Buyback FAQ

What's an ISBN?

An ISBN is a unique number specific to a particular title and edition of a book. You can find the ISBN on the back cover of your book. An ISBN is the best way to identify your book.

How do I sell my books to Abebooks.com?

Selling your books to Abebooks.com is easy!

1. Enter the ISBN of the book you want to sell in our search page, then select the condition and details of your book (Condition/Edition Guidelines)
2. To accept our offer, add the item to your cart. Then tell us how you want to get paid (Payment Options)
3. Print your pre-paid, trackable shipping label and carefully package your items. (Packaging Tips)
4. GET PAID! Once the item is received and checked-in, we send your payment.

Yes, it's that easy!

How do I determine the condition/edition of my book?

We buy items in "Brand New" or "Used" condition.

• Brand New books must be in perfect condition to be considered new. This means an unbroken spine, no writing or highlighting, no bent or dented corners, no scratches on the cover, no torn pages — Basically no wear or damage to the book whatsoever.
• Used books must be in at least "good" condition. A used book is considered in good condition even when it contains highlighting, notes, or other markings (with the exception of study guides, workbooks, and law books which must be clean). However, books must be generally clean in appearance with no torn or missing pages and with the cover in good condition. Used items that originally contained CDs, software, or other supplemental materials (also: unused access to online resources, study guides, etc) must be sent with the textbook. The spine of the book must be intact and in good condition. Books with broken spines and loose or missing pages will be discarded and will not be bought back.

Examples of access codes and supplemental materials:

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Sometimes there are different editions of the same title, so be sure to select the correct edition in order to receive the most accurate quote:

• US Edition Textbooks: These are the most typical books you find and include paperbacks, hardbacks, textbooks, and non-textbook items.
• International Edition Books: Sometimes softcover, these books may have "ISE" printed on the spine, or the front cover may contain "International Edition" markings. This information will also appear on the title page of the book.
• Complimentary Textbooks / Free Copy / Sample Textbooks: These books are considered USED. We can only pay the used price even if the book is new. This is standard throughout the industry, as we cannot resell the book as new. They will contain markings or imprinted stamps displayed on the front or back cover, such as "Complimentary Copy", "Free Copy", "Instructor's Edition", or "Not for Sale". Please note that books marked "Instructor's Edition" with all answers to even AND odd questions are considered annotated and will be checked in and paid at the annotated edition price.
• Annotated Instructor's Editions: These are often marked as "Annotated Instructor's Edition" or "AIE" and usually contain answers and/or instructor's notes.
• Eastern Economy/Low Price/Indian Edition Textbooks: These books are a subset of international edition textbooks that are commonly softcover, printed on cheap paper, and contain only black and white photos and illustrations. Please note that we do not buyback Eastern Economy/Low Price/Indian Edition textbooks.

Examples of various textbook editions:

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How do I sell back an edition other than a US student edition?

Enter the US student edition ISBN and choose the correct edition from the drop down menu to the right. If there is no drop down menu, we're not currently purchasing that edition.

What items are not accepted?

• Books spine damage

• Books with loose or missing pages

• Books with torn or taped covers

• Study guides/workbooks with any answers filled in/highlighting/writing

• Books missing their required supplements

• Eastern Economy Editions

• Open loose-leaf editions; they must be in the original shrink wrap

• One time use only items such as access codes and CD's

• Custom edition textbooks (typically has a school name listed)

• CDs and movies

Examples of items we don't accept:

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Why did I receive an amount lower than the amount quoted to me?

Prices paid are based on the condition, edition and ISBN of the book when it is received in our warehouse. If the condition, edition or ISBN received does not match what you've submitted, your quote will be adjusted. Please give accurate information about your book and pack your shipment well. Once you send your books, they cannot be returned for any reason. Our buyback staff tries to be as lenient as possible with every buyback book we receive, and we like to buy as many books as possible. If a book requires minor repair to a sellable condition, we will make the repair and the price paid will be slightly adjusted. We strongly suggest that you review our Packaging Guidelines to ensure your book arrives at our warehouse safely. We try to be as liberal as possible when checking-in the books. A sturdy box may make all the difference in how your book is rated.

What happens if I send a book that you do not buy back?

If you send a book that we do not buy back, the book will be recycled. Some examples of books that we do not buy back are: Water damaged books, books with damaged bindings (e.g., pages loose, missing or falling out), defective books, and books with torn/taped covers, law books or study guides/workbooks with any highlighting/writing/answers filled in.

How does shipping work?

We will provide you with a prepaid and trackable shipping label that you can print out from your computer. Delivery Confirmation is included with the label, so you can verify that the item successfully arrived at our location. The cost of this label is billed to us, so you never have to worry about it.

Need more labels? No problem, just visit Your Account and click on the buyback in question. Then click "Add a shipping label." You can request as many free labels as you need.

Shipping methods:

• FedEx (Pre-paid label): This is the default carrier for buyback shipments. FedEx guarantees delivery in 1-5 business days. Drop off packages with FedEx labels at the nearest FedEx drop off location or arrange for a free pickup from a business by calling 1-800-GO-FEDEX. When dropping off your package, please select either a FedEx Staffed, FedEx Kinkos, or FedEx Authorized ShipCenter. Uncheck the box next to FedEx Self-Service locations since they are unable to accept your package. Pickups must be scheduled from a business, not a residence. If you call to schedule a pickup, make sure to mention you have a "return label".
• Media Mail (Pre-paid label): From the day you send your book(s) to us, Media Mail usually takes between 3-14 business days to arrive. Drop off packages with USPS labels at your local post office.

What is the advantage of using FedEx over USPS Media Mail?

