Have College Students?

[pearl]

Wondering if anybody has gone the "Rent Text Books" route opposed to buying books from the college bookstore?

It looks as if the largest and most popular site is Cheeg Text Book Rental. Savings are as much as 40% and a rental term is 108 days and is done by the semester.

Looking from the outside it looks as if they have a good return policy but there is always risk when you can't physically pick it up off the shelf.

Any other text book tips from you that have been through the scenario before?

Thanks.

[StickFish]

I could see that for some of the 100 level courses and maybe some of the odd pre-req's that you have to take, but I wanted to keep all my books from my accounting degree. Many times coming back to them during my career auditing. Just something to think about

[Slobes]

Originally Posted by StickFish

I could see that for some of the 100 level courses and maybe some of the odd pre-req's that you have to take, but I wanted to keep all my books from my accounting degree. Many times coming back to them during my career auditing. Just something to think about

That is my strategy for my engineering textbooks, w/ their little equations that get used once in a blue moon.

[Twitchs_Tackle]

Originally Posted by pearl

Wondering if anybody has gone the "Rent Text Books" route opposed to buying books from the college bookstore?

It looks as if the largest and most popular site is Cheeg Text Book Rental. Savings are as much as 40% and a rental term is 108 days and is done by the semester.

Looking from the outside it looks as if they have a good return policy but there is always risk when you can't physically pick it up off the shelf.

Any other text book tips from you that have been through the scenario before?

Thanks.

My biggest piece of advice is to have them go to AT LEAST 2 classes (mon., wed, same course...) BEFORE buying anythign!!! Often, what is "required" on the list at the bookstore is 'optional, but recommended' from the prof's mouth. Your son/daughter may have a friend in the class that would split costs and share during study sessions...

Also, many classes will require "class notes" bundles put together by the prof. They often suggest finding a few buddies, and getting one set to copy, instead of $15-35 a pop for each set.

And finally, for many many courses, the profs will set aside 'reserved copies' of required texts in the library. These are free to check out (for hours-days)and since you are already in the library, you may as well study there to get away from distractions often found elsewhere

I still cringe thinking about my $198 wildland fire science book that was "required"...then 4 weeks in the prof asked "did anyone buy the OPTIONAL book?"... too late to return

I became a text book expert while at school. If there was a way around buying the ones I knew I would never open again... I found it. Man, my first couple terms, I averaged over $400 a term, with the worst be $790!

[thresher]

Or you can always buy last years edition and save a bundle as well. Usally the same material just a new picture or two and a few diffrent questions in the sutdy check part (if any). I did this for my biology and chemistry course all at the 200 level and saved loads over what they wanted for the "This years edition"

[SImudBogger]

Originally Posted by thresher

Or you can always buy last years edition and save a bundle as well. Usally the same material just a new picture or two and a few diffrent questions in the sutdy check part (if any). I did this for my biology and chemistry course all at the 200 level and saved loads over what they wanted for the "This years edition"

Same here. most of my 100 and 200 level classes i used the previous edition. Sometimes the page numbers will be a little different, but it's all the same info. You can buy used books on craigslist as well as amazon for pretty cheap.

[Just_learning]

I always looked towards my friends the term prior to secure textbooks at a lower price or "borrow" them. When that didnt work I went to Amazon.com.

Amazon worked great and it saved me a bundle.

[crazyinoregon]

My wife gets hers online used from places like amazon and half.com. she usually saves anywhere from half to 3/4 off the schools price. the tricky part is when cd's or software come with the new books it can be difficult finding a used book with the cd still in tact. I bought all my books new and still have every one of them. I could have made a bundle selling them im sure but often find myself needing to look something up in them

[mandinga]

SO MANY TEXTBOOKS are available online.


Just google the book she needs, there is a good chance that you can use the FREE ones that are archived online.

[wsuweston]

I use just about every book I bought in my career except for math, english and history. I just recommend buying online rather than at the store.

[Jaw's Tackle]

The other thing is to look for the internation edition. The only difference usually was that it was a paperback, and the pages were in black and white. I did this a lot for my accounting courses, and saved over 80% on most books. You can usually find them online at half.com if they are available.

[Duckwheat]

My experience with Professor's is that some constantly change or require the latest edition. Some I think do it to appear more enlightened than their peers.

Me, I think it is the free dinner from the book salesman.

But that is just me!

Duckwheat

[30pound-tasty-fish]

My engineering books are my best friends. I refer back to them all the time.