Below you will find answers to the most commonly asked questions about our rental, purchase, and buyback programs. If you don't find your answer below, please contact us!
TextbookRecycling.com provides customers with an easy way to buy, rent, or sell books and to compare prices for books across the web. Our goal is to provide a quality service that benefits both our customers directly as well as our communities and environment. To that end, we have chosen to donate a portion of our buybacks and profits to charitable organizations that support literacy, personal development, and basic human needs in both our local as well as national and international communities. We also strongly encourage people to sell or donate their unwanted books: buying and reading used books not only saves trees but gets knowledge into the hands of those who really need it. Besides buying and selling books for great prices, we also ship books to schools and libraries at home and abroad that are in need of more reading materials.
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All kinds! Although textbooks are our specialty, we buy, rent, and sell other books including fiction and non-fiction titles. Everything from Harry Potter to books about gardening, history, computer programming, cooking, travel --- and just about anything else you can think of!
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We understand that your privacy and confidentiality are extremely important. Any personal information that you give us such as your name, e-mail address, mailing address, or any credit card information is kept strictly confidential and is used only to provide you with the best possible online experience. For more information, please read our Privacy & Security Statement.
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There are several ways you may contact us. You may call us toll free at 1-866-483-9826 (1-866-4TEXTBOOKS). You may also send us an e-mail to customerservice@textbookrecycling.com. We typically respond to all inquiries and comments within 24 hours. Written correspondence can be sent to the following address: Textbook Recycling Co., 421 S. Main St., Troy, ID 83871.
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From any page on our website, click the "sell books" button. Once you are on that page, enter the 10 or 13-digit ISBN found on the back of your book for all of the books you are interested in selling. You will receive instant quotes for all of the books you listed that have value. Quotes for books that have no value will either indicate, "Book accepted for donation only," or "Sorry, we are currently not accepting this title."
If your book originally included a CD-Rom, DVD, supplemental book or some other accessory, please include this when shipping your book to us. Please note that if you send a book where the book information on your quote indicates that a supplement should be included, you may receive 1/2 or less of the used value of the original quote or no compensation at all, depending on the book, if the supplemental material is not included. We will not return books that have no value. Please note that any necessary online access codes (e.g., MyMathLab, MyStatLab, MyEconLab, etc) must be valid, unused, and unopened in order to receive payment.
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A book that is graded as "new" should be in pristine condition. That is, it should look like it just arrived from the publisher- the way you would typically find a book when bought new at a bookstore. Often, if a book is slightly scuffed, the corners are worn or damaged, or if the cover is slightly bent (this is most likely to happen with paperbacks), these will be graded as "used" because they cannot be sold as new. For this reason, it is very important to pack your books carefully when you are shipping! (Please see shipping instructions on prepaid label provided with your quote). We make every effort to grade books as "new" if possible because we want you to receive the highest price possible so you will continue to use our services. Please note that even though a book was never used, it may not be graded as "new" condition if it does not arrive in pristine condition.
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Price quotes will be honored in accordance to the full Buyback Terms and Conditions listed on the site. Shipments must be received within 14 days of the buyback price quote. Books received after 14 days will be priced according to the current prices listed in our database; in such cases the prices may vary from those in your original quote and in some cases books may no longer have value. We do not return books that have no value. For this reason, we strongly encourage you to send your books to us as soon as possible after you receive your quote. Please read the Buyback Terms and Conditions posted on the site for more details.
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Yes, we will accept books with highlighting and writing in them as long as no more than 1/3 of the pages of the book include any markings. The exception to this rule is that study guides, work books and lab manuals sold to us must have NO writing OR highlighting in them for you to receive payment. We also will not accept any books that have extreme damage such as a loose binding, cover or pages partially or entirely torn off, mold damage, stuck pages, water damage of any kind, loose or missing pages, or pages with tape or other foreign materials bound to them. You will not receive payment for any books received by us in unacceptable condition and these will not be returned to you.
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We will typically accept these books if they are the current edition. Most of these type books will be college textbooks. If a review copy book is not in our database, you can enter the student edition ISBN and use the following guidelines when sending your books to us:
- Books With Review/Instructor’s/Free Copy Markings On Outside Cover ONLY: we will pay you approximately 80% of the used value of the student edition listed in our database (it will be the exact amount you would be quoted if you entered the instructor's edition ISBN)
- Books With Additional Notes and/or Answers: these are often called “Annotated Instructor’s Editions”; we will NOT purchase these titles unless these are listed as having value in our online database.
