When is the best time to start your textbook order? Now! Are there benefits to being able to fill more of your want list with one trusted company? Yes! MBS provides campus stores with more inventory options to ensure you have the inventory you need and at the price points you want. 
Managing Your Store’s Want List Fulfillment
Service Center
Using our Realtime Ordering functionality, you can easily submit bin-and-hold or ASAP orders. Realtime ordering provides 24/7 online ordering with up-to-the-minute details on inventory availability.
Make sure you set up a rework schedule to take advantage of MBS’ fresh inventory, giving your store first pick of new inventory as it arrives. We are constantly getting new shipments of books in the warehouse. So rather than just comparing your want list to a single snapshot of our inventory, reworks compare your list daily to our inventory over an extended length of time. This gives you access to books that might not have been available when the list was first submitted, helping to increase the number of books in your shipment. If your store is on the MBS system, start your bin and select Reworks. If it is not on the MBS system, start your bin and call order processing to request a rework schedule (800-325-0577).
As more adoptions come in, simply add them to your order and we will rework your want list against our inventory. ASAP ordering is available for quick order turnarounds to help ensure you have the materials you need. Don’t forget that MBS is a great source for discounted new books as well.
SimpleSource
With SimpleSource your entire want list from wholesale to marketplace sourcing can be managed with one easy-to-use tool. Your bin will be automatically worked against our inventory several times a day. All titles on an open-to-buy status will be reworked, and SimpleSource will keep you posted on the results. You don’t have to do anything. You can watch your fulfillment grow in real-time or set it and forget it.
With SimpleSource, your store can:
- Save time
- Access more inventory at multi-discounted levels
- Streamline your want list process
- Source from the marketplace
- Get one shipment with one invoice
- View real-time want list fulfillment updates
- Control your price thresholds
To get started with SimpleSource, contact your MBS representative. If you already have SimpleSource activated, set up cycles for each discount tier. With each new cycle, you will continue to expand the inventory selection available to your store. The 30% discount tier will help you maximize your want list fulfillment and access discounted new book inventory.
Types of Course Materials Available Through MBS
Used books
MBS has one of the largest inventories of used books in the nation. Utilizing numerous inventory channels, we have a constantly evolving selection of used textbooks. As a great low-cost textbook option, used books are often in high demand. Maximize your fill rate by leaving and reworking your want list with MBS for as long as possible.
New books
Did you know you can also get discounted new book inventory from MBS? That means you can save money when you order new inventory from MBS and consolidate textbook shipments coming to your store and returns.
Marketplace
MBS also helps remove the risk from marketplace sourcing. In addition to fulfilling your wholesale inventory needs, SimpleSource can be used to also source books from the marketplace. Simply set the price you are willing to pay for marketplace books and MBS will do the rest. Like all books that flow through our facility, those books will be vetted to ensure authenticity and added to your bin so you can receive one shipment with one invoice.
Rental
MBS Rental puts your store in control. There are no contracts or agreements. You set pricing based on your store and can purchase inventory from any source. With the most competitive rebate program in the industry, your store has the foundation for a successful in-store rental program. Once you submit your rental list, we will send you the guaranteed rebate amounts. The earlier you submit your list, the more time you have for reworks to maximize the number of titles.
Publisher Consignment Rental
Publisher consignment rentals help lower student costs and provide bookstores with a recyclable rental product. Stores can earn a good margin on these materials, and there is no upfront cost. This makes it easy for the store to offer any materials faculty request.
Digital Materials
For MBS system users, digital purchases are simple to manage. VitalSource®, RedShelf and CEI integrations allow students to buy and access eTextbooks with just a few clicks.
Ordering Terminology
Maybe you are new to ordering course materials or just need a refresher on what some of the industry terminology means. Here is an easy glossary of terms.
Want list — The list of books your store will need for the upcoming term based on faculty adoptions and what you expect to sell.
Bin and Hold — A bin-and-hold order is left with MBS for a set amount of time. During that time, more books are added to your bin through reworks or as you update your want list with new titles and/or quantities. You will then receive your consolidated order in one shipment, or you can choose to have several orders arrive on designated dates.
Reworks — Reworks take advantage of MBS’ fresh inventory, giving your store first pick of new inventory as it arrives daily. We are constantly getting new shipments of books in the warehouse. So rather than just comparing your want list to a single snapshot of our inventory, reworks compare your list to our inventory multiple times over an extended length of time. This gives you access to books that might not have been available when the list was first compared. This helps increase your fill rate.
ASAP order — An ASAP order is compared against a snapshot of our inventory when the order is placed. Your order will be compiled and shipped to you within 24 hours.
Quote — If your store offers guaranteed buyback or rental textbooks, you can submit the list of books your store is supplying students to MBS. MBS will send back your guaranteed rebate amounts for each qualifying title. At the end of term, simply send the titles of your choice to MBS to take advantage of your locked-in price quote.
Open-to-buy — The number of books your store would like to purchase.
SimpleSource — An MBS ordering tool designed to help college stores maximize wholesale and/or marketplace want list fulfillment with minimal effort. It is free and available to all college stores.
Realtime Ordering — Order online 24/7 with up-to-the-minute details on available textbook inventory at servicecenter.mbsbooks.com.
Directlink — Fast computer-to-computer electronic ordering for MBS system users.
EZ Link — Easy electronic order processing for non-MBS users.
Fill rate — The percentage of your want list that is filled: copies delivered / copies ordered.
Cycle — Through our ordering tool SimpleSource, we offer stores three discount tiers. Within SimpleSource, you can select the percentage of your list that you would like MBS to fulfill through our traditional inventory models. You can then select from the discount tiers which level you would like to start with. As fulfillment progresses, you can cycle through pricing tiers, providing access to a greater number of books while keeping the overall average cost down. When you initiate your SimpleSource order, we recommend setting up cycles for each discount tier. With each new fulfillment cycle, you will continue to expand the inventory selection available to your store.
Marketplace — The marketplace is the home of third-party sellers. Through SimpleSource, MBS offers stores an easy tool to source textbooks from a safe and vetted textbook marketplace.
MBS Rental — Rental is an easy way to save students money and increase your store's margins and market share. Now is the perfect time to make sure your store and students get all the benefits that come with the MBS rental program. Our rental program offers college stores competitive pricing, guaranteed rebates, timely payments, the ability to purchase inventory from any source, and no contract or agreements.
Publisher Consignment Rentals — MBS partners with publishers to support their consignment rental programs. MBS provides book distribution and automated reporting (when using the MBS system) for these programs. These programs differ from store owned inventory rental programs in that the publishers own the rental book assets and will either recommend or dictate rental fees and will set the terms and conditions. Books must be returned in reusable condition. Partner with your MBS representative and store contacts prior to the start of the buyback/rental check in for instructions on the processing/handling of publisher consignment rentals.
As always, if you have any questions at all about how to place an order, start a bin or activate SimpleSource, just contact your MBS representative.
