Printed textbooks could soon be a thing of the past. Why? eTextbooks are more customizable, teachers can request specific chapters for their students and updating them doesn’t require a brand new printing. However, they can’t be resold. Buying and reselling textbooks can save students thousands of dollars over the course of their college careers.
Use these five steps to get through school with the least amount of textbook expenses possible for courses that still have a paper textbook option.
1. Contact professors on exactly what’s needed.
I don’t know how many times I got to class and then found out the teacher teaches completely from notes. The textbook or one of the recommended books was just supplemental reading material. Before class starts, always ask the professor by phone or email what books are actually needed. Also, ask about supplemental material that’s included in the textbook that you’ll need. For instance, if an online code is needed that’s part of the textbook package, you’ll need this information in the next step. Also, make sure you ask the professor if it’s important what edition you can use. Often, you’ll pay less for an older edition of the book. The professor will be able to tell you if purchasing the newest edition is important or if there haven't been enough changes since the last one to matter which edition you purchase.
Also, find out if materials are part of a package. For instance, sometimes the book is sold in the bookstore that includes notes the teacher has already had printed for you. In this case, you would likely have to buy the book directly from the bookstore. The same goes for if the materials are part of an electronic package of materials.
2. Peruse the school bookstore when possible.
It's always a good idea to visit the school bookstore to verify what the textbook looks like and start comparing prices. You can also see if you find books packaged with materials if you weren't able to contact the professor.
If used books are about the same price as what you find online, the school bookstore may be a better place to purchase books. Why? Generally, the school bookstore will offer easier return policies. Always bring your smart phone with you. You can perform a quick internet search for the book to check prices on sites like ebay.com, amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. Used books may be in limited quantities so then you can buy them quickly if the price is close.
3. Look for coupons for off campus bookstore purchases
The school newspaper or flyers on campus may have coupons for a few dollars off textbook purchases at nearby bookstores. If you want to buy your textbooks locally, these off campus stores offer you an option that's just as convenient as the school bookstore, sometimes a bit cheaper, and may have additional used books if the school book store ran out.
4. Look online
Buying textbooks online is tricky because of two reasons: shipping time frame and not viewing the book in person. When online, you just search the website for the name of the book and the edition. Always double check the author name is correct. There could be two completely different textbooks with the same title.
If you have questions that will help you verify the textbook is the one you need, don't be afraid to ask sellers questions. They expect it. You should verify the book is the correct edition, codes you need are unused and you'll get the book before class starts. Always ask if there are extra shipping fees for faster shipment.
5. Resell the book at the end of the semester
Before you try to sell your book at the school bookstore, search online sites for prices of what your book is going for. It's entirely possible to make back 75 percent of what you spent by listing your book for sale yourself to another student. Sometimes school bookstores won't buy back books because professors are using a new addition. Yet, you can still resell your books online because a professor at another school is still using the older edition. You'll only need 5 minutes of time to list your books and then time to ship the book at the post office. Try to list all your textbooks at the end of the semester on the same day so you're more likely to get the money back before you have to buy textbooks again for the following semester.
There will be times when purchasing eTextbooks make sense, but generally you're better off buying the paper versions.
