Logo Student Book Exchange

Welcome to our Website!

Note: Please bear with us as we try to update our website and try to work through the kinks. If you are experiencing any problems or have any questions, please contact us at sbe@umich.edu.

Tips for Using SBE:

We know that one of the worst parts about college is having to shell out all of that cash for expensive new textbooks each semester. Or, having to coordinate times with other students to buy or sell a used textbook!

That's why we've made the Student Book Exchange! We are a non-profit, completely student-run used book store that operates during the first week of class, right in the Michigan Union! Our goal is to make it more convienient for buyers and sellers to save money when it comes to buying and selling textbooks.

Here's how we operate:
During the first two days of class you can come in and put your books up for sale. We have you fill out a contract in which you set your own price! We don't allow customers to look at the books we've already collected. That way there's no benefit between coming in the first versus the second day; people who bring in their books on the first day can't get undercut by those who bring in books on the second day.

During the second two days of the exchange, we are open for business! You may come in, browse the books, and hopefully find some great deals!! We have a complete range of books - from a great supply of introductory class books to engineering and business to test prep, to literature books to read for fun! We also usually get some Qwizdoms for sale!!

As a seller, two days of the last day of sales is the Collection Date, where you will be able to come in to pick up a check for your books that sold, or get back the ones that didn't! Please try and pick up your belongings on the Collection Date by bringing in the yellow copy of your reciept (or send a friend with this) or your MCard!

1. When bringing books in to sell:
  • Have an idea of what price you want to sell it for - Check out the prices at local bookstores.
  • Check to see if that book is being used again. If it isn't, it may not sell, or you'll have to make the price really low to make someone want to use an older edition.

2. When buying books:

  • Know what books you need when you come in. Know the Title, Author, Edition, the cover, or even better, the ISBN.
  • Books are organized by subject - know if it's cross-listed with a different subject.
  • Check our Miscellaneous section! If the seller does not indicate the subject, and we cannot properly identify where it belongs, we place it in the Miscellaneous Section.
  • We only accept same day returns. If you payed with credit card, please bring the card with you.