Go early:
- get your pick of the used copies
- saves around 25%
- visiting your library early is crucial to beating the rush
Sell back:
- selling back your books will get you around 50% cash back
- selling to friends may be more cost effective
Check out your library:
- you may be able to check out your books for several months (works especially well with non textbooks)
- find other books your professor may have put on reserve – you can check them out for a few hours or read them at the library
- also check out the public libraries in your area – there will be less competition
Go online:
- check out eBay.com, Half.com, and amazon.com
- make sure to compare prices
- watch out for shipping and handling
- write down everything (including the ISBN) to make sure you are finding the right book and edition required by the professor
Check the syllabus:
- some books that a professor assigns have very few readings, so see if these books are on reserve at the library, or borrow them from a friend
Go ask:
- Professors:
- speak with your instructor to see if older editions will do
- see what books are absolutely necessary
- ask for the book list before the semester starts so you can start researching promptly
- Students: Talk to friends and classmates who have been in your classes
- see if they will give you a discount
- if you offer a higher price than the bookstore’s buy back, but lower than the used price, both of you will benefit.
- check out other online networking sites, such as facebook, to get in contact with your peers
College resources:
- some colleges offer online bookswaps between college students
- check out campusbookswap.com
- some colleges have raffles or other textbook giveaways
- the early bird catches the worm in this situation – once you have your books, be the first to check them out
Go international:
- international books, non US-editions can save big money
Links:
www.maketextbooksaffordable.org
- student public interest group coalition fighting to make textbooks affordable
- free downloadable guide for free and low-cost books
Online Book Websites:
- these sites are adding books to their catalog daily
- see if your books are online at:
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