Textbook Buyback

Simply bring your textbooks to the buyback desk during the scheduled period and if your book is eligible, you will be offered up to 50% of the new retail price for your book.  This buyback is cashless so please be sure to have your credit or debit card with you.

Whether we buy back your book is based on a number of factors so it is important to note that there is no guarantee that we will buy back your book.

For textbooks bought back for use at Langara Bookstore, you will receive 50% of the current new retail price, regardless of whether you originally purchased it new or used.

For textbooks bought back for the wholesaler, you will received whatever value has been established by them in the North American marketplace.   

We don't produce a list because our buyback is run by a third party used book wholesaler company.  This company could produce a list of over 60,000 books and the list can be constantly changing.

No, not all books are eligible for buyback.  We only buy titles that are being used for the upcoming semester and that meet certain requirements. Books are either bought for Langara Bookstore or for the wholesale used book company.

There are a number of reasons why we might not buy back your book.  The reason could be:

• We have met our quota for the title.
• It is not being used for the upcoming semester.
• It is a loose-leaf (binder ready) format.
• It is a coursepack.
• It is a digital material (eText or access code).
• The book has a required access code component.
• There is water damage, spine damage, etc.
• There is excessive wear and tear, excessive highlighting or notes.
• The book is an old edition.

For books that are being bought for Langara Bookstore, 50% of the current new retail price will be offered.  If the book is being bought for the wholesale company, they will offer a wholesale price, which is determined by supply and demand across North America.  Some books may have no resale value because they are old editions or no longer being used at Langara or other campuses.

Please consider donating books and other materials to one of the charitable organizations listed on the Recycling Council of British Columbia website. The Recyclepedia tool lets you search by city and material type (e.g., softcover book, hardcover book, textbook, ebook reader). 

Books can be recycled at the Vancouver Zero-Waste Centre.