The Brown University Bookstore stocks all required and recommended texts that faculty wish students to read for their courses. Textbooks are ordered directly from the publisher or from textbook wholesalers. In most cases, the Textbook Department attempts to stock as many used textbooks as possible, in keeping with student demand. However, we are not always able to gain adequate supply of used books from Textbook Buyback or our Textbook Wholesalers. In all cases, used books are sold at 25% off new book list prices.
Used Book Buyback Services
If books are to be re-used for the next term:
At the end of each semester, the bookstore pays 50% of the new book price for books that have been ordered by faculty for the next term. These texts are placed in inventory as used, and then resold the next term to Brown students at 25% off the new book price. Students can resell their new or used books, and still receive up to 50% of the new book price. To qualify, books must be the current edition and in salable condition. Study guides or workbooks must be complete and not written in. The quantity of books purchased at buyback for 50% is based on the quantity of used books the bookstore can expect to sell next term. This is based on class enrollments and expected student demand for used books. from other sources.
Books not being re-used for the next term:
The Bookstore also buys back books which are not neededfor the next term. The price quoted is determined by used book wholesalers who distribute used books nationally to other college stores. The Bookstore receives regular price updates into its automated inventory system so it can easily quote students the wholesale price offered for a particular book title. Due to the expense of redistributing books, the wholesaler price usually does not exceed 25% to 30% of the new book price, where the used book supply exceeds demand the price quoted may be as low as 10%. This additional service allows students to obtain a price for unwanted books and also helps to recycle used books nationally to other students. Discarded books unwanted by the wholesaler and student are donated to the International Book bank, which distributes books to African, Eastern European and Caribbean nations.
Old Editions and Out of Print Books:
Once a book is revised, or declared out of print, demand for those titles lose their value on the market. The Bookstore will often pay 50 cents for these books and sell them as "sale books" on its sale tables. The sale tables are popular as a place to find "cheap" books.
Books with Tapes, Disks or CDs: A complete package may be required to receive full buyback price. The manager will make case by case decisions.
(A Brown ID is required in order to sell your books.)
Contact the Textbook Department:
TEL 401-863-2270, or 800-695-2050
FAX 401-863-2233
Bookstore_Textbooks@brown.edu