Cost of Textbooks

Kevin · #1 11-09-2002, 08:23 PM

How have you been able to fight the rising cost of textbooks? I've heard that Ebay is an excellent way to obtain them for a fraction of what the bookstore wants. Does anyone else have any good suggestions?

Rio_Kohitsuji · #2 11-09-2002, 08:37 PM

We have a 'book bank' w/the guys. Just we put the books we had to buy in, we take the ones that someone else has used. Nice system if you get enough books..

EagleChick19 · #3 11-09-2002, 08:41 PM

Amazon.com sells used books (usually for like 25% less). I've bought a few books from them, and their service is really good!

KappaTarzan · #4 11-09-2002, 09:52 PM

they really try to screw ya with books... they give you next to nothing when they buy books back from you and then charge you only dollars less for used books.

Kevin · #5 11-09-2002, 10:55 PM

I always wonder why college bookstores in general have not been slapped with anti-trust or price-fixing lawsuits.

I think we could all agree that it doesn't cost anywhere near $150 to MAKE a book

That might go a bit beyond what a reasonable profit should be considered to be.

texas*princess · #6 11-10-2002, 12:53 AM

try half.com, ebay's sister site

http://www.bestwebbuys.com/books/ is also a cool site where you can comparision shop

SSS1365 · #7 11-10-2002, 07:27 AM

You can get some really good deals on Half.com too... but find out what books you're going to need way in advance if yoiu're going to buy from any online service.

Barnes and Noble's website (www.bn.com) and www.ecampus.com are great places to sell your books back to... they give you a decent amount for them and they pay for shipping. I know you get more from them than you do selling them back to your bookstore, because I tested it once... I checked out how much I'd get selling them at those websites, and then I took the books to the campus bookstore and found out how much they would give me. I got more from the websites

The only disadvantage is that you don't get instant cash, you have to wait for them to mail you a check.

Kevin · #8 11-10-2002, 08:47 AM

In principle I have a problem supporting B&N since they own our bookstore.

SSS1365 · #9 11-10-2002, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake
In principle I have a problem supporting B&N since they own our bookstore.

Yeah, they own the bookstore where I went to school too...

KappaTarzan · #10 11-10-2002, 02:14 PM

they own ours too.. i think they own a good majority of them.

aprilxo · #11 11-10-2002, 02:41 PM

They didn't used to own ours, but they sure as hell do now

I HATE buying textbooks. I always feel so empty and used while leaving with a box of heavy books and a pocket full of very, very light air...

We always make disgruntled comments like, "Well, it's time to go get raped again."

errrgh...

aephi alum · #12 11-10-2002, 02:57 PM

I always hated textbook shopping. Too dang expensive!

Plus, the bookstore was at one end of campus and most of the dorms, including mine, were at the other... so I had a looong way to drag those expensive doorstops!

I once bought a textbook for one of my freshman classes - "required" and quite expensive. I think I opened it once the entire semester. Next semester it wasn't required any more, so I couldn't unload it.

For another class, the professor required eight, count 'em, EIGHT different books. He also changed the reading list from year to year, so in some cases you couldn't get the books used. Someone down the hall from me had taken the class the previous year, so I bought what books I could from him, and bought the rest new.

There was also an infamous textbook - the book was about 60 pages long and cost at least $150. Almost everyone either borrowed someone's text for the semester, or photocopied it out.

aprilxo · #13 11-10-2002, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aephi alum
For another class, the professor required eight, count 'em, EIGHT different books. He also changed the reading list from year to year, so in some cases you couldn't get the books used. Someone down the hall from me had taken the class the previous year, so I bought what books I could from him, and bought the rest new.

A lot of my lit courses require ten different books--novels and such. My adolescent psych prof changes her book every time she teaches the course. So the book students have to buy is ALWAYS new, and can NEVER be returned

texas*princess · #14 11-10-2002, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aprilxo

A lot of my lit courses require ten different books--novels and such. My adolescent psych prof changes her book every time she teaches the course. So the book students have to buy is ALWAYS new, and can NEVER be returned

yikes
that is just wrong

i would definately try checking online to get them cheaper

SATX*APhi · #15 11-10-2002, 04:40 PM

I'm already beginning to cry thinking about next semester's books. It's already right around the corner.