How to buy books

Tips for Buying Textbooks at RVC

Buying New Books

Advantages:

• There is the possibility you can sell your books back for up to 50% of the purchase price.
• You are able to get an unbundled component (i.e.: access code).
• You are able to make your own marks within the book such as; notes or highlighting.

Things to Consider:

• Some of the new books are pre-packaged with other components you may need such as; access codes, publisher incentives, or additional study items.

---

Buying Used Books

Advantages:

• You can save up to 25% off of the cost of the new books.
• The used books are the same edition required by the professors.
• You are able to make you own marks within the books such as; notes and highlighting.
• There is the possibility you can sell your books back for up to 50% of the purchase price.

Things to Consider:

• Used books may have writing and highlighting in them from previous students.
• The access codes are not available for the used books; this would need to be purchased separately if it is required by your professor.
• You should look through these books before purchasing them to pick the best used copy.

---

Buy/Rent YUZU E-text (digital) Books

Advantages:

• You can save off of the new textbook cost.
• The e-books look just like the hard copy of the texts.
• You are able to purchase or rent the e-books both in the RVC bookstore and on the RVC bookstore website.
• You are able to organize by course and term, highlight, bookmark, add sticky notes, and flag important content.

Things to Consider:

• What device you want to use the digital book on and is the content available to download or use with the web app.
• These cannot be sold back.
• You must have an internet connection to download or use the web app.
• You need the  YUZU app (free at college.yuzu.com).
• You cannot return e-books once activated/downloaded.
• If renting, you will not have access after the end of the rental period ends.
• If you need a book for more than one semester- consider purchasing.
• E-texts do NOT contain CD content or other companion material (access codes) that come with hard copy texts.

---

Rental Textbooks

Advantages:

• On average, save 50% compared to new textbooks.
• You are able to make your own marks within the book such as; notes or highlighting.
• Follows the regular return policy.
• You get an e-mail reminder of when the rental is due and includes a buyout price if you want to keep the book.

Things to Consider:

• You must return by the due date or you will be charged for replacement and a non-returned fee.
• These cannot be damaged, but will be accepted with minimal highlighting/writing.
• You can choose to buy the book within the first two weeks of class.
• There is no cash back/buy back at the end of the term.
• If you need the book for more than one semester- consider purchasing.
• You will need a valid credit or debit card (not prepaid) to secure the rental.

---

Book Buy Back

Advantages:

• The best time to sell back is during finals week. You can receive up to 50% back in cash. The rest of the year we pay national market prices (0-25%).
• RVC will buy back books regardless of where they were purchased.

Things to Consider:

• You cannot sell back teachers editions or international editions.
• You must have your RVC ID.
• Not all books can be sold back.
• You must have all materials (CD’s, DVD’s, etc.) that the book came with.

Original receipts are required for all Bookstore refunds.

---

Payment

The RVC Bookstore accepts AMEX, VISA, Mastercard, Discover, Cash, FA-Link, and Barnes & Noble Gift Cards (gift cards in-store only).

Questions? Call the RVC Bookstore at (815) 921-1680 or RVC Financial Aid at (815) 921-4150.

FA-Link

FA-Link is normally accepted Fall & Spring terms, starting one week before classes begin through the first 30 days of classes. It is also accepted for Summer II the week before classes begin through the first week of classes. FA-Link is not available for use during Winterim or Summer I classes.

Resource: Purchasing Books Using your Financial Aid at Rock Valley College (PDF)