PrintBook Buyback
Upcoming Buyback Dates and Times
Surrey Campus Bookstore:
Mon, April 26, 9:00am–4:00pm,
Tues, April 27, 9:00am-7:00pm,
Wed, April 28, 9:00am-4:00pm,
Thurs, April 29, 9:00am-3:30pm
Richmond Campus Bookstore:
Mon, April 26, 9:00am–4:00pm,
Tues, April 27, 9:00am-4:00pm,
Wed, April 28, 9:00am–7:00pm,
Thurs, April 29, 9:00am–3:30pm
Langley Campus Bookstore:
Mon, April 26, 9:00am–4:00pm,
Tues, April 27, 9:00am-3:30pm
Please bring your Student ID card and your Bank card.
Used Book Buyback runs for several days during exam period each semester. Each year buyback runs up to three times: April, August & December. Buyback times, campus locations and dates are posted towards the end of each semester.
Buyback is a simple concept. When you are finished with your textbooks, you take them to the buyback table where the book buyer checks your student I.D. and offers you a price on your books. If you accept the price, a receipt of the transaction will be printed. You present the receipt and your Bank card to the bookstore cashier who processes a credit to your bank account. We call it the ‘cashless buyback’.
Appearance of the books, while important, is not the major consideration determining how much you are offered for your books. The best price is offered on the titles the bookstore needs for the upcoming semester. The most offered is 50 percent of the used price. Highlighting is not a problem.
The store may not need the book, at the moment you wish to sell it. Lower amounts may be offered (known as ‘wholesale’ price) if the bookstore does not need the book for its own stock. That price depends on whether the book is needed at another college or university.
In all instances, your book must be the current edition; editions change frequently and there is no market for non-current editions
To re-cap, the most important factors are: the book being used in the upcoming semester and the bookstore needs the book for its stock.
It is easy to determine if the book is being used; just check the bookstore’s website for the booklist for the upcoming semester. However, it is not possible to determine ahead of time whether the bookstore needs your book because the factors are complex and change without warning.
It is easier to explain why the store may not need your title; usually because store already has ample stock of a title.
Frequently asked Questions
What is Buyback?
A time to get credit for books you do not want.
When is Buyback?
During exam week at the end of each semester.
How does Buyback work?
Bring your books to the buyback table and the wholesaler will tell you what it is worth.
Who determines the price I get for my book?
The demand or need for the book, on campus, or through out North America, determines the price.
Does one buyback location offer different prices than another?
At Kwantlen, each campus buyback offers the same list and same prices as the other locations. Choose the location most convenient to you. Where the books were purchased originally, or where they will be used at Kwantlen does not matter – the list and prices apply equally.
Why do I get different amounts of money for different books?
If it is needed by the Bookstore, you will get 50 percent of the used selling price. If it is not needed by the Bookstore, but is required anywhere in North America, the wholesaler will offer you a percentage (usually 10-30 percent) of the retail price.
If the book was bought ‘used’, can it still be sold?
Yes, it does not matter if the book was bought new or used.
Why does buyback sometimes not take a book still needed on campus?
The bookstore buys as many books as it needs but has a quota on a specific title and may not need anymore. In that case, the wholesaler may offer you a percentage and ship the book to where it is needed.
If the book is highlighted or written in, can it still be sold?
Yes, as long as it is usable, it has value.
Can I have the money right away?
If you have your Interac card with you, a credit is processed to your bank account.
Are there any alternatives to selling your book at the bookstore’s used book buyback?
The buyback program is designed to give you 'fast cash' and is not a reflection of what your books are 'worth'. If you want to get more value, the process takes a little longer.
- You can advertise them yourself - check with the KSA office
- You can try seasonal buybacks in April, August and December when the bookstore will need a greater range of titles
Used book buyback is a service for Kwantlen students. Feedback on how to make the service work better for you is appreciated. Please post your comments or questions to denise.mccoy@kwantlen.ca or leave a voice-mail: 604.599.2130 Book Buyback.