Students who buy textbooks from Norris University Bookstore are facing a new refund policy that could put a hole in their pocket.

In order to prohibit students from using the bookstore as a “lending library,” the store is limiting the time they have to return unwanted books, said bookstore manager John Campbell.

“The new policy rewards the good customer and deters others from returning their books,” he said.

Students can receive a full refund with a receipt until April 6. After the first week of class, students have to return books within two days from the date of purchase.

Within the first 30 days of classes, students will receive a full refund only with a receipt and a drop slip. Also within the first 30 days students can receive a 75 percent refund if they have a receipt and the books are in the original condition, Campbell said.

Beyond this time period, the only option for students with unwanted books is to sell them back.

Last quarter, students were able to return textbooks until two weeks after the beginning of classes. This policy did not give some students enough time to return books but gave others too much time, he said.

With the new refund policy, there still will be students who “beat the system,” meaning they will return their books for a full refund after using them, he said.

“However, I don’t think most students are out to do that,” he said. “But if we find out someone is abusing the bookstore, we’ll be sure to crack down on them.”

Before making the change, Campbell said he proposed it to the Norris Center Advisory Committee and the Bookstore Advisory Committee. Both groups approved the return policy unanimously.

Campbell said the policy has been well-received by students and that he has received zero complaints about it.

“I am hoping for no conflicts,” Campbell said. “I want to make this as easy as possible for students.”

Jed Brewer, a McCormick sophomore, said he is not concerned with the new policy.

“When I buy books, I plan on keeping them,” he said.

But Speech freshman J.D. Shultz disagrees.

“This is just more stressful for students, because it gives me less time to work with,” he said. “We pay so much money for our education, it’s not fair to lose a lot of money on books.”

Other area bookstores have return policies similar to the Norris store.

Students who buy their books at Student Book Exchange can return them until April 13 for a full refund, said store manager Jerie Bray.

Bray said the bookstore will try to accommodate students with extenuating circumstances. Students with a drop slip can return their books after the first two weeks of class for a full refund, she said.

“We’re trying to refine our refund policy to accommodate students,” Bray said.

Great Expectations Bookstore will accept returns throughout the end of the second week of classes, said store manager Jeff Rice.

Jodi Gershoni, spokeswoman for varsitybooks.com, said the company’s formal refund policy is that students have 30 days after the time of purchase to receive a full refund.

But if students have an extenuating circumstance, they will be dealt with on a situation by situation basis, she said.

“As long as students have a reasonable request, we will give them a refund on their books,” Gershoni said.