If the Store does not have an order, the market price will be offered by a private used textbook wholesaler. The Store s books go in one pile and the wholesaler s books go in another. It s a matter of timing. If a faculty order was received prior to Buyback, and 40 books are needed for next semester, the student bringing back book number 41 will be offered the wholesale price. On the other hand, if the order was received a few days after the buyback started, the first students would have received the lower price.
Publishers print new editions of books approximately every three years.
Unless a faculty member has requested the old edition for the following semester, the book is of no value. Wholesalers do not buy back books that are out of print. If a textbook order is placed after the Buyback has ended, the Store will try to obtain used copies from wholesalers. The Campus Store pays roughly the same price for used books, either to UMass students or used book wholesalers. Although it s not always possible, the Store would rather purchase used books from students.