Comments on: College Textbooks: Tools of the Trade – Part 1 http://www.collegeparentcentral.com/2009/04/college-textbooks-tools-of-the-trade-part-1/ Information for the parents of college students Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:32:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Vicki http://www.collegeparentcentral.com/2009/04/college-textbooks-tools-of-the-trade-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-6470 Vicki Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:32:17 +0000 http://www.collegeparentcentral.com/?p=160#comment-6470 That's a great suggestion, Christiana! Some schools might even have literal or virtual bulletin boards where students can post books for sale or books needed. Selling at your own school would mean that no one needs to pay for shipping. If your school doesn't have one, why not see about starting one? That’s a great suggestion, Christiana! Some schools might even have literal or virtual bulletin boards where students can post books for sale or books needed. Selling at your own school would mean that no one needs to pay for shipping. If your school doesn’t have one, why not see about starting one?

]]> By: Christiana http://www.collegeparentcentral.com/2009/04/college-textbooks-tools-of-the-trade-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-6456 Christiana Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:11:30 +0000 http://www.collegeparentcentral.com/?p=160#comment-6456 I really think that the best way for us (college students) to save money on our textbooks is to buy (and sell) our textbooks to each other. Pretty much like craigslist. The only website that I found that actually has students posting their books is www.postyourbook.com. I'm pretty sure they're open to a majority of the schools (universities that is) nationwide. Hoope that helps! :) I really think that the best way for us (college students) to save money on our textbooks is to buy (and sell) our textbooks to each other. Pretty much like craigslist.

The only website that I found that actually has students posting their books is http://www.postyourbook.com.

I’m pretty sure they’re open to a majority of the schools (universities that is) nationwide.
Hoope that helps! :)

]]> By: HazardousPaste http://www.collegeparentcentral.com/2009/04/college-textbooks-tools-of-the-trade-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-19 HazardousPaste Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:40:02 +0000 http://www.collegeparentcentral.com/?p=160#comment-19 Right, but the statement "The cost of producing textbooks has risen..." is just incorrect, or at the very least it's misleading. Books are not a new technology. The ancillary materials might not be listed as "optional," but they might also not be necessary. If the student asks a professor and finds out that a CD/study guide/etc won't really be used, they might elect to search for the textbook alone which will be cheaper. Right, but the statement “The cost of producing textbooks has risen…” is just incorrect, or at the very least it’s misleading. Books are not a new technology. The ancillary materials might not be listed as “optional,” but they might also not be necessary. If the student asks a professor and finds out that a CD/study guide/etc won’t really be used, they might elect to search for the textbook alone which will be cheaper.

]]> By: Vicki http://www.collegeparentcentral.com/2009/04/college-textbooks-tools-of-the-trade-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Vicki Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:03:32 +0000 http://www.collegeparentcentral.com/?p=160#comment-14 Hazardous Paste - Wow! Great additional information. Thanks for adding your expertise on this topic. Interesting perspective on the rising cost of textbooks. You may be right about the costs of actual textbooks not going up, but since in many cases the ancillaries are not optional, the costs have essentially gone up. It's a significant expense no matter how you look at it. Vicki Hazardous Paste –
Wow! Great additional information. Thanks for adding your expertise on this topic.
Interesting perspective on the rising cost of textbooks. You may be right about the costs of actual textbooks not going up, but since in many cases the ancillaries are not optional, the costs have essentially gone up.
It’s a significant expense no matter how you look at it.
Vicki

]]> By: HazardousPaste http://www.collegeparentcentral.com/2009/04/college-textbooks-tools-of-the-trade-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-13 HazardousPaste Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:02:16 +0000 http://www.collegeparentcentral.com/?p=160#comment-13 I used to work at an independent college bookstore. Things I learned: 1. Campus bookstores (those like Barnes and Noble) often mark up the price significantly because they think they have no competition. This is especially true for new editions (that might not even be new). Whenever possible, try to find cheaper in a local bookstore, eBay, or Amazon. 2. The best way to get textbook info is by e-mailing the professor directly. 9 times out of 10 the professor will be happy to send you a copy of the syllabus that should have the title and ISBN number of the text being used. 3. When buying early, reselling early is also important. Especially if the class is large, only the first students to sell their book back will get a maximum of 50% back (and that's the very best case scenario). 4. Cost of books depends greatly on your major. English majors won't spend much because they'll "only" have to buy a dozen small paperbacks. Business majors really get hit hard with big hardcovers that go into new editions every 2-3 years. 5. It is worth asking the professor if using an older edition is possible. Especially in the sciences, most of the material is the same and the only real differences are in the problems that might be used for problem sets. 6. Sharing textbooks with a friend in the same class is the bane of bookstores, but a savior for student's wallets. 7. I beg to differ with your first point, because textbook costs have *not* gone up significantly in the past few years. The main reason for the increase in price is due to the costs associated with the supplemental material you mentioned. So, I hope I didn't steal any of your thunder with this comment (certainly did not mean to, sorry!), but the book industry was a fairly big part of my life for a while. Buying books is probably one of the least pleasant times of the semester, I always try to make it less so. I used to work at an independent college bookstore. Things I learned:

1. Campus bookstores (those like Barnes and Noble) often mark up the price significantly because they think they have no competition. This is especially true for new editions (that might not even be new). Whenever possible, try to find cheaper in a local bookstore, eBay, or Amazon.

2. The best way to get textbook info is by e-mailing the professor directly. 9 times out of 10 the professor will be happy to send you a copy of the syllabus that should have the title and ISBN number of the text being used.

3. When buying early, reselling early is also important. Especially if the class is large, only the first students to sell their book back will get a maximum of 50% back (and that’s the very best case scenario).

4. Cost of books depends greatly on your major. English majors won’t spend much because they’ll “only” have to buy a dozen small paperbacks. Business majors really get hit hard with big hardcovers that go into new editions every 2-3 years.

5. It is worth asking the professor if using an older edition is possible. Especially in the sciences, most of the material is the same and the only real differences are in the problems that might be used for problem sets.

6. Sharing textbooks with a friend in the same class is the bane of bookstores, but a savior for student’s wallets.

7. I beg to differ with your first point, because textbook costs have *not* gone up significantly in the past few years. The main reason for the increase in price is due to the costs associated with the supplemental material you mentioned.

So, I hope I didn’t steal any of your thunder with this comment (certainly did not mean to, sorry!), but the book industry was a fairly big part of my life for a while. Buying books is probably one of the least pleasant times of the semester, I always try to make it less so.

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