SFSU Bookstore Launches Buyback App

Last month San Francisco State University Bookstore launched an app to streamline their buyback process. A first in California, the buyback app allows SFSU students to scan the barcodes of used textbooks with their smartphone and instantly find out how much the bookstore will pay for their books.

SFSU Bookstore [1] marketed it via their website, their Facebook page, and in targeted e-mails. Available for iPhone [2] and Android [3], the free app was used by more than 500 students. “We've had good feedback from customers,” said Wendy S. Johnson, textbook department manager. “I think it has surprised students that we were offering an app, that we were doing something so cool.”  Students were also happy that they didn't have to bring in all their books, only to find out that they weren't being bought by the store, said Johnson.

The bookstore worked with software developer CutCom [4]. “They'd already developed a web interface [5] that offered the service, and we've been using that interface for years,” said Johnson. “An app was the next logical thing to do, and integrated into our current process.” The software functioned without any glitches.

Billed as an eco- and wallet-friendly program, SFSU offered cash for qualifying used textbooks with the tagline, “You get cash for summer vacation and you help us stay GREEN.”