Mt. San Jacinto College
Bookstore Services
Manual of Operation
Created March 2013
Mission Statement: The One Stop Eagle Shop supports, in any way it can, the
mission of Mt. San Jacinto College. The overall priority is to provide an excellent,
culturally enriching environment of academic, career, and lifelong learning
programs, designed to meet the workforce challenges of a changing world and to
offer equal access for diverse students to achieve transfer and career goals.
Procedures
1. Pricing of Textbooks
Each semester every textbook ISBM is compared to other online textbook prices to evaluate
how competitive our pricing is. We use this information as a tool to determine our pricing.
Through this evaluation, we have determined we are competitive with nearly all e-commerce
textbook sellers.
New Textbooks: Our goal is to price textbooks at a 25% margin of net pricing or suggested
list price depending on our pricing comparisons.
Used Textbooks: Used textbooks are sold at 80% of the current list or suggested list pricing.
2. Textbook Adoptions:
Textbook adoption forms are sent each semester to the appropriate faculty who are responsible
for selecting the book(s) for their class or department. In the fall semester, each faculty
member responsible for selecting textbooks is given the option of adopting the textbook(s) for
the academic year or specific semesters they know they will use the books.
Each adoption will be sent out approximately 6 weeks before students start registering for the
next semester. This timeframe is needed to allow students the opportunity to purchase
textbooks the day they can register for classes.
Each adoption must include the following information:
a. Author
b. Title
c. Edition
d. Publisher
e. Course number
f. Estimated enrollment
g. ISBN number
h. Whether this books is required or optional
i. Signature and date of instructor adopting the text
j. Date of the start of class if different than the beginning of the advertised semester start.
Changes to the current adoptions must be submitted the semester preceding the change. The
bookstore must be notified prior to the beginning of the scheduled quarter ending buy-back
period.
3. Sale of Instructional Material Prepared by Faculty member
Frequently, faculty members publish laboratory manuals, mimeographed texts, drawings, and
other instructional materials, which the student will be required to purchase. These materials
are sold through the bookstore in accordance with the following regulations.
a. All materials prepared by college personnel for use by students will be sold through the
bookstore.
b. All materials must be able to clear any Federal Copyright Laws.
4. Desk Copies
Currently, all desk copies for faculty are being arranged by the Office of Instruction on the
campus that the faculty member is assigned.
5. Refund Procedure
All refunds must have the original receipt. Absolutely no refunds or exchanges will be allowed
without the original receipt. Refunds are only an option for books purchased in the semester to
which the student is enrolled.
Textbooks and tradebooks purchased at the Bookstores may be returned for a full refund in
accordance with the following policy:
a. Refunds for books purchased for the regular session, FasTrac or 8-week classes are
available five(5) business days from the start date of the class.
b. An additional 5 days is available with proof of drop. Registration information and
registration statement will be required.
c. Books purchased more than 10 days from the start of class are not returnable for
any reason.
d. Books must be returned in original condition. No markings, damage, or writing.
e. Shrink-wrapped textbooks/coursework/syllabi which have been opened are nonreturnable.
f. Used books are not guaranteed. The student is responsible for the condition of the
books they purchase. Used books are checked carefully the MSJC Bookstore staff,
but the student must carefully review the text before purchasing.
g. New books with manufacturer’s defects will be replaced when presented with an
original receipt.
h. The bookstore reserves the right to make the decision on the condition of items
returned.
i. Through the refund deadline, books purchased as new that are returned damaged
or soiled may be refunded at the used price, since the book cannot be returned to
the publisher as a new book. After that date, only the current wholesale price, if
any, will be offered for books.
j.
Web/mail order textbooks purchases are subject to the same stipulations as in store
sales and must be brought to the store by the refund deadline for refund. Books
that were purchased by mail may be shipped back at the owner’s expense if postmarked after the refund deadline date. New books with manufacturer’s defects or
damaged in shipping may be exchanged at the bookstore’s expense.
k. General merchandise purchased through the web/mail or store purchases are not
returnable unless defective or damaged in shipping. The bookstore may grant an
exchange of product though if the merchandise is returned to the store in its
original condition.
