The UAB Bookstore

Probably the worst bookstore I've ever had the misfortune of using. Rarely answer the phone to confirm or clarify orders. Financial aid didn't go through and no one bothered to return my calls or multiple emails for many weeks while trying to correct with debit card. Didn't get my lab kit or books for over halfway through the semester because I was living out of state and couldn't go up there at the time (Fall 2020). Ordered for curbside pickup this semester (Spring 2021). Followed app instructions for letting them know I had arrived and then waited for over 15 minutes. I call the number on the sign and they actually answer saying they'll be right out with my order. Twenty more minutes go buy and it's now 10 minutes until the bookstore closes. Finally just go in the store and they realize someone took my order upstairs and left it on the counter. Only good thing I have to say is they everyone that works there is very nice when I'm able to speak with them.

Spring 2021I unfortunately made the mistake of ordering my textbooks through the bookstore. I ordered them online and set it to pick up in store. The day after I ordered, my card got charged almost 100$ more because they upgraded my textbooks to rented new. Failed to inform me of this decision, all the while their website still showing that rented used was still available. I ordered my books through another site. I also come to find out a week into classes that one of the books I ordered is recommended, not required. So I attempted to return it. They tell me if i want to return it I have to drop the class. Overall, I’ve never had a pleasant experience. Please use Chegg, they send you candy and Redbull.

Rent your textbooks elsewhere. Ordered my textbook well before the semester started, but didn't receive it until a week after my first exam. Then when you have to return it, you are charged a fee for the return label. This might be fair if the price was cheaper than other stores, but it's not. While I was waiting on my textbook to arrive I looked into other stores that had it for considerably cheaper. The university system is at it again taking every penny they can.

Do not rent textbooks from here. I rented over a month before classes started and they did not arrive in time. I ordered my books from Amazon and they were delivered the next day. I finally received the books from UAB Barnes and Noble a month after classes started, so I returned them immediately. Now it’s after the semester, and they’ve charged me over $100 because they “never received my rental return” at the end of the semester—even though I already returned the books as soon as I received them. Completely disorganized. Do not rent here.

Extremely long shipping times (weeks long). Zero communication (phone number does infinite loop through options never connecting you). They do not respond to emails either. This is one of the lowest quality businesses I’ve ever supported and makes UAB in general look bad. I highly recommend avoiding this for your textbook needs. EBay or Amazon will be faster and less expensive. Oh yeah, and they actually have people who will respond to phone calls and emails.nnAlso do not waste your time emailing the book store manager at [email protected] I am convinced this individual gets a full salary at UAB to do absolutely nothing. Must be a nice life.nntl;dr 1/5, low quality service, poor communication, slow, expensive, eBay + amazon offer much better service for better price