| Every year students flock to the college bookstore to | | | | A plus is that students can get incredible bargains |
| purchase the various textbooks that they require for | | | | when obtaining books via online auctions. One |
| their classes. Little do these students realize that, in | | | | downside is that established retailers have channels in |
| doing so, they are throwing good money away. As | | | | place to ensure that you receive your order within a |
| unbelievable as it may seem textbooks, in some | | | | reasonable amount of time. With an auction purchase, |
| cases, actually cost as much, if not more, than tuition. | | | | however, you are at the mercy of the auction seller's |
| On the surface the college bookstore may seem like a | | | | timetable. |
| convenient source for textbooks. Titles are usually | | | | One way that students can really save is by obtaining |
| in-stock and students may purchase new textbooks | | | | books for free. Project Gutenberg is one resource that |
| or opt for the cheaper alternative of used books. In | | | | English majors will find invaluable. At this site students |
| truth the money saved by purchasing used textbooks | | | | can peruse a vast collection of classics that have |
| from the college bookstore is only a fraction of the | | | | entered the public domain. In the past students seeking |
| amount that students could be saving if they shopped | | | | assistance with their studies had to pay for the |
| online. | | | | privilege of that help by purchasing study guides. |
| More and more online booksellers have begun selling | | | | Today that is no longer the case. Cash-strapped |
| textbooks at a considerable discount off of the cover | | | | students can now visit Spark Notes for free |
| price. In fact, many major booksellers now have | | | | downloadable study guides as well as free |
| special areas of their web sites that are devoted to | | | | downloadable classics. |
| selling nothing but textbooks. Online used bookstores | | | | Students who elect to buy online will no longer be able |
| are another source for college books as they stock a | | | | to resell their books to the college bookstore at the |
| large number of textbooks, which means sizable | | | | end of class, but that doesn't mean that they are stuck |
| savings for students. There are also web-based | | | | with the textbooks. Many web sites that sell textbooks |
| retailers whose inventory is entirely devoted to college | | | | also offer students the option of selling their books to |
| books. | | | | fellow bargain-seekers. This allows students to easily |
| Students should avoid purchasing their textbooks at | | | | recouping a portion of their money. |
| the first store that they browse. Instead, they should | | | | Textbooks normally consume a major portion of a |
| investigate the alternatives offered by other online | | | | student's budget, but that doesn't have to be the case, |
| booksellers. Price isn't the only factor to consider when | | | | because while the cost of tuition may be set in stone |
| making an online purchase. Students should also factor | | | | the price of textbooks isn't. By taking the time to do a |
| in shipping costs and delivery time when making their | | | | little research on the best textbook values available |
| buying decision. | | | | college students can save money now rather than |
| Online auctions are another option for students seeking | | | | acquiring debt to be paid back later. |
| a bargain. This option, however, has its pros and cons. | | | | |