Buying College Textbooks
@highflyingxangel (9225)
United States
January 14, 2008 2:49pm CST
So, this is my third year buying textbooks. The first year, I knew the books would be expensive, but I had no idea just how expensive those books would be. After the first semester, I got a better feel for the price of books and how much I would actually get back from the book price. After that, I tried searching online for places I could buy my books from for a cheaper price, and places that I could sell my books too so I could get a better price. That seemed to work, however recently another frustrating thing appeared in the case of buying college textbooks.
Buying a book for a class that is supposed to be required, but in the end, it's not. So, I'm now left with a book that I'm hoping I can return for a full refund.
So here's my question fellow students, what is the most frustrating thing you've dealt with buying and selling textbooks. Not being able to see them back? Getting a price you feel is unjustified? Or something else?
9 responses
@thrwbckjay67 (2870)
• United States
14 Jan 08
One of my biggest gripes is the fact that these books are constantly made into "new editions" that are exactly the same just so that people have to buy a new book. There have been times where a friend of mine has taken a class just the quarter before me yet I can't buy the book from them because it's been relpaced with a newer edition. Sometimes it's necessary, but other times it's just completely to make more money and get us for new books.
I have gone to buying all my books online and re-selling them either online or to another person. A lot of times you can find someone on the internet that needs your version of the book still.
2 people like this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
15 Jan 08
The main issue way back for me was not getting enough for a Book even when it was for a Class that I ended up dropping because it was not the right time to try and tackle that class. I think I finally just gave in and Sold it for what I could get for it, and learn my lessons and live from there. Sometimes, that is the only thing we can do.
@Withoutwings (6992)
• United States
14 Jan 08
The worst thing that has happened to me so far is my ethics book. It was over $100 and the school said right away they would not buy it back because supposably it's cheaper for them and for us students not to. It makes no sense to me. And then the icing on the cake - my ethics teacher was a drunk who hardly came to class and never taught. We covered 3 chapters out of the whole book. What a waste!
1 person likes this
@geno1260 (30)
• United States
25 Jul 08
To me the most frustrating thing about textbooks is to know that the person sitting next to me was able to find the same book at a lower price, luckily I am usually able to find the best price on almost any book, so I am not often frustrated anymore. The way that I find the best price is by using a book comparison site such as www.wecomparebooks.com, which in my experience finds the best prices on textbooks.
@geno1260 (30)
• United States
6 Jul 08
Having to pay for college and buy books sucks, I know.
But you can lessen the pain by getting the books at a lower price.
you can compare book prices online manually, but I always use www.wecomparebooks.com.
I've saved $100's using this site.
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
14 Jan 08
It really is frustrating. I remember back in college I would simply not buy some textbooks because I didn't want to burden my parents with more expenses. I had to survive without the books. Sometimes I would borrow. I had to pay careful attention and take notes during lectures. That's all I had to study with and pass exams. Thankfully I did survive!
@tonyllenium (6252)
• Italy
14 Jan 08
i think your desease is quite common among students and linked to textbooks!!unfortunately nowadays books,school,education is a big business and so sometimes they forget about the major purposes this market was established!!normally i think that searching books and textbooks online can be a smart idea to buy and save something than to buy them in shop in your city and so on..normally before you must check for which kind of books but i think you can save on the net..usually and linked to many textbooks!!
in this period for searching things i sometimes use shoofle.com which give different engine and possibility depending from you are searching to..i searched also for books because gave also good resource or better from search it gave them!!so you can check there it if you can buy books and save your money for your textbooks as well!
