price. That’s what we pay when we order from them,” said Stovall. “You get what we pay for it. What we get out of it is we don’t have to pay shipping for it to get here. But otherwise we’re giving you as much as we would give that company.”
The new buyback program is also available for students at Willow International Center, Madera Center and Reedley College.
According to Wynn, the program is very convenient for students as they don’t have to look for a privately owned bookstore to sell their books back. Now they can do it on campus and at any time.
Wynn said, “Instead of waiting till the end of the semester they can sell it when they want to.”
