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Purchasing Textbooks FAQ
How do I purchase my textbooks?
Why are textbooks so expensive?
Textbooks returned to publishers
Discounts and coupons
How can I pay for my textbooks
Can I charge my books to my parents credit card
Non-CU students purchasing textbooks
Textbooks not in stock at semester start
Textbooks not in stock mid-semester
How do I purchase my textbooks?
A textbook list is not required. You have two options:
1) Come into the store with your course schedule and use the Textbook Department Floor Map.
2) Place an order online using your course schedule.
Why are textbooks so expensive?
For a breakdown of a typical textbook dollar, see NACS PDF on where the new textbook dollar goes.
I heard you ship textbooks back to publishers right after classes start. Why and when do you start returning textbooks?
To help us prepare for the next semester, the CU Bookstore must return all overstock to the publishers, in order that we have empty shelf space when the textbooks for next semester arrive. It is highly advisable that you purchase all of the textbooks you need at the beginning of the semester, because textbook returns begin about six weeks after classes start. If we sell out of (or return) copies of a textbook or reprint that you need, please come to the textbook desk and place a pre-paid special order.
Are there any discounts or coupons I can use on textbooks?
No.
How can I pay for my textbooks?
We accept Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover, checks (with a valid ID), Buff Gold, and cash. It is absolutely essential that you save your receipts all semester in case you need to return or exchange a textbook for any reason. Please see our return policy.
My parents want to pay for my textbooks. How can they do that?
Three ways:
Your parents can come to the bookstore with you and pay for your textbooks at that time. Your parents can order your textbooks online and have them shipped to the address of your choice. Your parents can fill out and sign a Parent Credit Card Authorization Form, which you can use to purchase textbooks. Save this authorization form! It is required to return any textbooks if you purchased them using this method.
I am not a CU student. Can I purchase one of your textbooks?
Yes.
I’m shopping for my textbooks at the beginning of the semester, but you don’t have them. Why not?
Four possibilities:
The instructor will not be using a textbook or has chosen an alternative to a traditional book, e.g. online resources. The instructor did not get his/her required textbook information to us by our deadline. Even though we’ve ordered them, the textbooks haven’t arrived yet. Check back later. The instructor hasn’t yet told us which textbooks they want to use. The publisher we’ve ordered the textbooks from is out of stock and we must wait until they can get or print more. For more detail on textbook status, see our Textbook Status Page.
I’m still looking for one of my textbooks several weeks into the semester, but your shelves are empty. How can I get a textbook?
If it appears we've sold out, come to the textbook desk and place a pre-paid special order. The textbook desk can also tell if there is a problem with the textbook you need which is why it might not be on our shelves.
