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:
eCampus.com 10T200 - $10 off $200 + free shipping FREE200 - $10 off $200 + free shipping RR1756438 - $5 off $100
ValoreBooks.com BOOKS07 - 5% OFF (plus extra 5% off when you sell your books back) GETMORE - 5% OFF fwallet - 5% OFF (also gives you 5% MORE CASH if you sell your book back!) . . . . . . . Expired Coupons (move dead coupons here)
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!
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 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.
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!
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