Best Places to Buy Used Textbooks Not Including College Campus Bookstores

Submitted by Wade Nembhard

TC Education Articles

Anyone who've had the college experience can tell you it's fun seeing the diverse population everyday, its fun going to weekend parties, it's fun being independent, but it's absolutely no fun, having to bend over backwards and bare the pain of paying for textbooks. College campus bookstores are notorious for selling new textbooks and used textbooks way above the original manufactured price. Generally if you purchase directly from your campus bookstore you're paying anywhere from 30 to 50 percent markup compared to prices offered at off campus locations. Whats even more shocking is when you no longer need the book and decide to sell it back to the campus bookstore, they'll pay no more than 50 percent (half) of the original price they sold it to you. Does this sound like highway robbery? Ask any student on campus and they'll give a resounding yes!!

There are however alternative textbook buying options that are better suited for the average college students's budget. Generally the best route to go is buying used textbooks from other sources besides the college bookstore. Here is a list of the best sources for purchasing used college textbooks.

Other Students on Campus

Used textbooks from students who previously took your class are a great bargain. They'll offer a much better deal than any campus bookstore ever will. Students looking to sell their used books will often The only negative factor you encounter when dealing with a student seller is price negotiating. Most likely you might have to talk down their price offer without driving them away to other students also looking to buy used books. If you can't convinve them to lower their offer, buy the used textbook for the price they demand, but only if that price is reasonably lower than the bookstore's price.

 Off-Campus Bookshops

Most college campuses are surrounded by off-campus bookstores that are more than willing to offer lower prices for used textbooks. You must act quickly though, other students tend to gravitate to these stores for the same purpose. It's important to note that though off-campus bookstores offer lower book prices, they may not be big enough discounts to entice you to buy their used books.

Online Bookstores

Online bookstores are a favorite of many students buying used textbooks. They offer convenience and considerably larger selections of new and used textbooks compared to on-campus stores. Whether you are purchasing used or new textbooks, it's important to use a reputable and trusted  online relatailer for your book purchases. Make sure they are  committed to help you at a fair price, and must offer the option to process and ship your order within 24 hours.

Comments 

 

0 #7 nathaniel 2010-08-22 13:42

Books are expensive. why do colleges charge so much to students. They really could do a better job of getting them to students for less. College only want your money and leave you with a lot of debt after you graduate. Most people graduate basically to find a job to pay back all the money they spent on the cost of college, so where's the benefit there. Buy your textbooks anywhere else besides your college bookstore. The internet is the best place I suggest.

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0 #6 neesy 2010-08-22 13:39

By your textbooks used and buy them from your friends who already took the course. You won't get ripped off like they do to you at the college bookstores. You'll never use half of these books again but they make sure they charge you a ridiculously high place to first buy them and then when you sell them back to the same store only 5 months later they buy it back for only half the price then jack up up again for the next sucker student.

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0 #5 aceinthehole50 2010-08-07 19:37

I used to get nailed by those high cost of books on at my college campus. Whats was worst was paying so much for them and only getting back of fraction of that amount when I went to sell them back at the same bookstore. Now I just get them off campus at the bookstores surrounding the campus or get on online. Its so easy and quick.

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0 #4 opal3tutti 2010-08-07 19:25

Just get em from somebody else, thats the best way I do about. The bookstore is a ripoff. They sell everything expensive.

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0 #3 marcy103 2010-08-07 19:22

I get all my used textbooks for dirt cheap from the students in and around my dorm. They just want to unload them and get to their new books. Most of the students on my campus come from very well to do families so I lucked out there. They aren't really scrounging for change, so I get their used books so cheap its ridculous.

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0 #2 Afrobug 2010-07-23 20:45

I buy most of my used books from Amazon but I get the rest just from hustling good deals around campus. I tend to talk down the price bigtime from students selling them on campus.

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0 #1 spongehead 2010-07-23 20:11

I wish I hadn't bought my textbooks from my university bookstore. Its a blatant ripp off the way they jack up the prices. I ended up spending $300 more than I should have for books that I could have gotten for half as much online or from other students selling them. College bookstores are like con men. They jinx you out of your money with a smile and a thank you.

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