About us
TextbookRush is all about helping students achieve the education they want and deserve.
We sell books at seriously low prices, as well as textbook rentals for those one-and-done
classes. Have books to sell? We’ve got you covered. We buy over one million different
titles back from students and other sources for cash or store credit. And that’s
not all we’ve got. When it’s time for a study break you can check us out for great
movies and video games.
When all is said and done, our focus is on growing with YOU – our customers, suppliers,
affiliates, and partners. We strive to build strong and mutually beneficial relationships
with people across the world and provide services designed especially for you!
Thank you,
Phil Smyres
CEO/Founder of TextbookRush
Meet the team
Tip: Hover over the images!
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Phil
CEO/Founder of TextbookRush
Favorite books:
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight & The Prophet by Kahil Gibran
Fun fact: I once traveled by Volkswagen camper from Karachi, Pakistan to Amsterdam.
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Rush
Brand Ambassador
Favorite book:
Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck
Fun fact: I’m a distant relative of some of the most famous bunnies in Hollywood.
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Alison
Senior Marketing Manager
Favorite book:
The Help
by Kathryn Stockett
Fun fact: I went skydiving with my now husband for our 1 year dating anniversary.
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Connor
Enterprise Team Lead
Favorite book:
The BFG
by Roald Dahl
Fun fact: I graduated high school at 15.
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Jason
Senior .NET Developer
Favorite book:
Ender’s Game
by Orson Scott Card
Fun fact: I am an avid eater of chicken wings.
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Jason
.NET Developer
Favorite book:
The Way of Kings
by Brandon Sanderson
Fun fact: Nobody at work actually calls me Jason.
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Darrell
Buybacks Manager
Favorite book:
The Odyssey
by Homer
Fun fact: I enjoy fishing and hunting in my spare time.
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Serena
Accountant
Favorite book:
Feast
by Grahm Masterson
Fun fact: Once on vacation I almost got eaten by a bull shark… but I survived.
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Jeff
Director of Customer Care
Favorite book:
The Big Short
by Michael Lewis
Fun fact: I want to visit all 50 States….4 left to go.
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Jeneé
Customer Care Representative
Favorite book:
Any book my kid reads me :)
Fun fact: I'm Disney-obsessed.
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Steven
Customer Care Representative
Favorite book:
1984
by George Orwell
Fun fact: I am a Wolverines fan.
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Tom
Customer Care Representative
Favorite book:
Mirai Nikki
by Sakae Esuno
Fun fact: I’ve played over 10 TCG’s (Trading Card Games) competitively and still adding to the list.
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Kevin
Textbook Rental Manager
Favorite book:
East of Eden
by John Steinbeck
Fun fact: I have a national table tennis rating of 894.
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Jason
Lead, Inventory Management
Favorite book:
Valis
by Philip K. Dick
Fun fact: I am currently ranked #21 in the U.S. on the arcade game Pole Position.
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John
Lead, Inventory Management
Favorite book:
An American Tragedy
by Theodore Dreiser
Fun fact: My neighbor has three rabbits.
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Luke
Director of Anti-Piracy
Favorite book:
Burr
by Gore Vidal
Fun fact: I enjoy playing the banjo, guitar and singing saw in my spare time.
Company history
1994
Opened first store
With the help and support of Missouri Bookstore, Pearson, Cengage, John Wiley and McGraw-Hill, Phil, the TextbookRush CEO, had the ability to open and operate his first bookstore in a 121 sq ft. office in Columbus, Ohio. Phil owned 1,100 books and sold 700 within The Ohio State’s first school quarter.
1998
Opened second store
Phil bought one of the four major campus bookstores at The Ohio State University, Buckeye Books. His bookstore grew from 121 sq ft to 2,500 sq ft.
2001
TextbooksRus.com
Started our online bookstore named TextbooksRus
2003
New office
Moved to an office off of Wood Ave. in Columbus, Ohio. The company had 50 employees.
2008
Bookstores.com
We launched a marketplace only website, Bookstores.com. This website is a marketplace similar to the one offered on TextbookRush.com, but has a global reach.
2009
New warehouse
We added 55,000 square feet of warehouse space to our current location in Grandview Heights, Ohio, tripling its previous space. The new facility has a capacity for 750,000 books. Also, video games and DVDs were added to our website.
2012
Apex_Media begins renting textbooks on Amazon
Apex_Media was created and began renting textbooks as a third-party rental provider on Amazon. Apex_Media is a top rated seller, listing over ten thousand products to rent through the Amazon rental program.
2013
TextbookRush.com
Company rebranded from TextbooksRus to TextbookRush. Rush the Rabbit became our company’s logo and our slogan became, “Your online campus bookstore.”
2019
Counterfeits are a familiar problem in many industries, including the textbook industry. We implemented anti-counterfeit best practices, which are designed to catch counterfeit textbooks. Our strict textbook review process comes with outlined criteria and publisher approved training.
2023
As one of the first and largest rental providers on Amazon, Apex_Media rental inventory can now be found on TextbookRush.
2024
As of January 2, 2024, TextbookRush.com has transitioned to an employee-owned structure. The employee ownership model will contribute to the continued success and growth of TextbookRush, ensuring a bright future for the company employees and its valued customers. We remain dedicated to its mission of providing an extensive selection of books, competitive prices, and outstanding customer service. This transition was initiated and approved by Phil Smyres, the visionary founder, and CEO of TextbookRush.
Currently
Another year under our belt! Our claim to fame is still our buyback service, where we offer the highest payouts on books you no longer want. Added bonus - we offer top of the line service for purchases too. With savings up to 90%! Plus free shipping on orders over $35 that the competition can't beat.
Our guarantee
At TextbookRush we want you to be satisfied with your purchase. We offer a guarantee
on both TextbookRush inventory and books purchased through one of our marketplace
sellers. If you are not satisfied with your purchase within 30 days from receiving,
simply return it – no questions asked for a full refund of the product price. We
strive every day to provide you great products, great prices and the service you
expect from TextbookRush.
“TextbookRush” & the TextbookRush Rabbit logo are registered trademarks of Anaid Holdings, LLC.
Video: Our textbook review process