About the WCU Bookstore
General Information
The role of the Bookstore is to provide necessary books, supplies, and other merchandise to students, faculty, and staff as efficiently and economically as possible. 
The WCU Bookstore's earnings go solely to student scholarships. Over the years, your Bookstore has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the scholarship program of Western Carolina University. Your support of the Bookstore makes an important contribution to the academic mission of the University - you are helping to put a student through school; perhaps even helping yourself.
The Bookstore includes the Book Rental Department for undergraduates at Western Carolina University. The Book Rental Department provides the main texts for undergraduate courses at a low rental price, and gives the students the option of purchasing textbooks if desired.
The Bookstore also sells and rents textbooks on the University of North Carolina-Asheville campus for WCU's Asheville courses, and provides books and supplies for outreach courses and Continuing Education programs. The Bookstore reports directly to Auxiliary Services, part of the Administration and Finance Division.
The WCU Bookstore's mission is to support the instructional mission of the University by supplying textbooks and instructional materials, supply students' needs for incidentals, memorabilia, and reading matter. To conduct its operation in a cost efficient manner that results in fair pricing while providing earnings to support student financial aid.
Bookstore General Policies
Refund and Exchange Policy
Textbooks:
- A sales slip must be presented.
- New books must be in their original condition, no marks, highlights or damage. Books that are in less than new condition may not be refunded at used book value. Books packaged in shrink-wrap must be returned in original shrink-wrap.
- Refunds or exchanges will only be made within 7 days of receipt date.
- Textbooks purchased 2 weeks prior to the end of the semester are non-refundable.
- Defective books will be replaced at any time.
General Merchandise:
- A sales slip must be presented.
- Merchandise needs to be in the same condition as when purchased, with price tag attached.
- Merchandise other than textbooks will be accepted for exchange only.
- Defective merchandise will be replaced.
Nonrefundable Merchandise
- Cliffs' Notes & Spark Notes
- Lab books with completed or missing experiments
- Magazines
- Textbooks with used or opened software
- Clearance/sale books and sidewalk/in store clearance merchandise
Refund for Cash Purchases
- Cash refunds will be given only for merchandise purchased with cash.
- Refund for Bank Card Charge Purchases-
- No cash can be refunded for bank card purchases. The amount of the refund will be credited to your bank card account.
- Refund for WCU One Card Purchases-
- No cash can be refunded for WCU One Card purchases. The amount of the refund will be credited to your One Card account.
Textbook Buyback Policy
Textbook buyback is a service offered by the WCU Bookstore. Books are bought back at the end of the fall and spring semesters only. If you have any questions concerning this service, please do not hesitate to contact the Textbooks Manager. The policy for textbook buyback is as follows:
- The Bookstore will buy back only books that have been requested and adopted by the academic departments for the upcoming semester.
- Quantities bought back will be determined by the Bookstore's need.
- The Bookstore will pay 50% of the retail price.
- Books must be in salable condition.
- The Bookstore does not buy back study guides, lab manuals, old editions, software, complimentary copies, customized class packets or books with perforated pages.
The Bookstore also purchases books for a used book distributor at wholesale prices. The Book Company sets these prices; we have no control over these amounts.
Bookstore Services
Check Cashing
As a service and convenience to Western Carolina University students, faculty and staff, the WCU Bookstore offers a check cashing service. The policy for cashing checks is as follows:
- You must have a current student, faculty or staff ID card.
- Checks written on a personal bank account will be cashed for up to $25.00 or the amount of purchase plus $25.00.
- A two-party check (written to the student, faculty or staff member) will be cashed for up to $25.00 or the amount of purchase plus $25.00.
- There will be a $25.00 service charge on all returned checks. A returned check and service charge must be paid with cash, money order or certified check.
Special Orders
- Trade books
- Reference Books
Departmental Purchases
The WCU Bookstore can process departmental purchases that have been authorized by the Purchasing Department and the WCU Controller's Office. See the WCU Purchasing Web Site for more details.
UPS Shipping Information
The WCU Bookstore will ship packages for you. Outgoing shipments must be properly packaged and ready to ship when delivered to the bookstore basement for processing. Packages must include a street address, as we do not ship to P.O. Boxes. To insure same-day shipping, packages must be dropped off before 3:00 PM. Please download the shipping form below, fill it out, and attach it to your package before delivering.
UPS Shipping form in Microsoft Word Format
UPS Shipping form in Adobe PDF Format
Other Services