6. Buyback Procedure
The bookstore offers two different buybacks: a retail and wholesale buyback.
The retail textbook buy-back during final exams each semester allows students to sell books
they no longer need. Texts that the bookstore needs will be bought back at approximately 50%
cash of the current new list price or 60 percent of the current new list price if a student puts his
or her refund on an MSJC gift card.
A wholesale buyback will pay fair market wholesale value according to a national wholesaler.
The wholesale company who conducts the buyback determines the amount paid for each book.
This amount could range up to 30% of the new book price. The wholesaler may also buy various
titles at wholesale prices.
A professional book buyer will buy titles of current copyright books during finals week. This
buyer will be provided a list of books the bookstore will need for the next quarter. The books
the bookstore needs will qualify for the retail buyback values. Books not needed by the
bookstore will qualify for the wholesale buyback values.
The bookstore will post a list of needed books for public review online and in each store.
The bookstore offers a daily wholesale buyback. The bookstore will use a current wholesaler
bluebook to determine the value of these books during this time.
Old editions, out-of-print, and damaged books are of no value to the bookstore or the
wholesaler.
7. MSJC Bookstore Security
Students are required to leave all books, bags, cases, and backpacks outside the check stands.
Holding areas are provided by the bookstore. While additional security personnel are added
during periods of high shopping volume, students leave their belongings in these areas at their
own risk.
8. Check Cashing Policy
Checks will be accepted for the amount of purchase only. Checks must have the customer’s
name, address, and phone number printed on the front of the check. Valid California ID and
student ID is required.
9. Charge Card Policy
The Bookstore currently accepts MasterCard and Visa credit cards only.
10. Financial Aid Account Charges
Mt. San Jacinto College currently, does not work on account with Financial Aid for the payment
of books. Financial Aid checks will be mailed directly to the student usually within the first 2
weeks of the semester. Students will then pay for books using cash, personal check, or personal
debit/credit card. The MSJC Bookstore will not cash the Financial Aid checks.
11. Department Charge Accounts
Department charge accounts will be set-up at the beginning of each school year as a district
approved open purchase order. Each department will be set-up with a beginning limit as
identified on open purchase order.
Each department will receive a 20% discount on supplies they purchase through the bookstore.
The following items are not eligible for the 20% discount: textbooks, computer software,
electronics, candy or health and beauty aids.
12. Special Orders
The bookstore will order any book or any campus member at no additional charge. The cost of
unusual shipping or handling, such as second day air charges, will be charged to the customer.
13. Budget
The bookstore budget is prepared annually during the spring semester for the next fiscal year’s
operation. The budget is them presented to the Board of Trustees for adoption.
14. Profit
A basic assumption in the management of the bookstore is to operate the store as a selfsupporting non-profit business enterprise. Any residual profit will be used to upgrade
equipment or help support college needs.
15. Financial Statements
The bookstore has a financial accounting system, which provides the business office with the
information that allows the business office to produce a monthly profit and loss statement and
balance sheet.
The bookstore is audited annually by an outside audit agency.
16. Inventory
The bookstore is required to do one physical inventory yearly. The timing of this inventory is to
be determined by the bookstore manager consistent with financial reports. The bookstore
manager will maintain an inventory level according to the physical space at hand and consistent
with economic constraints and acceptable level of service to students.
17. Purchasing
All purchases for the bookstore will be written on purchase orders or computer general
purchase orders. All purchases for the bookstore must be approved by the Associate Dean of
Procurement & General Services prior to the order being placed with vendor. Exception to this
rule is for textbooks and/or specific class course work.
18. Depreciation
The IRS Standard Straight Line Depreciation Schedule will be used for computer depreciation of
equipment in the bookstore.