Facts About Purchasing Unsolicited Textbooks:
It is legal to purchase sample copies though publishers go to great lengths to discourage the practice as they consider it competition. The second hand book trade in fact, represents only 20% of all text book sales while the sale of unsolicited texts is a mere 1% of that.
Complementary review copies are a marketing tool used by publishing companies to gain market share in the competitive world of textbook publishing. Their goal is to convince professors to adopt their book as part of their curriculum. Click here to read more.
The distribution of sample copies is at times random and wasteful. Often faculty and administration receive multiple copies of books, books for courses that are no longer being taught, books not from the professor's field of expertise, or books continue to be sent after a professor has moved on.
Revised editions are often not warranted, according to some professors. In an effort to ensure that students continue to purchase new books, revised editions are printed every few years.
The rising costs of textbooks is a burden on students. According to the 2005 findings of the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) textbook prices have risen an average of 6% each year since 1987 compared to the overall average price increases of 3%. Since 1986 textbook prices have nearly tripled while tuition and fees have gone up 240%. The GAO enquiry concluded that textbook "add on" such as CD ROMS and other supplemental materials often contribute to the rising cost of textbooks. Click here to read the full G.A.O report and here to read more.
New Leaf Book-Buying makes a valuable resource available for students throughout North America. Through our efforts of buying surplus textbooks from individual professors, students are able to purchase textbooks at discounted prices.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. I was sent an unsolicited free textbook from a publisher. Is it legal to sell it?
Absolutely. A free sample is a marketing tool that becomes the property of the receiver who is free to dispose of it in any legal manner.
Q. I do not feel comfortable receiving money for something I have not paid for.
A number of professors feel this way so they use the funds to purchase materials for the department, or donate it to scholarship funds, bursaries, foundations, student societies or to a favorite charity.
Q. What do you do with the books you buy?
They are redistributed through a book exchange, to university and college bookstores throughout North America and sold as second hand books or as reduced new books.
Q. I prefer to give my books to students or to the faculty reading room.
Students often find it difficult completing their required readings so may not find the time for supplemental reading. Libraries may not have the space for multiple copies of text or may find them too expensive to catalogue.
Q. I give my books away to book drives collecting book for developing countries. Isn't this a good way to reuse books?
What we suggest is: keep the latest editions of books for North American students however earlier editions are equally welcome in developing nations.