College Textbooks

jacquelynrose · #1 (**permalink**) 03-14-2005, 10:34 AM

Are College Textbooks really necessary? Isn't that information available on the Internet and/or in other books?

I am taking Online College Classes right now and someone told me that College Textbooks are NOT necessary.

Can someone please help me. I have to buy $245 worth of books, but would it really be worth it? My Classes are English Composition and Principles of Marketing.

Jacquelyn

jacquelynrose · #2 (**permalink**) 03-14-2005, 12:45 PM

Well to answer my own questions I am able to sell my old books and buy used Online Books.

Jacquelyn

34saving · #3 (**permalink**) 03-14-2005, 01:06 PM

Buying and selling online is definitely a great idea! However, I did my entire master's without buying a book. The key? Libraries (particularly college ones). Often they have older versions, but in a huge number of classes the version didn't matter at all. Happy learning!

crosses · #4 (**permalink**) 03-14-2005, 01:11 PM

I used libraries as well. In my classes, there was usually one main book which I bought used so I could write notes in it and then the rest of them I got from the library.

jacquelynrose · #5 (**permalink**) 03-14-2005, 01:20 PM

UPDATE: I saved $15 buying used Online Books and I could have saved more if I would have bought a book that did not need a web access code but since I am not sure I purchased the new one instead.

Jacquelyn

gakline · #6 (**permalink**) 03-14-2005, 03:34 PM

I always bought online. I usually check a website called www.bestbookbuys.com Just enter the ISBN and it'll find the book for you and search all the online stores for the cheapest price with shipping and everything. I also used it put a price on books I was going to sell.

Armywife · #7 (**permalink**) 03-14-2005, 05:50 PM

I've bookmarked the bestbookbuys website for future use

As for selling.. I have found that textbook sales vary by time of year... in order to maximize your bucks, try to sell just after classes begin... thats when folks scour the net in hopes of bargains.
Then again... if you're like me and have a basement full of elective textbooks... whatever you get back is truly a blessing

Barb

jacquelynrose · #8 (**permalink**) 03-14-2005, 09:21 PM

Thanks Barb (and everyone else) you made a good point!

Jacquelyn

gakline · #9 (**permalink**) 03-15-2005, 08:12 AM

Oh I forgot to add. That by buying used on line (utilizing bestbookbuys.com) and then checking prices and reselling, sometimes, I've only lost $10 on the book. Definately worth to shop around.

Armywife is totally right about the time of year. To get the best price, start shopping for books as soon as you register, they're usually the cheapest. Otherwise if you wait till after weeks into the semester, the price will drop, but you've also missed out on having the book. The next best time to buy, is at the end of the spring term for next fall. How many college students think that far ahead?

Armywife · #10 (**permalink**) 03-15-2005, 08:24 AM

An even better choice for those of you who go to a brick and mortar university... if you have time of course

Once you're done with your textbook.. the following semester look up the exact same course you took and find out on the first day if they will be using your specific textbook. You can always call the college bookstore ahead of the first day and pretend you're in the class (give specific section number) and you want to know what book you need to buy and how much it will cost so you can bring the correct amount of bucks to buy. You can practice your actor/actress skills on this one

When the first day of class comes along.. be sure to be there at the end of class and physically show off your book and hike up your asking price (ex. if the book is 50 new 45 used.. you would probably sell it for 40 online so push 42 etc...).. that way you dont spend on auctions, you don't have to worry about missed payments and best of all... cold hard cashola !

Enjoy!
Barb