Frequently Asked Questions

Bookstore FAQ

• What do we provide?

  • We provide all of the necessary materials that students need including textbooks and supplies.
  • We also stock other student necessities such as drinks,
    snacks and sundries.
  • We provide UPS shipping services for students and faculty.
  • When possible we provide donations and discounts to Lander community special groups or events.

• How do we know what students need?

  Faculty complete and submit “adoptions” which are notifications of the items that students will need for the individual courses that they instruct.  It is essential that faculty communicate to the Bearcat Shop any specific needs.

  In addition to required items we also stock general school supplies, such as pens, pencils, notebooks and too many more items to mention.

  We also provide a service called “Textbook Reservation” where students (mainly freshmen) can supply us with their schedule and we will package their textbooks and have them available for pick up with no waiting in line.

• Why are the adoptions required by a particular date?

  • The Bearcat Shop needs ample time to process, procure and stock the required items before each semester starts.
  • Shelf space in the store is tight. We set each aisle depending on what books are going to be required. If an adoption is placed after this shelf setting has taken place the entire aisle in most cases will have to be rearranged to accommodate the new item(s).
  • In order for the Bearcat Shop to purchase books at Book-Buyback we must know what is going to be used in the upcoming term (see # 4). If adoptions are not submitted before buyback, we don’t get to buy them and the students don’t get to sell them.

• What are Lander Printed Materials?

  • These are the syllabi that are created by faculty/departments that are placed in the Bearcat Shop to sell to students.
  • The faculty/department takes these materials to Printing Services where they are printed in the quantity specified by the faculty/department and delivered to the Bearcat Shop for sale.

• What is Book Buy-Back?

  • When a semester comes to an end many students have textbooks that they will no longer need. If they can’t sell them they will throw them away.
  • At this same time we are procuring books that we will need for the upcoming semester. We prefer to buy the student’s books back because it helps the student selling the book and the next student who has to buy a book, and this recycling of books cuts down on waste.
  • Books that the store needs for the upcoming semester are purchased from the students at half of the purchase price. Books that the store no longer needs are purchased at the current wholesale price and sent to other institutions.

• What is Textbook Rental?

  • Select titles are available for rent at less than 50 percent of the retail price. These titles must be returned by the end of exams for the term rented or the student will be billed the full retail price of the title.

• Can university departments purchase items at the Bearcat Shop?

  • Yes, you may purchase any item for your department using your departmental account. You must be approved by your department to make such purchases and you must have your account number with you.
  • There are many departmental accounts on file and many departments have multiple accounts. It is required that you have the specific account number that you wish to charge to.
  • You may not use your departmental credit card (purchasing card) in the Bearcat Shop.