It's that time of year again, the upcoming fall semester is just around the corner. I couldn't find the post from last year, so here goes with some tips on how to save some money.
First and foremost, never ever buy from the local bookstore! Always buy online since you can save some serious dough from places like Half, eBay, Amazon market place, etc (last year I picked up a book that retails for $130 for only $35 shipped and it was brand new!!).
Secondly, if you really need to have the book at hand for the first week of school, "borrow" it from the local bookstore. In other words, buy it from the bookstore and also online with you credit card, and while the online order is enroute to you, you've got that local bookstore copy handy. Once the online book arrives, return the other copy to your local bookstore. That worked for me last year, but it could be a YMMV for your campus bookstore, so check their return policy before proceeding. Some stores need proof that you dropped the class before letting your return the book, while others just don't care (lines are long during the first week!)
As for sites to check out for textbook comparisons, here are a few that I'm familiar with:
Most large schools have student or organization run book exchange sites. Many times at the end of the year I was able to sell old books for more than the bookstore would have payed to get them back. The buyer was able to pick it up for less than the bookstore would have turned it around for. Everyone's happy!
Most large schools have student or organization run book exchange sites. Many times at the end of the year I was able to sell old books for more than the bookstore would have payed to get them back. The buyer was able to pick it up for less than the bookstore would have turned it around for. Everyone's happy!
That's known as cutting out the middleman.
idrivefreely
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 15, 2005 @ 4:25a
diljs said: VTOrganix said: Just graduated...GO HOKIES
Most large schools have student or organization run book exchange sites. Many times at the end of the year I was able to sell old books for more than the bookstore would have payed to get them back. The buyer was able to pick it up for less than the bookstore would have turned it around for. Everyone's happy!
For future reference, except for those of us (like me) who took summer classes:
If / when you're selling books back, webuytextbooks.com always gives better prices than my bookstore.
daggerlee
Member
posted: Aug. 15, 2005 @ 12:05p
For basic textbooks like Chem 101 or something, see if the library keeps copies for borrowing. If yes, buy the previous edition on eBay or Amazon marketplaces, then for the problem sets, just go to the library and xerox them. The material is usually the same, its only the problesm sets that keep changing.
This does not work!! The school book stores, and the publishers all know you will try to do this, so what happens is most professors are SOLD on using rare one of a kind books that the publisher has complete control of (no used market). Thus you are forced to buy from the bookstore locally. And you need to buy early because the book store will not have many of the book available.
remember these are business who want to sell. They know that customers go to used book stores, and the internet.
valval22
Shopaholic Member
posted: Aug. 16, 2005 @ 2:21p
ktjensen said: This does not work!! The school book stores, and the publishers all know you will try to do this, so what happens is most professors are SOLD on using rare one of a kind books that the publisher has complete control of (no used market). Thus you are forced to buy from the bookstore locally. And you need to buy early because the book store will not have many of the book available. remember these are business who want to sell. They know that customers go to used book stores, and the internet. The campus, and even the "off-campus" bookstores DO make money, because of the convenience factor. Those who sell their books online are making money too - otherwise they probably wouldn't do it.
I study communications, and my b-f studies biochemistry. Of course, he can never find used books, b/c the science is advancing so rapidly, thus they need to change chapters in the books he uses. I, however, almost always find used books ONLINE at incredible prices. I don't usually believe that the publishers do it ONLY to make more money. More likely, they find that the text is outdated and students would benefit from a change. And, the profs don't want to keep changing texts, b/c then they have to learn the new text on top of everything else they are doing.
If there ever was a way to find "rare one of a kind books", as you say, it would be the internet!
I think Amazon Maketplace is pretty good almost all the time...
CoolxStuff
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 16, 2005 @ 6:25p
If you check eBay, eBay almost always cheaper than Amazon.
dream3r
Member
posted: Aug. 18, 2005 @ 12:13p
Bump for a coupon update!
imwise1
Addicted Member
posted: Aug. 18, 2005 @ 7:11p
www.ValoreBooks.com
These guys have good prices for college textbooks, mostly used, though. They also sell NY Times bestsellers and such and you can find some good deals if you're not into eBay.
Enter code GETMORE for 5% off
Seculus
Thrifty Member
posted: Aug. 19, 2005 @ 11:41a
I tend to use www.addall.com for most of my book needs.
has anyone bothered to compare which websites search what?
In other words, campusi and addall both search like 36 sites, and most (if not all) seem to be the same.
