Sell Back Information

 

Sell Back Information

 

How can I check the sell back price of my textbook?

Click here to use the NWTC Bookstore’s Sell Back Lookup Tool! You will be asked to use your NWTC Credentials (the same credentials you use when you log into the student portal) to login. Once you are logged in you can:
  • Search for sell back information using the ISBNs on the book(s) you have. If your books do not have a current sell back price, click on ‘Allow Email’ – this adds the book to your Sell Back Alert list and also allows us to send an email to your NWTC email if the book is later added to the sell back list.
  • Search for sell back information based on purchases you’ve made at NWTCBookstore.com. If your book(s) were purchased in the store or elsewhere, please use the ISBN search.
  • Check your Sell Back Alert list.

When can I sell my books back to the NWTC Bookstore?

The NWTC Bookstore buys back books every day. Be aware that, during the first weeks of classes, there may be a longer wait time as there is a lot of volume at the front of the store.

When can I come in person to sell back my books?

During our regular Bookstore hours. Please click here to check our hours.

Do I need to be a currently enrolled student?

No, you do not need to be currently enrolled at NWTC. You do need to know your NWTC ID number, however. Once an NWTC ID number has been issued to you, it is always attached to your information whether you are currently enrolled.

I can’t come in person to sell back my books, is there another option?

Yes! We have a partnership with a national used textbook company that buys books they need for their customers – they will even provide you with a printed return label! Please click here for more information!

Will I get cash for my textbooks if I am able to sell them back?

Yes! We will give you cash when you sell your books back.

How are sell back prices determined?

Sell back prices are determined by supply and demand.
  • If the textbook is being used at NWTC for the upcoming term: The NWTC Bookstore Course Materials Team looks at enrollment, sales history, and current inventory to determine if more copies are needed for future students in the course. If more copies are needed, the NWTC Bookstore will pay up to 50% of the new shelf price for the textbook.
  • If the textbook is not being used at NWTC for the upcoming term or the NWTC Bookstore already has enough copies for the upcoming terms: The price defaults to the national price determined by the NWTC Bookstore’s partner, MBS. MBS bases their prices on the number of books they have in their inventory (supply) and the orders they are receiving from their customers (demand).

Do sell back prices expire?

Yes! Once the NWTC Bookstore reaches the number of copies needed for the upcoming term, the price defaults to the price that is based on national demand. Sell back prices are based on a first come basis. Setting up a buyback alert doesn’t save a place in line – it’s a way of letting you know as soon as possible that your book now has a sell back value.

Does the condition of my book matter at sell back?

Yes. Common condition issues that result in a book not being bought back:
  • Water Damage: The most common thing that happens to books in NE Wisconsin is that they come into contact with water – between the car and a building when it’s raining or snowing, when it sits on a table next to a beverage, when a water bottle opens up in a back pack, etc.
  • Missing pages: If pages need to be torn out to complete an assignment, the page won’t be there for the next student to complete the assignment.
  • Pet Damage: Sometimes that new puppy or kitten just can’t resist ‘helping’ their owner with their homework!
  • Excessive Highlighting/Writing: For some people, it’s helpful to use different colored highlighters and inks to keep their thoughts and notes organized. For the next person, a lot of writing and highlighting is very distracting.
  • Miscellaneous: Broken bindings, dirt, missing/torn covers, any liquid damage, tobacco/vape smoke, and anything else that makes the book unsalable.

What happens if my book has no sell back value?

If there is no sell back value for your textbook, we will offer to recycle it for you.

Does the NWTC Bookstore purchase supplies (calculators, model kits, BarCharts, etc.) through the Sell Back program?

Required supplies like calculators, model kits, goggles, etc. are not eligible for the Sell Back program.

Can I sell books I purchased somewhere else?

If the book can be sold to another NWTC Student, the NWTC Bookstore can buy it back. However, sometimes a book might have the same ISBN as the Sell Back list, but it’s not the same book. Sellers on the online marketplace sometimes post and sell books that are International Editions. Bookstores cannot legally sell International editions their customers. If the books has ‘International Edition’ anywhere on the cover or inside, the NWTC Bookstore nor MBS can resell it to another student.