Policies

We Adhere Closely to Our Mission of Providing Goods and Services at the Lowest Possible Prices Consistent with a Sound Business Policy. Our Diverse Selection of Books, Collegiate Clothing and Supplies Reflect the Wide Variety of Backgrounds and Interests That Make St. Cloud State University a World-Class Institution. THIS PAGE CONTAINS INFORMATION REGARDING OUR REFUND, RENTAL AND BUYBACK POLICIES.

GENERAL RETURN POLICY:

A trade (non-textbook) book may be returned within 1 day of purchase with receipt, with exception to BarCharts which are nonrefundable.

Returns on general (non-textbook) merchandise must be made within one week of purchase date, with exception to electronics and computer software which have a return policy of one day if unopened.  Exchanges for defective merchandise must be made within 30 days of purchase.

In all cases, a register receipt is required for a successful return.

 

RENTAL POLICIES:

Price and Payment Terms:  Your total price for the products will be stated on your purchase receipt. Campus Book & Supply accepts credit card or debit card ONLY (Visa, Mastercard and Discover) as payment for rented books, and we reserve the right to decline the acceptance of any order in the event the price of any product is incorrect. All Rentals are Non-refundable.

You agree to the storing of your credit or debit card information, encrypted, and agree that Campus Book and Supply may charge you for any unreturned, lost , stolen, damaged/misused books associated with your rental agreement.

Book Return Policies and Exchanges:  You acknowledge and agree to return any and all rented books in standard used condition with all rental stickers/identifications. If a book is returned damaged and rendered unusable it will remain the property of Campus Book & Supply and you will be charged the full retail value to replace it plus a $25 handling fee. Examples of damage include: excessive highlighting, liquid or smoke damage, torn or missing pages, binding damage or any other condition that we deem renders the book unfit for re-use. You acknowledge and agree to return any and all rented books with all supplemental material(s) that was included with the book(s) when you received the rented book(s). It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that you receive all supplemental material at time of receipt.

If your rented book is lost or stolen, you are responsible for the book. If you do not return the book at the end of your rental period, your credit/debit card will be charged the full retail price of the book plus a $25 handling fee. Rented books are to be returned no later than close of business on the last day of finals.

If you wish to purchase your rental, all transactions must be completed by the end of the last day of classes.

Collections:  Campus Book & Supply is not responsible for causing or refunding overdraft or other penalty fees a customer may receive for a credit or debit card going over its limit or being overdrawn. Campus Book & Supply reserves the right to use a collection agency and any other means necessary to recover lost assets or any payments due. All accounts sent to collections are subject to an additional $30.00 fee.

 

TEXTBOOK RETURN POLICY:

We stock all required textbooks for course use at Saint Cloud State University. We provide a large volume of used books for your convenience and savings. Buying used books saves you up to 25% off the publisher’s list prices.

Full refunds are given for books which have a valid current semester Campus Book and Supply receipt. Class schedules may be requested for verification. Books must be in the same condition as they were purchased. Students who have purchased their books in the bookstore or online will be offered refunds through the first week of Fall and Spring semesters. During Summer session full refunds are limited.  Do not remove shrink-wrapping or mark in new books until you are certain the book is correct and you decide to stay in the class. No refunds are given for material that have “No Refund” labels affixed to their covers. Defective books should be returned for a full refund immediately upon discovery of the defect. *Note! Do not write your name or mark in books until you are sure you will keep them.

GENERAL TEXTBOOK INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS:

Textbook Pricing: As a retailer of college textbooks, our cost determines our price. We add a minimum markup to our purchase cost to cover our operating expenses.

Each dollar you spend on a new college textbook is distributed in several ways. First, the publisher takes an average of 67% of every new textbook dollar you spend. The author gets approximately 11%, and freight companies 2.5%. An average of 9% goes to support academic programs and student activities. Salaries and benefits for your bookstore’s employees take the remaining 10.5%. For a detailed analysis, click on Where The New Textbook Dollar Goes. When textbook prices rise, it is the publishers who are raising the prices. Our goal is to provide you with all the books you need for your classes at a fair price. If you have further questions about textbook prices, please feel free to call or email us. Note: We do not give our prices or ISBN's over the phone. Please visit our website for pricing information.

