What happened to Amazon's requirements for their textbook buyback program?

February 20, 2011 10:45 PM

Last semester, I purchased a few textbooks brand new from Amazon. The deal was an amazing buyback if they were purchased brand new. Was I dreaming??

I can't find any information about his deal, only that they have an awesome buyback on the same book now, even if it is purchased used. Which is a $90 difference to me at this point.

Anyone else who purchased textbooks through Amazon lately remember this?

I can understand that there are only "best offers" from merchants on buybacks for the books, but why the previous requirement to buy brand new?

posted by phox to Shopping (4 answers total)

I purchased four textbooks from Amazon last semester (most used, I believe), and then mailed three of them back last month through their buyback program (the fourth one was worth keeping). I don't recall how much I got for the cheaper books, but I remember that I was able to sell the most expensive one ($110 used) for $86. The shipping labels were free (or rather, presumably deducted from the price); I just had to print them.
posted by halogen at 12:01 AM on February 21, 2011

I also sold a couple of older textbooks not purchased through Amazon (I just searched for their titles), the price you get is not any different.
posted by halogen at 12:03 AM on February 21, 2011

What halogen said - I also priced mine through an on-campus book buyback and they were giving 40-50% less than Amazon for the used books.
posted by kpht at 5:50 AM on February 21, 2011

Best answer: The prices you get from their their buyback program are the best you're going to get from them. You're not dreaming, though - they promise a whole lot when paying a ton for textbooks through their site.
Bigwords.com has a buyback site comparison tool. Amazon usually ends up on top of the list though, but the problem is that you only get Amazon credit - not cash - through their program. They do pay shipping hassle-free, though.
If you don't get satisfactory prices there, try your local Craigslist before the start of a semester, since chances are your professor will be using the same book for his current classes. More work, but if you really need the cash...
posted by beyourownsaviour at 10:45 AM on February 21, 2011