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Tips for Purchasing Textbooks


Please visit https://bncvirtual.com/dickinson to purchase your course material. Textbooks are ONLY available using the Dickinson College Online Bookstore.

We strongly recommend buying the books required for your courses at the beginning of the semester since availability may become a concern as the semester progresses.

Please read this information carefully before making any purchases.

Ordering Textbooks:

Please visit https://bncvirtual.com/dickinson to purchase your course material. Log-in and select your courses from your schedule. View your course materials and select your preferred format and finalize by checking out. Explore Used books (save up to 25%), Rental books (up to 60% savings), eBooks (faster delivery and up to 80% off) and Guaranteed Buybacks (know how much you will receive when you sell your book back).

Guaranteed buyback: 

If you see a guaranteed buyback price, you must meet the minimum requirements for returning your book listed on the website. This price is only available if you complete the buyback process online, and return your books through the mail. BNC will send you a prepaid shipping label to ship via UPS, at no out-of-pocket cost to you.

Used Books:

Inspect the book to ensure no hidden damage exists (water damage, loose binding, missing pages) that may jeopardize buyback or your ability to read the text.

Best Shipping Options:

The best shipping option available is the "free consolidated shipping," which is available from December 23, 2024 to January 4, 2025. Orders placed during this period will be sent directly to the Dickinson Bookstore and will be ready for pickup when you arrive on campus. Additionally, there will be free shipping on orders totaling $99 or more from January 5 to January 18, 2025.

It is recommended to place your order as early as possible during this period. If an item is back-ordered during the free shipping window, you can complete your order by selecting the "Hold order and ship together" option at checkout. BNC will automatically ship as much of your order as possible before the free shipping period ends, and any late items will be shipped at BNC's expense.

Missing the shipping options:

You will be subject to regular shipping rates, which can be costly. If this happens, it's best to select UPS or FedEx shipping for a trackable method with predicted delivery dates. Additionally, please be aware that the last day for free shipping on orders of $99 or more is the second day of classes.

Book pick-up:

If you chose “Ship to School” during the free shipping window your order will be shipped to the Bookstore and can be picked up by visiting the Bookstore.

After January 5, 2025, including during the “Free Shipping on Orders $99 + up,” will be delivered to the Mail Center. You will receive an email from the Mail Center stating you have a package to pick up. This is the same process as all other packages delivered to campus. When you receive that notification, please go to the Mail Center to pickup your books.

Digital Content vs. eBooks:

Digital content does not necessarily refer to eBooks. Digital content could also mean courseware, which is interactive software used for studying, homework, testing, etc. eBooks are simply digitized books, which are included in the category of digital content. Accessing Your Digital Content: To access your digital content, visit the online bookstore site https://bncvirtual.com/dickinsonlog and click on "Your Digital Content" to find the eBook or courseware you intend to use. For information concerning Inclusive Access, please click here.

eBook returns:

Once opened, eBooks and courseware are non-refundable. If you aren’t certain you are going to stay enrolled in the class or use the eBook/courseware, do not open the access code or eBook. You may return unopened access codes or eBooks within the first 2 weeks of classes. Details for returning eBook and textbooks can be foundhere.

End of Semester Book Buy Back:

Online Buyback allows you to sell books back from the comfort of your home. Simply create a quote, print a free shipping label, and choose to receive your buyback money via PayPal™ or a check in the mail. If you have an online bookstore account with Barnes & Noble College, this service is already set up. Students can sell their books any time. The best time to initiate buyback is 14 days prior to the end of class through 14 days after classes have ended. In general, if you purchased an eligible textbook from the virtual bookstore at the start of the semester you will receive an email notification 2 weeks prior to the end of the semester to begin the process or follow the steps below.

1.      Create a buyback quote by going to the “Sell your textbooks” page in the virtual bookstore.

2.      Log into the same account used to order books and follow the step-by-step instructions to create a buyback quote.

3.      Print the buyback quote and a prepaid shipping label.

4.      Ship the books to the distribution facility in Columbia, Missouri.

5.      Choose whether to receive buyback money via PayPal or a check in the mail.