The good news: there are ways to make the
Discount Textbooks buying process less painful, less expensive and less
time-consuming even though you don't have much choice about buying textbooks,
and they are expensive. There are alternatives to standing in line in the
campus bookstore, and there are sources for textbooks that can beat bookstore
prices hands down. Here are three simple steps to help you fight back when it
comes to long lines and high textbook prices:
1. Planning Discounted Textbooks. This is
not as bad as it may sound. It mostly involves finding out what books will be
required for your classes as soon as you can, and the sooner the better. After
all, if you know what to be looking for before everybody else does, it's that
much easier to get yours before the demand increases. Professors usually have
to choose the textbooks they'll use well before the class starts. Try emailing
them and asking. Be sure to get the title and the ISBN. If the professors don't
respond, try calling the department secretary, who often has the responsibility
to collect textbook orders from the instructors in her department, and will
have the information you need. You may also get the information at the campus bookstore.
2. Textbooks - Buying smart. Because you
found out early what textbooks you need, you can buy early. Do a little looking
around and you might even get lucky and find friends or acquaintances who have
some of the books you need for classes they'll be finishing. The next best plan
is to order your books online. It will take a while for the books to be
shipped, sometimes as long as a couple of weeks, so order early. There are lots
of ways to search online to find discounted textbooks. The trick is to find a
site with the search function that's the easiest to use and the most powerful.
That helps you find not only the right book, but find it at the very cheapest
price. Also, make sure your personal information is [safe and secure] when you
order online. While you're at it, look for a site that has some other useful
information on it, like a forum or a discussion board about things college
students are interested in.
3. Now for the best part: Selling
Textbooks! Remember that at the end of the term, you have textbooks other
people want. The bookstore will take them, but you might do better selling
directly to the end user. No doubt you've taken great care of your books, so
you can get top dollar. In case that's something you haven't been too careful
about in the past, now is the time to turn over a new leaf, or page, as the
case may be. Give up your highlighting habit. If you have to mark in the book,
do it in light pencil so it can be easily erased. Be careful of the covers and
binding. Consider selling to used bookstores off campus. What they pay will
vary, but it's worth a try.
Use this plan and with a little luck and you may
find book buying next term much less expensive and maybe even a little fun.
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