Pricing Policy
Most of our books are at the publisher's list price. On some older, slow-selling books, or on books that publishers sell to us at non-trade discounts (because they don't expect bookstores to carry them), or charge exorbitant postage to ship, we must raise our prices to get a survival-level margin. In addition, we must try to keep up with publishers price increases that take effect without notice. At the same time, we also offer some older, used, and special-purchase books at below list price, as well as subject-area and publisher sales from time to time. In general, we survive while selling a class and depth of books that bookstores avoid.
We are, incidentally, a private business and not owned by the University of California Press, or the University, as many people believe. This means we must pay taxes, rent and other bills as well as a modest return to the investors who helped us start this unique store.
We know scholarly books are expensive, just as we know our salaries are low and profit margins thin. (Believe me, nobody is getting rich selling scholarly books.) Nevertheless, we like these books and are pleased to serve you by making them available for inspection and purchase.