- Books With Review/Instructor’s/Free Copy Markings On Outside AND Inside Cover: these books will typically have “Free Copy” markings on the title page or the first 10-20 pages of the book. Unless a particular title is listed as having value in our online database, we are not purchasing these titles.
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We will purchase these titles ONLY if the exact ISBN for the international edition, custom edition, or loose leaf edition is included in our database. The ISBNs for these books are typically printed on the outside of the book itself (not a sticker placed on the book) or on the cover pages of the loose leaf version. These books will typically be listed in our database as "International Edition", "(Loose Leaf)" or "Custom Edition". Please note that we will NOT return any international editions or loose leaf versions where a direct match cannot be found in our database.
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Yes. We will take up to five copies of the same book per customer per month without prior approval. If you have more than that, you will need to contact us before sending them. Otherwise you risk being paid less than the quoted total or in some cases no payment at all. If you have more than 5 copies of a particular title, you can request approval by sending a quote via the “Bulk Quantities” link from the Sell Books page. This will allow you to enter ISBNs and quantities for all of the titles you are interested in selling. Prices offered for bulk quantities may be more or less than what is quoted on our web site depending on our need for a particular title at the time of your request.
Typically, you will receive a response to your request by e-mail within 2 business days.
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Yes. We buy many old edition books. However, typically their value will be significantly less than the current edition. We are now buying back all kinds of books including textbooks and trade books (e.g., cooking, gardening, computers, autobiographies, self help, etc.).
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You may have several (or many) books that no longer have any monetary value. We are now accepting many of these for donation through our Books Overseas™ program. The books we accept for donation through our site are either donated directly to our global literacy partners or sold with the net proceeds going to benefit our regional and global literacy partners.
Books that have no value but can be accepted for donation are indicated on the results page of your price quote.
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You will find that the large majority of books you entered into our database will appear in your quote. If the ISBN you entered does not come up in your quote, check that you entered the number correctly. If the book is a current edition review copy (e.g., instructor’s copy, complimentary copy, free copy, examination copy, etc) we are likely interested in purchasing it. Please see our guidelines regarding review copies.
Our pricing database is extremely reliable and accurate; however, in the very rare case that our database should be in error or for any other reason, TextbookRecycling.com reserves the right to refuse books. In such cases where the error is ours, TextbookRecycling.com will ship such books back at no cost to you.
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Packing and shipping instructions are provided on your personalized prepaid merchandise return label provided for you when you check out following your price quote. If you are unable to do this, please follow the instructions below:
Packing Instructions
- Place your book(s) in a box or bubble mailer with as little extra space as possible.
- Any extra space should be filled with non-print paper to keep books from slipping around. PLEASE DO NOT FILL SPACE WITH STYROFOAM PEANUTS OR OTHER STYROFOAM PRODUCTS.
- Close and secure the box using sturdy packing tape.
- Place and tape a prepaid mailing label to each package making sure not to cover any barcodes or postage fee information. Please indicate the number of packages in your buyback order (e.g., 1 of 3, 2 of 3, 3 of 3, etc.).
Shipping Instructions For USPS (Postal Service)
- Drop your package(s) off at any U.S. post office. If you are affiliated with a college or university, there is typically at least 1 post office on campus. To find a post office near you, click here.
OR
If you have regular mail pickup/delivery to your location, you may schedule a pickup. To do this, go to USPS.com and click “schedule a pickup” and then click “carrier pickup.” You will need to estimate the size and weight of the package(s) you would like to be picked up. THIS SERVICE IS ONLY AVAILABLE IF YOU ARE NOT PURCHASING INSURANCE.
- Insurance is NOT covered using our prepaid mailing label. If you have books of higher value, we recommend that you purchase insurance. Although it is rare that books are lost or damaged during shipment, it does happen on rare occasion.
NOTE: Estimated shipping time for USPS Media Mail is 4-10 days
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Shipping Instructions For FedEx Ground
- Drop your package(s) off at any FedEx drop off location. To find a FedEx drop off location near you, click here.