FedEx guarantees delivery in 1-5 business days. Each order shipped via FedEx is automatically insured up to $100.00 per package.

USPS Media Mail usually takes four to 14 business days to arrive. We strongly suggest you purchase insurance when shipping your buyback to us via Media Mail, however optional insurance for Media Mail packages is not an expense TextbooksRus.com covers. If you ship your buyback order to us using Media Mail, TextbooksRus is not responsible for packages lost in transit.

Please note that these times are estimates and we are not liable for delays that are out of our control.

Why was I issued a USPS Media Mail label instead of a FedEx label?

FedEx does not operate on holidays or weekends. Therefore, buybacks submitted during those periods may receive a Media Mail shipping label instead of a FedEx shipping label. Please note that both the FedEx and Media Mail labels are pre-paid so the shipping charges are billed to Abebuyback.

What if I cannot view or print my shipping label?

Please be sure you have the latest version of Adobe Reader installed on your computer. If you do not have this software you can obtain a free copy from Adobe.

How long does the entire process take?

After your buyback order is received, it usually takes 1-3 business days to check in your books plus an additional 1-3 business days to issue payment. During peak buyback periods, processing may take longer. Peak periods are usually late December through January and late May through June.

What happens if the items are damaged in transit?

We will grade the books we receive in the condition received and make any necessary adjustments to the amount paid. We cannot pay you for items that arrive bent, mangled, torn, or otherwise dismembered. We will not pay you for books we do not receive. Damage incurred during shipping does not happen very often. However, every time we've received a damaged buyback it's been due to woefully poor packaging.

Packages sent Media Mail can take up to three weeks to arrive at our location. It may take longer depending on where you are shipping from and whether it is a busy time of the year. Packages shipped around major holidays may take an additional week to arrive. If you have not received confirmation that we received your package within 30 days of shipping, please contact us. If you ship via Media Mail, we strongly suggest that you purchase insurance when shipping your buyback to us. If your package is received damaged and books are missing, we will not be able to pay for any missing books.

How do you determine prices?

Pricing is based entirely on demand. We can usually beat your local college bookstore on price, since your bookstore will only pay you a low wholesale rate unless they can immediately sell the item. Additionally, we have the largest buyback catalog on the web, so we can almost always make an offer.

How can I change my buyback?

You can make changes in your buyback from the My Account area of our website. Click on My Buybacks and then click on your buyback number. Then click "Change this buyback" and make your changes.

Note: You cannot make changes to your buyback once after it has been received at our facility.

Why aren't you buying my book?

Our ability to purchase your book is based on demand for the title. If there is very little or no demand for your book, we are unable to purchase it. The price we offer for a used book is based on its future value.

How long do I have to send my books?

You should send your books immediately. In extreme cases, Media Mail can take a up to 3 weeks for delivery. If we do not receive the books within 4 weeks from when the order was placed, we cannot guarantee the quoted price. After 6 weeks your order will be cancelled. We may still pay you for the books, but they may not have the same value they did when the order was placed. Instead, your books will be received at the current quoted value, which may be different from when you originally submitted your buyback.

Your books will not be returned to you.

Can I sell under multiple accounts?

No. Selling under multiple accounts is not permitted. We set our quantity limits on a per merchant basis. If multiple accounts are created and the maximum number of items that can be sold is exceeded, the additional items we receive will be discarded. Do not create multiple buybacks or multiple accounts to sell more copies of a single ISBN. All items received in excess of the quantity limit will be discarded. Items are not returned for any reason. It is the seller's responsibility to read, understand, and follow our guidelines.

What are quantity limits?

All ISBNs have quantity limits ranging from 1 to 5 copies. Our system is primarily designed for individuals who are selling back one copy of various books. Please contact us if you wish to submit more copies than the system will allow you to.

Buyback Payments

How and when will I be paid?

• Check: Payments are mailed within 1-3 business days after your shipment is processed.
• PayPal: Payments are issued 1-3 business days after your shipment is processed.

How long should I wait to receive my check?

You should receive your check within 7-10 business days after your shipment is processed. However, if you have not received your check within 30 days, please contact us immediately.

How long do I have to cash my check?

You must cash your check within 30 days of the check date. The check will be voided after 30 days.

Why did I receive a check when I selected PayPal as my payment method?

If your PayPal email address is returned as invalid when we issue payment, then a check will be sent to your billing address the following business day. We will also default your payment method to check. In order to receive payments via PayPal in the future, please login to your account and re-enter your PayPal address and verify that it is correct.

I cannot find my check or I’ve lost my check. Will you reissue one?

If it has been less than 90 days from the date you’ve submitted your buyback, you may request a one time reissue of your check provided it has not been cashed. Be sure to include a note detailing your buyback number and the address the new check should be sent to. Please note that we reserve the right to assess reprocessing fees when applicable.

I have my check, but I’ve forgotten to cash it within 30 days of the check date. May I request a new one?

If it has been less than 90 days from the date you’ve submitted your buyback, you may request a one time reissue of your check provided it has not been cashed. You must include your original check and a note detailing your buyback number and the address to which the check should be sent. Please note that we reserve the right to assess processing fees when applicable.

It’s been over 90 days since I’ve submitted my buyback, will you reissue my check?

No. We highly recommend that you cash your check as soon as you receive it since we cannot reissue a check more than 90 days beyond your buyback submission.

May I change my payment method?

No. Once a buyback payment method is selected and your payment is processed, it cannot be changed. For example; we are unable to change a check to a PayPal payment.

Who do I contact for help?

Email AbeBuyback@buyback.abebooks.com or use our contact form.

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