Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Please contact our Custom Imprint Buyer to discuss consignment opportunities through the UBC Bookstore.

Custom imprint pricing is always quantity-dependent so the higher the quantities, the lower the per-item pricing.

In addition to quantity:

Clothing pricing is driven largely by:

• Imprint type (screenprint vs. embroidery)
• Design complexity (more colors = higher pricing)
• Number of imprints (e.g., front of shirt, back of shirt, sleeve, etc.)

Giftware pricing is driven largely by:

• Design complexity
• Number of imprints

Please send us an email at gown.rentals@ubc.ca.

At the UBC Bookstore we are committed to implementing sustainable practices for the benefit of our customers, our community and our planet.

Selling reusable bags, reusing and recycling packaging, recycling batteries, making campus deliveries on behalf of our vendors, promoting the use of reusable drinkware, selling used textbooks, offering a course materials rental program, offering electronic course materials, selling a wide range of products made from eco-friendly materials, using biodegradable plastic bags, and actively seeking out locally-made or Canadian-made products to reduce our carbon footprint are just some of the ways we demonstrate our commitment to sustainability.

No, for security reasons, orders will not be delivered to residential addresses. Only special exceptions will be permitted as determined and approved by Workday approvers.

1. Login to your course at canvas.ubc.ca
2. Go to “Modules” to select the digital materials you need to access and click “ Redeem your purchase”
3. Enter the order number (found in order confirmation email or your receipt)
4. Click “redeem” to access learning materials

We start returning unsold textbooks back to the publishers approximately six weeks after the first day of term. To ensure you get your books, we strongly recommend purchasing them at the beginning of term.

All purchases are verified and connected to your CWL account for access, which requires you to purchase the materials through the UBC Bookstore in order to get a receipt that provides the redemption codes. If the cashiers swipe your student card at the time of purchase, this will automatically grant you access . If you purchased your textbook second hand from another student, there is no way for you to activate your course materials in Canvas.

Please use this link for ISC Service Now. 

Clothing vendors supplying products to the Bookstore are expected to comply with the following guidelines which are consistent with those established by the Fair Labour Practices Association, International Labour Organization, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. We will not do business with vendors that do not meet these guidelines.

Health, safety and employment guidelines

Forced labour: There shall not be any use of forced labour, whether in the form of prison labour, indentured labour, bonded labour or otherwise.

Child labour: No person shall be employed at an age younger than 15 (or 14 where the International Labour Organization exemption for developing countries allows) or younger than the age for completing compulsory education in the manufacturer’s country where that age is higher than 15. Currently, employed child workers shall be kept employed and be given access to education and transitional economic assistance. Where a child worker must be displaced, adult family members should have the opportunity to assume the child’s position in order to maintain family earnings.

Harassment and abuse: Every employee shall be treated with respect and dignity. No employee shall be subject to any physical, sexual, psychological, verbal harassment or abuse.

Non-discrimination: No person shall be subject to any discrimination in employment, including hiring, salary, benefits, advancement, discipline, termination or retirement, on the basis of gender, race, religion, caste, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation or union membership.

Women’s rights: All employees shall have the right to work in an environment free from sexual harassment and abuse. No worker shall be subject to the forced use of contraceptives or pregnancy testing. Pregnant women will be entitled to appropriate maternity leave and appropriate medical benefits in accordance with national laws and regulations and consistent with national practices.

Health and safety: Employers shall provide a safe and healthy working environment to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of or occurring in the course of work or as a result of the operation of employer facilities. Workers will be provided with health and safety training appropriate to their industry.

Freedom of association and collective bargaining: Employers shall recognize and respect the right of all employees to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Wages and benefits: Employers recognize that wages are essential to meeting employees’ basic needs. Employers shall pay employees, as a minimum, at least the minimum wage required by local law or the prevailing industry wage, whichever is higher, and shall provide legally mandated benefits.

Hours of work: Employees shall (i) not be required to work more than the lesser of (a) 48 hours per week and 12 hours overtime or (b) the limits on regular and overtime hours allowed by the law of the country of manufacture or, where the laws of such country do not limit the hours of work, the regular work week in such country plus 12 hours overtime and (ii) be entitled to at least one day off in every seven day period.

Overtime compensation: In addition to compensation for regular hours of work, employees shall be compensated for overtime hours at such premium rate as is legally required in the country of manufacture or, in those countries where such laws do not exist, at a rate at least equal to their regular hourly compensation rate times 1.5. All overtime shall be voluntary.
Environmental guidelines: Vendors will seek out, implement and exercise environmental practices wherever possible, including a commitment to packaging standards that reduce the amount of materials used/ or, have a recycled content. Vendors will also demonstrate environmental safety in the handling of all materials.

Legal guidelines: Vendors will be law abiding and will observe criminal, civil and tax codes in the countries they do business and will comply with all applicable legal and customs requirements of Canada.

New textbooks are brand new, unopened books in an unmarked, undamaged condition. Used textbooks are previously-loved books that come to us in lightly worn, but good, readable condition. They may contain some highlighting and notes from prior use, but should still contain everything you need and have no water damage or missing pages. Used textbooks, if available, cost significantly less than new ones and are GST exempt. You’ll find all used books shelved with the new ones in alphabetical order. Look for the yellow USED sticker! If you don’t see any used versions of the textbook you need on the shelf, it means we do not currently have any in stock.

You MUST have your own receipt with your own receipt codes in order to access the materials. In order to avoid encountering issues accessing your course materials, please do not purchase with your friends on the same receipt.

Yes. Contact Campus Mail to arrange pick-up campus.mail@ubc.ca  Tel 604-822-9495 and bring your ID at the time of pick-up. You do not need to change your delivery address on Workday.  The Vancouver Campus supplies and paper pack orders are automatically routed to UBC Campus Mail.

Redeemed/activated E-book and access code purchases are final sale. Please complete our contact form to receive assistance with returning unactivated course materials from a Bookstore team member. 

Yes – the UBC Bookstore will buy your books back from you! Students can sell their used textbooks back in-store during our textbook buyback period at the beginning/end of each term. Our next buyback period for the Winter 2023/24 term is from December 4th - January 13th.

How do I find out if my book is being bought back? How much will I get for my book?
You can check if we're currently accepting a particular book as well as the sellback price by entering the ISBN on our Buyback Search page. We recommend checking the sellback price online prior to bringing in your books to avoid any disappointment!

If your textbook is being used for a UBC course this term, you will be offered up to 50% of the new retail price for your book. We also work with a wholesale partner to allow us to take back a larger selection of books beyond what is currently being bought back for UBC. If your book is bought by our wholesale partner, you will receive the value established by them for the North American marketplace.

What course materials can I sell back?
Whether or not we are able to buy a textbook back is determined by current demand for it as well as the condition of the book. We can only accept textbooks in good, reusable, legible condition, with no water damage, stains, or torn/missing covers or pages. Normal wear with some markings/notes and highlighting is okay, provided that it is not excessive and none of the print is obscured. We are unfortunately unable to accept loose-leaf textbooks or books that come packaged with a required access code or online component as these cannot be resold.

Are there any items you don't accept?
While we'd love to give each and every used book some new life, unfortunately not every item can be resold and there are a number of reasons a book might not be eligible for buyback.