Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers for students buying affordable second-hand textbooks, selling old books, exchanging for store credit, and collecting orders.

Buying Textbooks

How do I find the textbook I need?

Use the catalogue search or filters for title, author, ISBN, institution, course, module, category, condition, and price. The homepage search also sends you to the filtered catalogue.

Are the books new or second-hand?

Dubes Books focuses on second-hand tertiary textbooks. Some inventory rows may be marked as new when available, but reuse and affordability are the main purpose of the marketplace.

What do the condition grades mean?

Conditions follow the listed scale: Like New, Good, Fair, and Poor. Each available copy can also include notes about highlighting, cover wear, missing pages, or other visible damage.

Why do I choose a specific copy on the details page?

Cart items are linked to actual inventory rows, not just textbook titles. Choosing a copy ensures the cart knows the exact condition, price, and stock quantity.

Selling & Exchange

How do I submit a textbook for sale or exchange?

Use the Sell / Exchange Textbook page and provide the textbook details, academic mapping, condition notes, and photos. The admin team reviews submissions before inventory is listed.

Can I choose store credit instead of cash?

Yes. The submission flow supports preferred payout options including store credit. Final acceptance and value depend on the admin review and condition assessment.

What happens if my book condition is different from what I submitted?

The admin team can counter-offer if the reviewed condition differs from the seller's description. This keeps pricing fair for both sellers and buyers.

Can I request a textbook that is not listed?

Yes. Submit a request with title, author, ISBN, institution, course, and module details. Requests help the team identify demand but do not guarantee sourcing.

Cart, Collection & Orders

Why does the cart count change across the site?

The cart count is loaded from your signed-in cart and sums item quantities. It updates after cart changes so the toolbar stays consistent across pages.

Where can I collect an order?

Collection points are loaded from the database and shown during checkout. Current seeded collection points include Eduvos Century City, UJ Kingsway, and UP Hatfield.

Is delivery available?

The database supports delivery and collection order fulfilment. The current frontend cart page shows delivery as a disabled placeholder until saved addresses and order placement are fully wired.

Do I need to sign in to use the cart?

Yes. Cart, wishlist, submissions, and order flows are tied to the current signed-in user so ownership and stock checks can be enforced by the backend.