Sell books early for best price
By Alice Horn, News Writing Student
Textbook buyback is the last week of the semester. That’s the week students sell their books to the bookstore so they can be resold as “used” books the next term.
“The end of the semester is one of our busiest times,” said Brenda Reinke, OCCC bookstore director.
The bookstore purchases most used textbooks for resale on campus, Reinke said.
However, even if the book won’t be used at OCCC next semester, there is a chance students can still get some money.
Some of the books go to a wholesale book buyer.
Reinke said the college will purchase most used textbooks, even if the owner has marked in them.
“As long as you can read it and the pages aren’t falling out, you should be fine,” Reinke said. Books with highlighting, notes in the margins, or dog-eared corners are accepted at buyback.
The only automatic disqualifier Reinke mentioned was water damage.
“Even if it is dry now, if the pages are crinkled up, and you can tell it’s been wet, we can’t buy them back. They will mold.”
Although students won’t get back their full investment, they will at least get some money back.
For biology student Maria Smith, it’s frustrating.
“I spent $400 to get my books, sold them back for $125, and then I had to pay $387 for books this semester,” she said.
On the other hand, Andrew Turner, 19, said he’s satisfied with the system.
“I love it,” he said. “School is out, finals are over, and I have some cash to spend.”
Reinke said she always staffs three buyers during buyback, so students rarely stand in line more than five minutes.
“It’s better to sell your books early in the week,” said Reinke, since the bookstore keeps on hand only the number of textbooks they predict they will needed for the next semester.
After that quota has been met, she said, they sell used books to a wholesale book buyer.
The buyback price for books to be sold in the bookstore is higher than the buyback price for books that go to the wholesaler.
“They (the wholesalers) are taking more of a risk on being able to sell the books later, so the prices are lower,” Reinke said.
For students who might need their books to study for final exams, Reinke suggested selling their books early, then using the textbook reserves for that last week of studying.
As long as students keep their textbooks, Reinke urges everyone to keep an eye on them.
“Textbook thefts are at their highest during buyback,” Reinke said.
“People see the signs and think ‘hey, here’s some easy money,’ and buyback is all cash.”
The dates for book buyback at OCCC bookstore are:
Monday, May 11, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday through Thursday, May 12 to 14, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, May 15, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 16, 9 a.m. to noon.
Monday, May 18, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
