FABLES BOOKSHOP

We buy current setworks from students for cash. We strive to pay a fair price to both seller and purchaser alike.

DEFINITION: What is a prescribed setwork? Most Rhodes Departments describe books as "Prescribed" or as "Recommended" on the student handouts and book lists. There is little conformity among departments on this matter. Prescribed is meant to indicate that the text is essential, and recommended that the text will provide a good source of additional information.

Some departments structure the course tightly around the content of a book. Typically you will need the book throughout the semester or year for continual detailed reference, for examples and for expansion of the information given at lectures. An example of this approach include the Department of Mathematics where the main set text (Stewart. CALCULUS) contains the mathematical exercises that will be set for you. You will not be able to satisfactorily complete the course without this book.

Other departments prescribe books for supplementary reading over and above the content of the lectures. Many prescribed books are used only for a short period, a chapter or two is all that is studied. An example here is the Department of Anthropology where the 1st-year text is an excellent introductory text, but on account of the excellent condition of the bulk of copies offered for sale was apparently not heavily used by most owners.
tip. Whatever the useage, we would always recommend that students obtain the prescibed books. Access to them will result in increased exposure to the subject matter, and thus an increased understanding which will translate directly into higher marks. Don't complain that you did not use the book overmuch, whose fault was that?

We recommend to students that selling their unwanted texts to us is advantageous as they benefit from our buying them all at one go. This is a lot less trouble than putting up notices (and taking them down!), handling all the phone-calls and visitors.
tip. You will be left with unsold items if you sell them on-campus.

In late March through April & May we are flooded with students wanting to sell 1st semester /1st term books that we would have been able to buy and sell in February. We are unable to buy many of them so late as most students have already sourced them by that time.
tip. Sell books to us at the very beginning of the academic year! We will buy all that we can sell. Plan ahead. Bringing in books late in the year because the rent is due will often result in them remaining unsold. We are not a book bank!

Books get more expensive throughout the year. If you buy a new imported book at the end of the year, and it has been ordered specially for you then this is likely to cost at least 50% more than had you bought it secondhand at the beginning of the year. It may even be nearly double that price. If you order it late, you will get it late, perhaps only weeks before final exams. You will pay top price for the book and have minimal study use out of it.
tip. Buy your books for the whole year as early as possible, you will save money and get more study use from the books.

When the lecturer holds up a copy of the prescribed text to announce that you must get that text, be warned that this is already too late. The rush of students will clear Fables, UPB, and the campus "For Sale" notices of all stock in a short time. Get the departmental booklist and check with the lecturer well in advance that there are no changes, then buy early.
tip. When you see the books that you want, buy them. You will be assured of having your own copy when you need it.

Borrowing a book? When the heat is on and the exam is around the corner you will not get use of the book when you need it most. The owner will retain exclusive use for theirself.
tip. Buy your own books, early. You will get much more study use from them.

We buy and sell on a percentage of the new price of the book according to its condition. Books that are heavily underlined and annotated, especially in ink, or with high-lighted passages, are worth less. Books that are like new are worth most. Highest prices are paid at the very beginning of the year because of the demand, and lower prices in November because we have to sit with the books through to the next year, and because of the uncertainties of what will actually be on the new year's list, what will actually be available from the publishers, etc. A prescribed book fetches a better price than a recommended book. Books used for the first semester only are unlikely to be bought for the second semester.

Don't skimp on texts. Consider the total cost of a year at Rhodes. Tuition + accomodation + living expenses + travel = +R50000,00 ? minimum . How can you quibble over whether to buy a R250.00 book or not? That book will give you a better mark, and you are unlikely to be able to take your degree course a second time. Your final marks will be with you for ever. It may eat into your beer money, but what are you here for, beer of a degree? Harrass your parents for the money for books early, don't let them cheat you out of what you need to get a good degree pass.
tip. Books are an investment in your degree, it is false economy to do without.

If you want us to find a particular title

Students dedicated to finding copies of secondhand books can give us a neatly written list with their name and student email number from 5th March onwards. We will let them know when we have found their books. There is no obligation or charge for this service.
tip. Do check your email regularly, we will hold books only for a short time.

Care of books

This use of ink and highlighter seriously devalues a book. We recommend that students only make light pencil annotations where absolutely necessary. Trying to erase heavy pencilwork risks tearing the pages, can rub out the print due to the poor quality paper used in many paperback editions, and in the end it is often impossible to completely remove all the underlinings.
tip. Don't mark your books if the resale value is important to you!

When attatching plastic covers to a book this should be done without attatching the sellotape to the inside cover itself as this will cause a stain and the paper may be torn when trying to remove it.
tip. The sellotape can be put across the corner of the folded-in plastic cover instead.

Other guides to preserving the condition of your books are as follows.
Don't fold over page corners, don't stand coffee cups and cool-drink cans on them, and never, never, write your name in cokey on the edge of the book. A neat name inscription on the first page or the inside of the cover is OK.
tip. we recommend a secret mark on a particular spot on a selected numbered page of all your books as proof of ownership should you see it again.

We will require your student card for identification purposes as well as your ID book (or passport for foreign students) when you are selling setworks. The new Second Hand Goods Act of 2009 put stringent requirements on us when buying used texts, and penalties for selling stolen good are harsh. Do not allow your 'friends' to sell their books on your id number.