all about textbooks

We carry textbooks for University of Massachusetts, Amherst College, and Hampshire College classes. Click on a link below for more information.

Where can I purchase my textbooks?

Professors & instructors at all the local schools choose where the books for their class will be made available. There are four possible places to check:

right here at Food For Thought Books
up the street from us at Amherst Books
on the UMass campus there's the Textbook Annex
Hampshire College also has an on-campus bookstore

If you aren’t sure where your professor ordered their books, consult them directly or check your syllabus. You can also check this handy class list for all the classes we're carrying here at Food For Thought Books.

All our textbooks are located in the back left-hand corner of the store. They are arranged alphabetically by department (e.g. AfroAm, Comm, Econ, etc.). Each class is identified by a white index card listing Department, Course #, Instructor, and a list of required texts along with new & used prices.

We accept cash, checks, money orders, & all major credit cards. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept the University of Massachusetts UCard as it is a strictly on-campus service.

We will be open for extended hours, 10:00am to 7:30pm, on Wednesday, January 20th & Thursday, January 21st.

What’s the return policy on textbooks?

Full refunds for textbooks are available up until the last day of Add/Drop (February 1st, 2009 for Spring 2010). This deadline applies even if you bought your books after the end of Add/Drop (i.e., sales after Add/Drop are final).

Receipts are necessary for all refunds, so be sure to hold onto yours.

All new books must be in new condition to return (i.e., no underlining or highlighting, no bent covers, no coffee/juice/water stains, etc).

After the Add/Drop deadline the books are yours to keep & cherish forever.

Buyback policy

For those not in a keeping & cherishing mood we also offer a buyback service for your textbooks. Buyback functions in one of two ways:

An instructor has ordered your textbook with us for an upcoming class, in which case you’ll get half of what you paid for it. These prices are available in the month right before the semester begins & end on the first day of classes. Feel free to call us at 413-253-5432 to see if your textbook is being reordered.
Your textbook has not been ordered with us for any upcoming course, in which case we offer the prices set by the Nebraska Book Company, a national used textbook service.

You do not need your receipt for buyback. In fact, you don't even need to have bought your books here. Any book used for a course is eligible.

Please note that we do not buyback books the first week of classes (this means February 18th through the 23rd for the Spring 2010 semester).

Thank you for shopping at our store. Your support in these tough economic times is truly appreciated.

We are a collectively-run, independent, not-for-profit, bookstore. What does all that mean?

"Collectively-run" means there are no bosses or managers here. We work together through cooperation and consensus - equal pay & equal say.
"Independent" means the workers are the owners of this store and no one owns us. The money you spend here stays in this community & helps keep it a thriving & enjoyable place to live.
"Not-for-profit" means we all earn a fixed wage. Any profit over & above our base expenses we donate back to our community. We are dedicated to the principles of mutual aid & local solidarity.

We know many of you are here only temporarily and will be leaving for new horizons once you graduate. But we want to welcome you while you are here to our little town. Your presence means alot to us and we enjoy the life and energy you bring every semester. Please feel free to visit. The couches are there because we like having folks hang out here, so don't be shy. Good luck with your studies and have fun!

More questions? Give us a call at (413) 253-5432 or drop us a line at info@foodforthoughtbooks.com

Faculty Services

Thank you for choosing us to supply your textbook needs. We have been supplying textbooks to all the local schools for many years now & pride ourselves on providing quick & efficient service at the lowest possible prices.

Please feel free to send any inquiries regarding textbooks to Mitch, our textbook ninja, at mitch@foodforthoughtbooks.com

To place an order, email Mitch with the following information

Your campus address & phone number
Department & Course Number
Course Title
Enrollment
Title Information (please include author, isbn, and whether you need a specific edition)
Desk copies? (please let us know if you'd like desk copies of any given textbook your ordering & we'll be happy to get one sent to you.)

Please note, the earlier you can send us your order, the better chances there will be for us to get used copies of the textbooks you order as well as being able to offer higher buyback prices - something your students will appreciate greatly.

Thanks again! Your support is very appreciated. You receive a 10% discount off everything in the store for ordering with us. Please just let us know at time of purchase.

Looking for a good introduction to critical thinking? A basic writing guide for students? An in-depth study of a given subject? We are also happy to help you locate the right book for your course. Please email Matthew at matthew@foodforthoughtbooks.com with your inquiries.

Posted on January 28, 2010 - 6:57am by mk