Earlier this year, Shoreline signed an agreement with University Book Store to handle textbook services for the college. The move allows the college to accommodate the buying habits of students and maintain an on-campus bookstore. The on-campus store will continue to provide the unique and specific items Shoreline students need, while students will gain the expertise and service of University Book Store.
For Winter Quarter 2016, students can have their textbook orders filled by University Book Store. Students will be able to either purchase books online at www.shoreline.edu/bookstore, going to www.bookstore.washington.edu or shopping at the main University Book Store location in Seattle’s U District. The services will be available in early December.
Students may choose to have orders delivered at home, to any of the seven University Book Store locations or to Shoreline’s bookstore for a limited time at the beginning of each quarter. Free next-day delivery to the Shoreline bookstore will be available for purchases made before 4 p.m. the day prior. Shoreline will have its own branded presence at University Book Store, both online and in the retail store located in Seattle’s U District.
Shoreline staff will be available at the campus bookstore in the PUB (9000 Building) to answer questions and help order textbooks. University Book Store ordering kiosks will also be available at the Shoreline bookstore.
The agreement won’t impact the number of employees at the Shoreline bookstore. Shoreline will still stock custom printed materials ordered by faculty, plus all the specific supplies that are required for classes and programs.
The trend toward online textbook sales, escalating prices and evolving methods of course material delivery all influenced Shoreline’s decision. College officials said textbook sales have declined in recent years as more students went to online sources. In response, Shoreline’s bookstore began stocking a number of other items such as snack foods and expanded offerings of general, gift and logo merchandise.
The shift in buying habits is impacting many colleges. The Seattle College District, Edmonds Community College and Everett Community College are leasing the operation of their bookstores to Barnes & Noble. Other educational institutions utilizing University Book Store services include all five of the UW campuses, Cascadia College, Digipen Institute of Technology, Cornish College of the Arts and City University as well as 13 private high schools in the Seattle area.
University Book Store started in 1900 as a student-run business at the University of Washington and is now a corporate trust governed by an eleven-member board of trustees consisting of UW students, faculty and staff.
Shoreline’s arrangement with University Book Store will give Shoreline students access to:
- Online price textbook comparison and ordering tool
- Online ordering
- University Book Store kiosks in the Shoreline bookstore
- Multiple delivery options, including on-campus or at University Book Store locations
- Multiple format options
- Increased inventory
- Year-round textbook buyback
- On-campus buyback each quarter
FAQ
How do I find a complete list of my required textbooks?
Once the service is available in early December, this site will also be available through www.shoreline.edu/bookstore and www.bookstore.washington.edu. Select the appropriate quarter and fill in any of the search fields. All titles that are available online are also available in the store, so if a book is listed as “currently unavailable,” then it is not yet in stock. Please continue to check back as required textbooks may be added at a later date.
Can I order my books online and pick them up at the Shoreline Campus Bookstore?
Yes. Purchase textbooks online before 4 p.m. for free next day delivery to the Shoreline campus bookstore for a limited time; staff will be available in the campus bookstore in the lower level of the PUB (room 9114) to answer questions and help order textbooks. Textbook pickup will be available at the bookstore information desk (9114). Personal ID is required.
Can I return my textbooks?
Yes, with a receipt. The last day to return your textbooks will be listed on your receipt. New books must be in new condition (no water damage, highlighting, dog-eared pages, etc.). Pre-packaged course supply kits and books that are accompanied by software must be un-opened. Your University Book Store sales receipt is always required.
Does University Book Store buy used textbooks?
Yes. We buy textbooks at the University District store year round based on national market value. Current school ID required. However, during quarter finals, textbooks that will be used in the upcoming quarter will be bought back for up to 50 percent of the new book price, unless one of the following events occurs:
- The instructor has not requested the book for the next semester. (Textbooks that will not be used in the upcoming semester will be bought back at market value.)
- We have already bought back as many copies of the book as we need.
- There is a more recent edition available.
- The book has no national market demand.
- The book is not in resalable condition.
You do not need your receipt to sell back your books; however, you do need your personal ID.
What shipping options do I have?
Orders will be filled from stock on hand. If you request to receive used copies when none are available, we will substitute it with a new copy or delete the title from your order (please select your preference during checkout). In either case, we will ship all items in your order together.
Processing time to shipping for titles in stock is currently 1–3 days. For titles that are not readily available, will we contact you via email with revised information on the availability of your selection(s).
For details and information please contact the Textbooks Online Order Department at 1-800-335-7323 (or 206-634-3400 in the Seattle area), extension 333.
How do I check the status of my order?
Contact the University Book Store’s textbook department toll free at 1-800-335-7323 for information about your textbook order.
Other Important Information
- Save your receipt. It is required for returns.
- Preference for USED or NEW textbooks will be followed depending on availability.
- Course Packs, Class Notes, CDs and Software, Lab Manuals, and Workbooks are available only as NEW.
If you cannot find a course or section, the instructor has not submitted an order to University Book Store.
Textbook Refund Policy & Deadlines
Full refunds are available for seven (7) days from the start of classes. Refund deadlines are the last days for students to return textbooks in their original condition with receipt for a full refund. Textbooks cannot be returned after a class has ended.
Receipts are required for all refunds. Textbooks must be in original condition for a full refund.
If you drop/withdraw from a class you can return your book within 14 days after the start of classes (full term courses only). A proof of drop/withdrawal is required at the time of return. This excludes rented textbooks.
