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For Students

For Teachers

Textbooks 101

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Individually:

    5. By ISBN:

    Enter ISBNs singly or in groups. Dashes within ISBNS are optional.

    Questions about buying Textbooks? See our Textbook FAQ.

Q: When should we start ordering our textbooks?

A: As soon as possible to insure that your book is available and possibly at a better price. Also you might save shipping by ordering early. If you drop the course or the instructor changes books, you can return the book within 14 days after you received it.


Q: When ordering a textbook, what is the most important piece of information?

A: The single most important piece of information one should have is the ISBN. The ISBN will be particular to each edition. There will also be different ISBN's for hard covers and soft covers. Always check with your instructor for the ISBN and edition you will need for your class.


Q: Is there anything else I need to know?

A: If there are different volumes to your textbook, you will need to know what volumes are required.


Q: What is the difference between a textbook listed for $100.00 and the same edition or ISBN for $8.00?

A: The $8.00 will be the study guide or solutions manual. If it looks too good to be true, it is.


Q: Can I have a book transferred to one your stores so I can pick it up?

A: Most of our textbooks are in a warehouse called Chalmers and are only available for shipping. Some titles in our warehouses can be transferred to stores to be picked up. Please call for availability and a time frame. Some books, while they can be transferred, will take 7-10 business days to reach a store. So again, please order early.


Q: What type of shipping should I chose?

A: We have some of the most affordable 2nd Day Air rates in the business — $7.99 per order plus $1.99 per book. Click here for more info on shipping.


Q: What about Economy Mail? What if I want to spend less on shipping?

A: Economy Mail is very, very slow. It averages 4-9 business days, but can take up 5 weeks. If you need your order soon DO NOT send it Economy Mail.


Q: I want free shipping for my order, but I do not see that option. How do I get free shipping?

A: You will not get free shipping on any books coming from the Chalmers warehouse, because they are not eligible for free shipping. When you place an order you may be given an option to consolidate your order. If you do not consolidate your order, it will get processed faster and you will pay for shipping. If you do consolidate your order you may not pay for shipping, but the processing time may increase up to 7-10 business days.


Q: What does "student owned" condition mean?

A: It may be highlighted, written in, bashed around in a backpack, and so forth. Think about how your books look at the end of a term.


Q: What does "text only" mean?

A: No study guide, no solutions manual, no CD-Rom. Literally just the textbook. If it comes with a CD-Rom it will say so in the title.

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Powell's City of Books is an independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, that fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. Shop those shelves — plus literally millions more books, DVDs, and eBooks — here at Powells.com.