It’s the end of the semester, and you take your $200 book to the College bookstore for buy-back.

A transaction later, all you get is $20 and a crisp, “Enjoy your break!”

Astonished? Frustrated? Feeling dangerous?

Understandably so.

But wait until you hear this:

Guilford doesn’t control the prices for book buy-back. And neither does eFollett, the billion-dollar corporation that provides Guilford with textbooks.

The culprit is the “Wholesale Book Buying Guide” that even eFollett must adhere to in setting prices for textbooks, buy-back rates and, eFollett’s latest option, book rental prices.

Understand this: as soon as you purchase your books, their value depreciates, just like that of a car. So after the clerk offers you the $20, take it and run. Or, do your homework, and you’ll thank yourself for a much smoother start to winter break.

Homework? Yes, we understand. And we’re here to help. Consider the following:

Buy your textbooks from the bookstore, and eFollett will buy them back at the end of the semester. The returned books go back up on the shelf, and believe it or not, you’re doing a service to fellow Guilfordians and the College. The next student to buy gets a discount from eFollett, and the College profits from the transaction.

If you’re not satisfied with the buy-back plan: buy your textbooks from the bookstore but sell them on Amazon, Chegg or what-have-you.

Better yet (for your wallet and for eFollett): rent your textbooks from the bookstore for half the price and just forget about the hassle of reselling them at the end of the semester.

The options are here. Feel free to pick and choose, and wherever your money-saving adventures may take you, good luck.