Has anyone bothered to check it out and found that if you search both of those sites (or any other site) then you will be covering ALL the possibilities?
thanks
dream3r
Member
posted: Aug. 23, 2005 @ 9:26p
Bump for another update (added B&N coupon)!
twwang
Tired Member
posted: Aug. 24, 2005 @ 12:46a
Can't get MUSTARD20 to work...says it's expired...
bugga321
Member
posted: Aug. 24, 2005 @ 12:13p
Does anyone know any good bookstores who accept paypal as a form of payment. Thanks
bugga321 said: Does anyone know any good bookstores who accept paypal as a form of payment. ThanksSee if you can get a PP Debit Mastercard. Then, when someone won't take PP you can still use those funds to pay via the credit card.
Additionally, the internet rocks on reselling books. I remember days when I'd pay $120 for a book and then not hilight or write in it and the bookstore would give me $30 in return. Using the internet, however, last year I bought a book from Powells Books for $72 and then sold it for $80 when I was done. No, not a huge profit but certainly a no-cost book on my end!
does anyone have any comments/suggestions on buying international versions? are they really the same as the seller claims? most of the non-core classes at my school dont have their books in the library so i need it within a reasonable timeframe. anyone have bad experiences with this? i've never bought textbooks online so i dont have much experience with all this.
as a side note, i can tell the university/bookstores are starting to combat against alternative sources of textbook buying. i've noticed this year they moved the last day of textbook refunds to within 1 week. this on top of selling more shrinkwrapped books (cant be returned once open), loose-leaf books (that cant be bought back), and assigning 'university specific' books, which are nothing more than the regular version with an appendix added by the profs with trivial stuff like how to succeed in class.
Any time u can buy the softcover international editions, always do it. It is exactly the same as the american version except usually the paper is cheaper, non-color pictures, and contains a warning that it is illegal to be sold in the US.
The only down side is that if u plan on selling it back to the university, it cannot be done.
snor said: Any time u can buy the softcover international editions, always do it. It is exactly the same as the american version except usually the paper is cheaper, non-color pictures, and contains a warning that it is illegal to be sold in the US.
The only down side is that if u plan on selling it back to the university, it cannot be done.
THIS IS ILLEGAL I THINK. I see this all the time at my school. These are not allowed to be used in the US. I think someone said that these are cheap only so that students in Third World countries can afford them. I don't think you can legally use them in the US.
dream3r
Member
posted: Aug. 25, 2005 @ 1:16p
Bump for another coupon update (new Buy.com $10 off $75+)
dream3r
Member
posted: Aug. 25, 2005 @ 4:51p
Just added a 30% off coupon good at Borders B&M -- thanks getafix!
snor said: Any time u can buy the softcover international editions, always do it. It is exactly the same as the american version except usually the paper is cheaper, non-color pictures, and contains a warning that it is illegal to be sold in the US.
The only down side is that if u plan on selling it back to the university, it cannot be done.
some people say they are selling an international edition with color. Do you think this is accurate, or is it just some B.S. marketing ploy, and technically the cover is in color so it counts. Color can definitely be an asset sometimes.
got a question here... I am lookign for isbn 0534377416 it's a math book. I'd prefer to buy from a company rather than an indvidual. On Amazon.com they want 118$ for it amazon.COM link
but on Amazon.co.uk they only want 30 pounds (60$ish) for it amazon.CO.UK
anyone know what's up with that?? It says they ship to the us too... are they the same book?
they should be the same book IF the ISBN is the same.
sphinx63
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 31, 2005 @ 8:15a
Just an update, the barnes and noble coupon has expired, just tried to use it. And thanks, george2350! Using the other sites mentioned, the cheapest I could find a book was $28, but using your fetchbook site, got a copy for $7.97 with shipping!
Shinn
New Member
posted: Sep. 2, 2005 @ 5:54p
Can someone help me here? Has anyone ever bought from Amazon Canada from the US? I'm thinking of buying a book http://www.Amazon.ca/exec/obidos/tg/detail/offer-listing/-/0131402080/new/ref=sdp_newb/702-5791128-2605600 Is it legit? Do I have to pay extra for canadian conversion or whatnot?
My daughter got her book list for this semester, and one of the books apparently comes with some sort of clicker that she needs for class and allegedly only the bookstore has this? Has anyone ever heard of something like this?
Oh yeah, and naturally it's the most expensive book on her list.
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