If the book is needed for the next quarter and current stock is low.
The bookstore typically only buys books if a faculty member has ordered them for the upcoming quarter. If they aren't being used locally, they may offer a lower wholesale price (around 10%–40% of retail) or refuse them entirely. How the Buyback Works uw bookstore textbook buyback
If a new edition is coming, there is excess supply, or the book is in poor condition. If the book is needed for the next
Students often report "total rip-off" experiences, sometimes receiving as little as 10% to 15% of the original cost, especially for general education books or those moving to a new edition. there is excess supply