- Insurance and tracking are automatically included with FedEx shipping. You may track the location of your package anytime by visiting the FedEx website and entering your tracking numbers.
NOTE: Estimated shipping time for FedEx Ground is 2-5 Days
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We sell both "new" and "used" books. We do not sell books that have torn or missing pages, stuck pages, torn covers, or excessive highlighting/writing in them. We do our very best to describe all of the items we have for sale as accurately as possible whether they are new or used. If you find that you are not satisfied with your order for any reason, you may return your purchase for a full refund, provided that you meet the conditions of our return policy.
Enter the 10 or 13 digit ISBN number for the book you want into Buy & Rent Books field at our homepage and click on the blue Search button or simply hit the Enter key. The results page will display details about the book such as author, title, and edition, including price and availability of the book from our store as well as across the web. If we have the book in stock and you wish to buy the book directly from us, clicking on the green Add To My Cart button adds the book to your Buy/Rent Cart. When you are finished adding books to your cart, follow the simple steps to check out and finalize your order. If you prefer to buy the book from one of the other booksellers listed, click on the green Buy Here button next to their listing to leave our website for theirs.
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All major credit cards are accepted including American Express, Discover, Master Card, & Visa. Payment is made immediately using our encrypted, SSL technology. We use DigiCert and Authorize.net for encryption and authentication to securely process your transaction.
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We typically ship your book within 1 business day from the time of your order. Please be aware that mail services are not available on weekends and holidays, so ordering on such days may delay your order from being processed.
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We use the U.S. Postal Service as our primary shipping service. The most economical method of shipping is Media Mail Standard Shipping. It typically will take anywhere from 3-10 days for you to receive your package, depending on your location in relation to our Troy, Idaho facility. Customers needing their book within 2-4 days should choose Priority Mail (expedited shipping).
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You will receive an e-mail notifying you when your book(s) have been shipped. Using the delivery confirmation number provided in the e-mail, you may go to the USPS website (www.USPS.com) to check the status of your package.
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If you need to cancel an order before it has been shipped, please notify us as soon as possible by sending an e-mail to customerservice@textbookrecycling.com or calling us toll free at 1-866-483-9826. Please keep in mind that we generally process orders within 1 business day. If your order has already been shipped, you will have to follow our return policy.
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We are happy to issue a full refund provided that the book is received back in the condition in which it was sent out within 30 days of the original purchase date. We will not refund the cost of shipping unless we have made an error- in this case we will reimburse you for shipping costs. To return a book, please log on and follow the instructions and procedures at the My Orders section of the My Account page. Once the returned book is received by us, you will be issued a refund to the credit/debit card you used to make the purchase.
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We rent both "new" and "used" books, and all used books are in good or better condition. We do not rent books that have torn or missing pages, stuck pages, broken spines, torn covers, or excessive highlighting/writing. We do our very best to describe all of the items we have for rent as accurately as possible whether they are new or used. If you find that you are not satisfied with your order for any reason, you may return your rental for a full refund, provided that you meet the conditions of our return policy.
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Whenever possible, we ship supplemental materials with our rental books. However, given the "one-user only" nature of some access codes and other resources, we do not guarantee that supplements will be included nor that any included supplement will be valid and/or functional. Even when mention of a supplemental material is made in the title of the book, your rental may or may not include such a supplement.
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Rental books are intended to provide value to multiple users. While minimal highlighting is allowed, please "pay it forward" by helping us ensure that every renter receives the best quality textbook possible. Writing in your rental text is not allowed, and if a book is determined to be unrentable due to writing or excessive highlighting, you will be charged the purchase price of the book minus the rental fees you may have already paid.
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We have rental periods of three popular lengths: 55, 95, and 135 days. Choose the rental period that best matches your needs when completing your order. If you realize that you still need the book for longer than your rental period, you can always purchase an extension of your rental period.
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Extending your rental period is easy. Either log on to our web page and go to the My Orders section of the My Account page, or open your order confirmation email and click on the My Account link to extend your rental period.
You will be given the option of extending your rental period for fifteen (15) or thirty (30) days. Your credit/debit card will charged for the extension fee and a confirmation email sent to you. As you are limited to only one extension per rental, choose the extension period that best matches your needs.
