Buying Textbooks

Here-am-I · 06-30-2009, 09:46 PM

Hi!

Any recommendations as to where to buy cheap textbooks for college?

**bravesfan007** · 06-30-2009, 09:52 PM

Amazon.com and half.com have always worked for me. I know there are a few other websites strictly for text books, but I could never really find those much cheaper.

If all else fails try and find someone on campus who has already had the class. I know this may not apply in your situation, but later on it may. I know with my college sometimes people would simply borrow the book from others and return it back to them when they were finished.

tigerfan88 · 06-30-2009, 10:23 PM

eBay is where I usually get my textbooks. Just make sure to purchase the correct edition--especially if the content of the class is really dependent on a particular edition of the book.

guitarman531 · 06-30-2009, 10:48 PM

Half.com is my main 'go to'. If you play it right, you can sell your books for a really good price and buy them for very good prices. Play the market!

Good luck

**surferdude9375** · 07-01-2009, 05:34 PM

Amazon, eBay, and off desperate students. Make sure to get the correct edition.

If your willing to try it: My school library has all the textbooks for all the classes and I just use the library for the books. They give you 2 hour checkout times and it can't leave the library but you can keep checking it out as long as no one else is there to take it. Especially useful if it is a core subject that you know well and don't require the textbook to write in and highlight (if your that kind of person)

**bravesfan007** · 07-01-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surferdude9375

If your willing to try it: My school library has all the textbooks for all the classes and I just use the library for the books. They give you 2 hour checkout times and it can't leave the library but you can keep checking it out as long as no one else is there to take it. Especially useful if it is a core subject that you know well and don't require the textbook to write in and highlight (if your that kind of person)

I would echo this. I had one class that required a book for like two weeks for reading. It happened to be in the library. While everyone else bought the book, I checked it out from the library and simply returned it when I no longer needed it. Saved me about $30. I know, it's nothing too large when considering the price of text books, but still, every little thing counts.

Nate · 07-01-2009, 11:15 PM

Two words: International edition.

Same content + Craptastic printing / paper = Saves you +50%.

eBay it. Almost every standard textbook has an international edition out there.

It's illegal to sell them "in North America," so you have to buy from someone "outside" the country.

**Epaphras** · 07-02-2009, 10:58 AM

The tricky part about buying online is that you can't "feel out" a class to see which (if any) books you really need, because if you wait a week to feel out the class, then order the books, you'll be three weeks into the class before they arrive.

On the other hand, if you KNOW you will need all the books in a class, you can save a lot by buying them a semester early. So like in May you'd buy your textbooks for September from people who just finished the class you are taking in the fall. They are looking to get rid of the book, the campus bookstore is probably offerering 10-15% their purchase-price...if you add a few bucks to what the bookstore is buying them back for, you can get them really cheap and they are happy because they got more money for their books than if they sold them back to the bookstore.

So if they bought the textbook for $120 at the beginning of the semester (and that's what the bookstore lists the book you need for this coming semester), and are buying it back for $20, try and find those people and offer them $30 for the textbook and say "It's more than you can get at the bookstore, and it saves you the hassle of trying to sell it online". 9 times out of 10 they'll take that deal, and you just saved yourself $90.

It's all a complete racket though. Something needs to be done to reign in the cost of these textbooks.

Word of advice: keep your textbooks for your major courses. It'll be a great start to your library, especially if you are getting into an "academic" field. If there is a textbook or author you particularly like, you can update to the current edition every few years. Plus, you never know when you'll need to reference something.

j0s1ah · 07-09-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate

Two words: International edition.

I definitely agree. I saved over $150 on my organic chemistry textbooks this way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epaphras

The tricky part about buying online is that you can't "feel out" a class to see which (if any) books you really need, because if you wait a week to feel out the class, then order the books, you'll be three weeks into the class before they arrive.

True, I've ran into this problem as well.

I've just been "biting the bullet" for the past few years. Buying them on campus, and if I don't need them there is sometimes a two week grace period in which you are able to receive a full refund. Check your bookstore. Usually, it's better to have the book and not use it than need it and not have it.

Also, the library(ies) often have the texts used in class. Make good use of this! It will save you some dough.

AlphaSigma · 07-10-2009, 11:40 PM

private sellers on amazon has been the cheapest for me, if you don't mind waiting up to several weeks for shipping. I've saved at least 50% on most used theology books on amazon and if you have enough forewarning regarding textbooks. It just might be your best option.

.However, I wouldn't recommend it on short notice.