Frequently Asked Questions

Why do people buy second-hand material - can I get a discount when I take the course with the OU?

Students buy material for a variety of reasons but usually because they wish to make a start on a course during the winter months or if they are having a year out. Some students like to look at the course material before they commit themselves, whilst others just want to read the material for background information for another course or just simply for enjoyment! And no - unfortunately the OU do not give a discount if you already have the books!

I have sent an enquiry to University Booksearch but have not had a reply.

First of all check that the reply has not gone directly into your Spam Folder - this happens quite frequently. Then leave it a week and if you still haven't had a reply then email Jo and she will chase it up for you.

I want to sell a course - Do I send the course material to the University Book Search?

No. First you will need to register on the web-site. When you get a sale you will send the material directly to the buyer.

How much does it cost to sell course material?

There is a £5 registration fee and there will be no further charges. You can advertise up to 15 courses for 6 months. List the contents of the course material and/or set books that you wish to sell on the ‘Sellers’ page. Any prospective purchasers will contact you directly using the ‘Contact Seller’ button on the web-site.

Will my name & e-mail address be displayed on the web-site?

No. Your details will NOT be displayed anywhere on the web-site. The prospective purchaser will be able to click on the ‘Contact Seller’ button which will be directed to your e-mail address via our web-site.

What is my course material worth?

Although course material may have cost anything from around £100 to around £1500 to purchase from the O.U., this of course includes tuition fees, exams etc. so your material is only worth the price of second-hand books. On average, complete 30 point current courses in good condition sell for around £50/£60 including postage whilst 60 point courses may sell for around £70/£75 - however some courses that are in plentiful supply will need to be more competitively priced. Set books usually sell for half-price plus the postage.

If I sell a course, who pays the postage?

It is easiest if you include the postage costs within the UK in your asking price.

How long will you advertise my course material on your web-site?

Your advertisement will be displayed for 6 months during which time you will be able to access it to edit or delete it. If it has not sold in this time, we will e-mail you to ask you if you want to renew your registration and continue the advertisement.

How will I get paid?

You can arrange directly with the buyer how you wish to be paid.
Some purchasers will send you a cheque.
Others will pay using PayPal if you have an account. If not it is well worth opening one as it is a useful method of payment for on-line shopping.
Bank transfer is another good way to receive money however we do advise buyers not to use this method for an initial purchase.
A few may want to pay by postal orders or cash.
If a purchaser specifically wants to pay by credit card and you do not want to have a PayPal account, then it is possible to use the PayPal facilities on our web-site. I will then send you a cheque by return. There is a 10% charge for using this method to cover the credit card fees and administration costs which will be deducted from your selling price. Please contact me and give me details of your buyer and I will send them a PayPal invoice.

Is it worth selling discontinued Courses?

It rather depends on the age and content of the course. Generally courses over 10 years old do not generate much interest although Maths courses seem to be timeless!

I wish to buy a course. Do you accept payment by credit card?

You will be dealing directly with the seller of the course material. 

We advise that you pay the seller by PayPal using the 'Business' option rather than the 'Friends and Family' option. This will mean that the seller will have to pay a small fee to PayPal but it gives you more protection should anything go wrong with the purchase.  If you do not have a PayPal account, you can still pay through them using a credit or debit card. Ask the seller to send you an PayPal invoice.

We advise that you only pay using bank transfer if you have dealt positively with the seller in the past.

If the seller does not have a PayPal account then it is also possible for you to pay by credit card direct to University Booksearch using our PayPal account if the seller agrees. However there is a 10% administration fee to use this facility. Once agreed with the seller, I would send you a PayPal invoice and then send the seller payment having deducted the 10% administration fee.

**If you are purchasing a course directly from the University Book Search (where 'Proceeds to OUSET' are written at the bottom of the advert) then there is no additional credit card administration fee.

What happens if I am unhappy with the course material when it arrives?

If, having received your material, you are not happy with it, then you should contact the seller and discuss it with them. The University Book Search cannot take any responsibility as to the accuracy of the advertisements that are placed on its web-site.

I have clicked the 'Contact Seller' button but I have not received an answer or the e-mail was returned as address unknown.

If you have any problems contacting the seller then e-mail us and we will try to sort it out for you.

I am not an Open University student. Can I buy course material?

Yes. It makes no difference whether you are an existing student or just interested in studying.

I live abroad. Can I still use your service?

Yes. However you should be aware that most courses weigh around 6 - 8kg. so the postage costs are likely to be high. Please contact the seller and explain where you live and they will work out the additional appropriate postage costs. You may be able to pay using your credit card if the seller agrees.

How many courses can I advertise in a six month registration period?

You can advertise up to 15 courses within your 6 month registration period. 

I have copies of my books and on-line material in a PDF format. Can I sell these on your web-site?

NO.  Copying and then selling material from an on-line course is a breach of copyright as is selling the material on in a PDF format.
The Open University will prosecute if it is carried out.