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Your order date is the day on which your order is completed and your credit/debit card charged. Your rental will ship as soon as possible after we receive your order, in some cases the same day of your order. Your due date is the last day of your chosen rental period. Your item will be considered "returned" if it has been shown as received by FedEx on or before your due date, even though the book may not arrive at our facility for several more days.
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If your book is not returned by its due date, we will automatically assess a late fee by charging your credit card the cost of a fifteen (15) day extension. If your book is returned after the expiration of the aforementioned fifteen (15) day extension, you will be charged the purchase price of the book minus any rental fees you may have already paid. If you wish to have us return a book for which you are charged the purchase fee, contact Customer Service to make arrangements to have the book returned to you at your expense.
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At any time during your initial or extended rental period, you may choose to purchase your rental. You will be charged the list price of the book minus any rental fees you may have already paid. Either log on to our web page and go to the My Orders section of the My Account page, or open your order confirmation email and click on the My Account link to purchase your rental.
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Enter the 10 or 13 digit ISBN number for the book you want into Buy & Rent Books field at our homepage and click on the blue Search button or simply hit the Enter key. The results page will display details about the book such as author, title, and edition, including price and availability of the book from our store as well as across the web. If we have the book in stock and you wish to rent the book directly from us, clicking on the green Add To My Cart button adds the book to your Buy/Rent Cart. When you are finished adding books to your cart, follow the simple steps to check out and finalize your order. If you prefer to rent the book from one of the other booksellers listed, click on the green Buy Here button next to their listing to leave our website for theirs.
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All major credit cards are accepted including American Express, Discover, Master Card, & Visa. Payment is made immediately using our encrypted, SSL technology. We use DigiCert and Authorize.net for encryption and authentication to securely process your transaction.
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We typically ship your book within one (1) business day from the time of your order. Please be aware that mail services are not available on weekends and holidays, so ordering on such days may delay your order from being processed.
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We guarantee that our books will arrive to you in good or better condition. If you receive a book that is damaged or incorrect, you must notify Customer Service within fourteen (14) days of your order date. Once you do contact us, you have the option of choosing between having a replacement book shipped at no additional cost or returning the book for a full refund.
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We use the U.S. Postal Service as our primary shipping service for outgoing rentals and FedEx for rental returns. The most economical method of shipping is Media Mail Standard Shipping. It will take anywhere from 3-10 business days for you to receive your package, depending on your location in relation to our Troy, Idaho facility. Customers needing their book within 2-4 business days should choose Priority Mail (expedited shipping).
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Follow our return procedures and use our FedEx shipping label for the return of your rental item(s). You may always see your due date and print your pack sheet and FedEx shipping label from the My Orders section of the My Account page, or open your order confirmation email and click on the My Account link.
Carefully package your item(s) so no damage is likely to occur in transit, as you may be responsible for damage that occurs to items that have not been packaged appropriately. Any supplemental materials such as CD's, DVD's, workbooks, etc. that were originally included with your rental must be returned. Include a copy of your pack sheet to help ensure prompt processing of your returned item. We will email you when your return has been received and processing completed.
Your item will be considered returned once it has been shown as received by FedEx, even though the book may not arrive at our facility for several more days. In order for a late fee not to be assessed, this returned date must be no later than your posted due date.
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You will receive an e-mail notifying you when your book(s) have been shipped. Using the delivery confirmation number provided in the e-mail, you may go to the USPS website to check the status of your package.
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If you need to cancel an order before it has been shipped, please notify us as soon as possible by sending an e-mail to customerservice@textbookrecycling.com or calling us toll free at 1-866-483-9826. Please keep in mind that we generally process orders within 1 business day. If your order has already been shipped, you will have to follow our return policy.
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We are happy to issue a full refund provided that the book is received within twenty-one (21) days of your order date and is in the condition in which it was sent out. We will not refund the cost of shipping unless we have made an error- in this case we will reimburse you for shipping costs. To return a book, please log on and follow the instructions and procedures at the My Orders section of the My Account page, or open your order confirmation email and click on the My Account link. Once the returned book is received by us, you will be issued a refund to the credit/debit card you used to make the purchase.
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