Why Should You Purchase Textbooks: Though textbooks may seem expensive, they are a good value. Your professors have carefully chosen the course materials found in the bookstore. Textbooks are intended to provide primary sources of information as well as complement what is being presented in class. You can think of them as continuous learning tools, providing access to knowledge, insight and experience. They are in real terms, a vehicle to your college success and ultimately your diploma. In fact, they represent the smallest part of your investment in higher education.

Buyback Policy: Buyback is held during the last two weeks (finals week) of Fall and Spring Semester. The prices we pay are based on the current demand we have for each particular title. If your current semester textbook is being used in the upcoming semester it may be bought back at 50% of the selling price.  Of course there are a few exceptions: a) the bookstore's current stock exceeds anticipated demand and/or b) the bookstore has reached its buyback quota. 

We Buy Used Textbooks in Good Condition: All books we buy must be in good condition. The bindings must be in good shape with covers and all pages intact. Text must be readable and free from markings that make it illegible. Water damaged books have no value. Study guides and workbooks with fill-ins are not bought back for reuse in the bookstore. Copyright materials (packets, lab manuals, etc.) can not be bought back due to copyright laws. Management reserves the right and has the responsibility to refuse any book.

When We Have Filled Your Professor’s Orders: When we have bought back enough books from students to fill a professor’s order, we can no longer pay 50% of the selling price for that title. However, we may be able to recycle your text into the national used book distribution market. Even if your books are not being used in the upcoming semester or if we have reached our quota it is possible they may be bought back at current wholesale market price. These books are not retained by the bookstore.  They are sold to a used book distributor who sells the books to a wide range of college bookstores throughout the United States and Canada. We purchase for these wholesale distributors daily year round, not just during finals.

National Used Book Distribution Market Prices: The price the national market will pay you is much lower than the price we can pay for a books that we purchase to be used on campus next term. This is because the company that buys these books must pay to ship them to a central location, catalog them, and store them for months or possibly years.

Old Editions and Out-of-Print Textbooks: Publishers frequently issue new editions. When a new edition of a title comes out, the previous edition loses all value. Old edition titles have no demand and therefore no value. You can elect to keep these books for your personal library or donate them to a charity of your choice.

Books That You Purchase with Disks or Tapes: If your text was sold with disks or tapes, they must be included when you sell back the book. However, decisions to buy books with disks and tapes will be made on a title-by-title basis.

When to Sell Your Books: The best time to sell your books back is during finals week, at the end of the semester. By this time, we have received book orders from most faculty and our demand for certain titles is high. If you choose to sell your books during the semester, you will only be paid national used book distribution market prices. These prices are significantly lower than what you may receive during finals week.

Helpful Hint: Ask you professors if they have turned in their book orders for the next semester before finals week. This may increase the buyback value of your textbook.

 

FAQ's Answered

Why are textbooks so expensive?

Unfortunately, like everything else, textbook prices continue to rise each year.  Though textbook prices have gone up, studies show that over the last 20 years, they have only gone up about as much as most other things we buy.  Surprisingly, high prices for textbooks do not mean high profits for bookstores.  Publishers take the biggest bite out of every textbook dollar you spend.  For a detailed analysis, click on Where The New Textbook Dollar Goes.
      * You will need Adobe's Free Acrobat's Reader to view.

Are used textbooks available for sale?

Every effort is made to provide used textbooks for as many classes as possible.  It is recommended that you shop early to receive the best selection on our used textbooks.  Used textbooks are 25% less than new textbooks.

Who chooses the textbooks we sell?

Your professors choose all required course books we sell.  They know what titles best explain the important things you need to learn in their classes.  Professors study tens and sometimes hundreds of textbooks before choosing the ones that best fit there needs.

What is the deadline for returning textbooks for a full refund?

