Book condition guidelines

Our offers assume books in good, usable condition. Here's what that means, so there are no surprises at inspection.

We accept

• Loose-leaf editions that are still shrink-wrapped and sealed
• Normal shelf wear, light corner bumps, minor cover creasing
• Light highlighting or pencil notes on a small number of pages
• A name or bookstore sticker inside the cover
• Hardcover without dust jacket

Books that don't pass inspection

If a book arrives that doesn't match the condition described, we'll email you the details and remove it from your payment. We can return it if you cover return postage; otherwise it's recycled after 14 days. Everything that passes is paid on schedule.

We can't pay for

• Water damage, stains, mold, or smoke/musty smell
• Missing, torn, or loose pages; broken or detached spines
• Heavy highlighting or writing through most of the book
• Instructor editions or annotated instructor copies
• Opened loose-leaf, binder, or unbound editions (sealed, shrink-wrapped loose-leaf is fine)
• International editions or counterfeit copies
• Books missing required access codes, CDs, or supplements when the ISBN includes them

What happens at inspection

We check every book against the ISBN and this list within 5 business days of receiving your books. Books that match are paid at the offered price. Books that don't are either paid at a reduced price if they still have value, or set aside; you can have them returned at your cost or let us recycle them. Payment goes out as soon as inspection is done.

Packing tips

Use a sturdy box, keep it under 40 lb, fill gaps so books don't slide, and tape every seam. Media Mail is books only, so don't add packing slips with advertising.