Buying college textbooks for less?

**mommynurse** · 07-15-2011, 11:40 PM

I went to my DD1's online college bookstore tonight to check book prices. Wow! About $600 for four books! And these are just pre-req classes. Any ideas about how we can buy books for less $?

**Debbie-cat** · 07-15-2011, 11:48 PM

DS and I check Amazon and half.com. You can also see if the college bookstore sells used copies or check the bulletin boards at the college...last year students will sometimes sell their old copies from the year before. Good luck ... Last year one of DS's textbooks was $475!

**just-me-in-tn** · 07-15-2011, 11:53 PM

When I was in school (years ago), I would get the ISBN from the college bookstore and then order them on half.com. I would also sell them on half.com when finished and would recoup 75% or more of what I paid for them after their fees. MUCH better than buying at the campus book store and then selling back at 10% of cost.

Also, and this is kinda tacky - use the intra-library loan and have the book shipped in from another library to your local (non campus) library. You usually get to keep it a few months. You can order books in from all over the US. I did this on a few that I couldn't find on half.com. If she is going to college locally, as soon as it comes in and she checks it out, you put a reserve on it. That way if she has to take it back before the semester is over, you are next in line to check it out.

**MTS04** · 07-15-2011, 11:58 PM

another vote for half.com and Amazon.

**starsapphire** · 07-16-2011, 01:23 AM

There's a bunch of online textbook websites. Do a google search. Check out Chegg, alibris, and textbooks dot com. I buy most of my books used online from textbooks dot com and sell them back to them after the end of the semester. Renting them is usually a little cheaper but I'm keeping my books for my major for reference. Which reminds me, I have a couple books I need to buy for fall.

**MaryCarney** · 07-16-2011, 08:52 AM

I look on ebay and find a lot of books I need - I'm in a master's program and the books are obscure and pricy. Ebay has a couple of sellers which are actually Goodwill stores in college towns and I've gotten incredible deals from them.
Also, my DH works for Pearson Education and is able to get six books per year (of their own titles) for $1 each - I got lucky and scored a $110 research title a couple weeks ago.
ALSO - look for previous editions. Trust me, 8th edition of a basic college English book is 99% the same material as the current 9th edition. As long as they can look through a classmates book every now and then to be sure they are covering the same material - it's a huge savings.

**ladykemma2** · 07-16-2011, 09:10 AM

try abebooks

**TigerGirl1226** · 07-16-2011, 12:08 PM

Half.com and then when it's buyback time at the local book store have her research half.com first and find the average selling price. Then go to buyback and see where she can get the most money. If it is a similar amount, of course sell it to the bookstore (quick and easier), but it may be worth the effort to list of half.com if she will make more of here investment back.

I worked at the campus bookstore one semester. Even with my employee discount half.com was often cheaper.

ETA: I just noticed that MaryCarney mentioned using a previous edition. In general, this is a good approach. There are a few drawbacks. I got burned once when in between editions the publisher reorganized the contents and I was always trying to figure out where the info was in my version of the book. Also, when it's time to sell the book often you can't find anyone who wants to buy it. I always emailed the teacher and asked if they "approved" of using a previous version just to avoid issues.

**mrsfoamy** · 07-16-2011, 03:01 PM

Craigslist in my area has tons of listings.

**heartofmine** · 07-17-2011, 09:00 AM

The college bookstores sell the books high. My 2 got a lot of theirs on Amazon and a few from friends who previously had the class.

**savvy_sniper** · 07-17-2011, 09:37 AM

Plenty of places to buy school books for less. You have to be on the ball. As soon as you know what books, you need to search and buy them before someone else snaps them up. My step-daughter is a procrastinator. She generally waits until the last minute, the books are sold and/or they won't get to her in time for the start of class so she has to pay full price - SHAME ON HER!

**frugal-fannie** · 07-17-2011, 12:58 PM

It depends on the school. Some of the colleges have their own editions and inserts to try and gouge the students. My daughter bought on half.com , amazon and ebay. She actually made money selling some back to the college bookstore.

**eofelis** · 07-17-2011, 07:55 PM

+1 on that interlibrary loan! I saved $75 in one class doing that on a book that was only needed for part of the class.

Email the profs of the classes and ask if an older edition of the required textbook would work ok. You can get older editions dirt cheap.

**mommynurse** · 07-17-2011, 09:48 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm having trouble finding good used copies of the editions DD1 needs, but I'm looking. We may end up having to go with an earlier edition. Thanks for suggestion about Craigslist- I hadn't even thought about that option. I've found LOTS of textbooks for sale. Unfortunately, they haven't been the editions I need, but the prices are better.

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 07-17-2011, 11:07 PM

Amazon has been a huge money saver for me... I have to second the "e-mail the professor and ask if an earlier edition is acceptable" suggestion.

Will add...don't go for an older edition for math books (unless you're 100% sure the instructor doesn't assign problems from the text for general study OR homework to turn in - which is highly unusual).