Students who have purchased their books in the bookstore or online will be offered refunds through the first two weeks of Fall and Spring semesters. During Summer session full refunds are limited to one business day per number of weeks the class is in session. For example, if you are taking a summer course that is 4 weeks long you will have the first 4 days of class to make a return.

NOTE:

• Returns must be accompanied by a current Campus Book and Supply cash register receipt
• New books must be absolutely clean and free from markings
• Shrink-wrapped or packaged items must be returned unopened
• Do not write your name, mark in books, or open packaged bundles until you are sure you will keep them

Where can I buy my textbooks?

Students may purchase textbooks in store at 305 5th Ave. S, St. Cloud, MN or online through the Campus Book and Supply web page.

When will each semester's textbooks be available for purchase?

Textbook orders are due to the bookstores by April 1st/November 1st. We begin filling orders as soon as they come in. After buyback the shelves start to fill for the upcoming semester and shipments are received daily. We only close our textbook area to sales during buyback, so you are free to shop anytime.    

When is textbook buyback?

Textbook buyback is held during finals week at the end of Fall and Spring semester.  Days and hours run Monday-Thursday, 9:00a.m.- 6:00p.m., and Friday 9:00a.m.- 5:00p.m. This is the time when we are buying for our store shelves. We also buy books each day throughout the year for the wholesale market.

How much will I get for my books at buyback?

Any textbook required for the next quarter (except those for which the bookstore’s current stock exceeds anticipated demand) may be bought back at 50% of the book’s selling price until we meet our limit.  When we meet our limit for a textbook or if the textbook is not being used for the next quarter, you will receive money based on the current wholesale market value.  Wholesale market value is considerably less than 50% of the book’s price.  If you believe the wholesale market value is too low, you have the option of not selling your textbook.
 

• Books must be in good resale condition
• Study guides and workbooks, if completely clean and unmarked, only receive wholesale market value
• Coursepacks are not eligible for buyback
• The bookstore cannot guarantee the buyback of any book at any time

Why, if I barely used a book, won’t you buy it back?

Our buyback is determined on two things: 1. Professors turning in their textbook requests prior to the buyback dates, and 2. Book values in the used book wholesale market. "How Used" the book is will only be a factor if the book is water damaged, has loose or missing pages, or is a study guide/workbook that has been filled in.

What information do I need to purchase my textbooks?

Please have a copy of your class schedule that lists the course and section number for which you are registered.  Your registration form information must match our self-tag information and, if you are ordering online, our online order information.

If there is no shelf-tag or online order information for my class, what should I do?

The best thing to do is attend class for more information.  However, your professor may not be using a textbook or your professor is using a textbook but they have failed to place an order with the bookstore.

Can I purchase my books through your web page?

Online ordering is available and is usually available one month prior to the beginning of classes.  Orders are processed and held for you to pick-up during the first week of classes. Depending on stock and availability, you may choose to have your order shipped to you.
For online order, click here and follow the prompts.

How quickly are web orders processed?

Orders for pick-up are processed a week before classes begin.  This allows ample time for most textbooks to be on the shelf and available for order fulfillment.  Orders to be shipped are mailed immediately.

How long are textbooks available each semester?

Our textbook sales floor begins to change at about 6 weeks into a semester.  This allows us to return unsold textbooks and prepare for the next semester.

Why do you run out of textbooks during the first two weeks of a quarter?

Textbook ordering is based on expected enrollment vs. actual enrollment months before an academic term begins. Late registration often expands enrollment beyond original expectations. Also, we have to consider that students may shop the competition so we do not order the full quantity. We try to monitor enrollment levels during the first week of a semester to identify shortages and initiate reorders where appropriate.  These reorders are clearly identified for our customers by means of a shelf marker, which gives the approximate arrival date.  Reorders are sent via rush methods and usually arrive within a week.

What should I do if you are sold out of my textbook?

If the shelf is empty where the book should be please ask for help! One of our employees will be able to tell you if the text has been reordered and if you are able to reserve a copy. We also do special orders which require a $5.00 deposit.