Q & A/ Textbook Reservation
What is Textbook Reservation?
- You sign up at this website.
You need a Cal Poly Student customer account which you create at this website. You may create this account when prompted to log in for Textbook Reservation Sign-Up.
You select a reservation session if more than one session is open for sign-up.
When you sign up, you do not select textbooks. Instead, you list classes by department abbreviation, course number, and section number. Our system recognizes no other form of class identification.
You give us an American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, or Campus Express Club account to charge your reservation. And, but not or, you may give us a Cal Poly Gift Card number.
You select your preference for used or new; your acceptance or refusal of recommended and suggested items; your acceptance or refusal of suggested cheaper alternatives; your preference between Windows and Mac-OS; your preference between audio CD and audio cassette; and your acceptance or refusal of prepaid textbook backorders.
- We pick, box, and charge your books.
We process reservations the week or two before pick-up. We print a picklist which matches your classes with their book lists. This picklist includes your reservation instructions. We pick your books from our shelves and box them. We label your box for storage and later pick-up. We charge the picked reservation to your credit card, Campus Express Club account, or gift card. If you accept prepaid textbook backorders, the charge could include items not in your box. We tell you by e-mail the total amount charged.
- You pick up your reservation box on campus.
Your prepaid textbooks are held for pick-up on campus, usually the weekend before classes start. Your reservation box includes the itemized picklist and an itemized sales invoice. We do not deliver or ship textbook reservations.
What are the benefits of Textbook Reservation?
- Convenience
We do the work of shopping for your textbooks. You avoid the crowds and lines. If you select the prepaid textbook backorders option, we search for the books which are not on the shelves when we process the reservation.
- Savings
10% Reservation Discount applies to every textbook you reserve, including prepaid textbook backorders. Used books cost less than new books. Using our staff, you shop our huge inventory of used books ahead of the crowd. Student Supplies Discount applies to your in-store purchases with a coupon during the first week or two of classes and to any course kits included with your textbook reservation. This discount is 10% (Fall), 15% (Winter), or 20% (Spring).
- VIP Buyback
When you reserve textbooks, you are eligible for VIP Buyback at the end of the same academic term. This unique service gives you the highest prices for the books you sell back.
Is on-line sign-up easy?
- You will have questions the first time you sign up, but answers are a click away if not already displayed. Sign-up should be easy if you do two things. First, have at hand the information we need to match your classes with their book lists and to charge your reservation. Second, read the on-line instructions.
Textbook Reservation Calendar
Textbook Reservation Questions
VIP Buyback Q & A
