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