The Cost of College Textbooks
- Thread starter bresamil
- Start date
Check online. This site: Textbooks | College Textbooks | New Textbooks | Used Textbooks | College Textbooks | Cheap Textbooks seems to do a search for you of many sites that sell used textbooks. Even with shipping it will probably be quite a bit cheaper.
migtig
aka Mrs. Giant
I just got a Nook (like a kindle) and was looking for ebooks last night and saw a LOT of free college text books, reference manuals, and the like last night when I was searching. There also were a few that were priced, but I remember thinking how cheap an ebook was in comparison to the real book.
Since that wasn't what I was looking for last night, I can't remember the particular sites, but here's a link listing a bunch of different ebook sites that I was checking out.
MobileRead Wiki - Free eBooks
You can always get the ebooks and dowload the pdf to the computer and there's no need to invest in a nook or kindle or anything.
Since that wasn't what I was looking for last night, I can't remember the particular sites, but here's a link listing a bunch of different ebook sites that I was checking out.
MobileRead Wiki - Free eBooks
You can always get the ebooks and dowload the pdf to the computer and there's no need to invest in a nook or kindle or anything.
Pete
Repete
If you can find an older edition of the same book you can get by using that most of the time.
What these jackasses do is put out a new "edition" every year or two making one think that there is new information in it. The reality is they just reorder the chapters to screw over the used book stores. I did this quite a bit back in the day. Edition 6 costs $180 but edition 5 was the same damn book with chapter 2 and chapter 5 swapped and it cost $35 in the used book store. Everything was word for word the same.
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libertytyranny
Dream Stealer
try half.com ...probably every book imaginable. but when i was in school, I bit the bullet and bough them from the college bookstore. Ordering online became a hassle, and I didnt want to fall behind or get the wrong edition and then have to exchange it. Sometimes there is no real difference in editions..but VERY often the books will come with software or a key code or some sort of extra material that DOES change..so check it out before hand. I sold my books back at the end of the semester, and saved the money to buy the new ones.i lost money of course, but college isnt a cheap proposition anyway..
lnmarsh
Love * Luck * Faith
Ok, this is what I used to do:
1.) Get my required materials (aka books) list
2.) Go to the college bookstore, write down the ISBN, title and price of each book needed
3.) Buy a USED version (if available), marked in no less than "good condition" from Amazon.com (I wouldnt use any other site) for the cheapest price I could find. Make sure the ISBNs match up and it has any extras (CDs, etc) that would come in the package from the college bookstore
4.) DONT highlight in it; use Post-It Flags, etc.
5.) Keep them covered, clean, etc.
6.) Resell them on Amazon at the end of the semester for no less than $10 more than what I paid for them.
I was able to sell every single book that way. You end up getting what you need for class, getting good use/your money's worth out of it, then turning around and making a profit off of them! Also, it gives you money for next semester's books. I know going to the bookstore to get the ISBNs seems like a hastle, but when it saves you $130 on a $200 book, its worth it
Just a suggestion. Worked for me every single year
1.) Get my required materials (aka books) list
2.) Go to the college bookstore, write down the ISBN, title and price of each book needed
3.) Buy a USED version (if available), marked in no less than "good condition" from Amazon.com (I wouldnt use any other site) for the cheapest price I could find. Make sure the ISBNs match up and it has any extras (CDs, etc) that would come in the package from the college bookstore
4.) DONT highlight in it; use Post-It Flags, etc.
5.) Keep them covered, clean, etc.
6.) Resell them on Amazon at the end of the semester for no less than $10 more than what I paid for them.
I was able to sell every single book that way. You end up getting what you need for class, getting good use/your money's worth out of it, then turning around and making a profit off of them! Also, it gives you money for next semester's books. I know going to the bookstore to get the ISBNs seems like a hastle, but when it saves you $130 on a $200 book, its worth it
Just a suggestion. Worked for me every single year
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Cowgirl
Well-Known Member
My last semester I was so poor I couldn't afford to buy my Chem book. 
They really rip you off though. A new book would be $120 or so, then you gently use it for one semester. They'd give you $30 (maybe) for it when you sell it, then they turn around and sell it for $80 the next semester.
They really rip you off though. A new book would be $120 or so, then you gently use it for one semester. They'd give you $30 (maybe) for it when you sell it, then they turn around and sell it for $80 the next semester.
happyappygirl
Rocky Mountain High!!
Thought this was cool....RENTING textbooks instead of purchasing them:
Rent Textbooks - Your College Textbook Rental Source - Campus Book Rentals
Rent Textbooks - Your College Textbook Rental Source - Campus Book Rentals
terbear1225
Well-Known Member
My last semester I was so poor I couldn't afford to buy my Chem book.
They really rip you off though. A new book would be $120 or so, then you gently use it for one semester. They'd give you $30 (maybe) for it when you sell it, then they turn around and sell it for $80 the next semester.
try ebay too. have gotten almost all of my grad school books that way for WAY less than the bookstore.
happyappygirl
Rocky Mountain High!!
I thought about that, but then you'd have to have a laptop which you carried with you to all classes. I think that would be a drag.
itsbob
I bowl overhand
Go to Half.com, and amazon. You can find the "overseas versions" of the books DIRT cheap. Only difference is they are paperback and not Hardback. Publishers make books for the US, charge $200 bucks, and take the money they make off of us, and publish the SAME books in paperback and sell them for $20 - 50 for less fortunate overseas students.
libertytyranny
Dream Stealer
Ok, this is what I used to do:
1.) Get my required materials (aka books) list
2.) Go to the college bookstore, write down the ISBN, title and price of each book needed
3.) Buy a USED version (if available), marked in no less than "good condition" from Amazon.com (I wouldnt use any other site) for the cheapest price I could find. Make sure the ISBNs match up and it has any extras (CDs, etc) that would come in the package from the college bookstore
4.) DONT highlight in it; use Post-It Flags, etc.
5.) Keep them covered, clean, etc.
6.) Resell them on Amazon at the end of the semester for no less than $10 more than what I paid for them.
I was able to sell every single book that way. You end up getting what you need for class, getting good use/your money's worth out of it, then turning around and making a profit off of them! Also, it gives you money for next semester's books. I know going to the bookstore to get the ISBNs seems like a hastle, but when it saves you $130 on a $200 book, its worth it
Just a suggestion. Worked for me every single year
You must be patient
I did basically this for one semester, shipping got messed up, I had to return a book for another one and ended up being 3 weeks into my class before the right one came...I had to photocopy chapters every week from a friends book (at 10 cents a page, and it was a hugeee history book)..I never did it again 
itsbob
I bowl overhand
My last semester I was so poor I couldn't afford to buy my Chem book.
They really rip you off though. A new book would be $120 or so, then you gently use it for one semester. They'd give you $30 (maybe) for it when you sell it, then they turn around and sell it for $80 the next semester.
And ONLY if a new version of the book hasn't been released.
lnmarsh
Love * Luck * Faith
You must be patient
LOL Well when it comes to saving money, Ill be patient
If I had gotten screwed on the history book like you did, I guess I may have rethought my book-buying process as well. I just got lucky I guess... :shrug:
itsbob
I bowl overhand
You must be patient
I can't even count the number of classes (not counting Math classes) where I never even used the required text book..
SoccerMom2
New Member
My husband is doing that now. After trying to find the best deal, this was easier. Saved a lot of money.
libertytyranny
Dream Stealer
Oh me too..for sure. Problem is, I didn't know which class would be like that until I was in it awhile. I had one particular proff (several classes he taught in my major) who thought it was fun to ask detailed, specific, questions on exams from some random far reaching paragraph in the textbook. For example " in the paragraph about cognitive dissonance, what was the author's assertion about..." that specific. I hated him.
But for many, I got away with barely cracking it..but I always got it..to be sure I didn't get stuck needing it.I'm giving the rental thing a try this semester (for my son). It is cheaper than purchasing the books - even cheaper than used books in some cases. There are a couple of other textbook rental sites that you might want to look at too -- eCampus.com and Chegg.com. I found eCampus to have the best deal for the books my son needed this semester and shipping was free (if you spend a certain amount).
happyappygirl
Rocky Mountain High!!
how do you find "overseas" versions?
godsbutterfly
Free to Fly
Step daughter was able to get all of her books except for one at Amazon.com and they were all in good shape. Saved a lot of money that way and they got here quickly!