| High school students take having free books for | | | | buying books from our three different means. |
| granted. Most incoming college freshmen are in for a | | | | On-campus Bookstore |
| big shock when they see the price of their new | | | | Pro - prime location |
| calculus book. That's what my advice is here for. $150 | | | | Pro - save time |
| for one book is a lot to swallow, not to mention the | | | | Pro - get the exact editions you need |
| $30 lab manual that comes with it. Oh and did you | | | | Pro - offer new and used books |
| forget the $15 CD too? Buying textbooks is very, very | | | | Pro - offer buy back plans |
| expensive. On average a student buying his/her books | | | | Con - too expensive |
| from the school bookstore can expect to pay | | | | Con - you get like $10 buy back for a $100 book |
| anywhere from $300-$400. So you're looking at | | | | Con - not as many used copies |
| spending nearly $750 for books the whole year. In this | | | | Off-campus Bookstore |
| article I am going to discuss some of the | | | | Pro - less expensive |
| unconventional means of acquiring your books for the | | | | Pro - lots of used books |
| semester. | | | | Pro - offer buy backs |
| Nearly all incoming students look up their book lists | | | | Con - may have older editions |
| online a week before class starts and buys their | | | | Con - not located nearby (unless you live off campus) |
| books from the university bookstore. People make fun | | | | Con - small selections |
| of freshman because they don't know any better, and | | | | Online Bookstore |
| this is a prime example. I'll admit it, I bought my first | | | | Pro - cheapest books anywhere |
| semester's books from the university book store, and | | | | Pro - get exactly the book you need |
| boy did it show in my pocket book. University | | | | Pro - buy anytime |
| bookstores (or bookstores on campus) have the | | | | Con - have to wait 1-2 weeks for delivery |
| highest mark-up of all stores. You are a fool if you buy | | | | Some other tips on how to save money when it |
| your books from them. The only time I recommend | | | | comes to buying books |
| buying your book from the university bookstore is | | | | Tip 1. Share a book with a friend |
| when they are the only supplier. For instance, if your | | | | Tip 2. Always buy used |
| professor wrote his own book and you can only buy it | | | | Tip 3. Buy previous editions (the books don't change, |
| through the school. | | | | trust me) |
| The next best method of buying books is from a | | | | Tip 4. Look if the book is in e-book form |
| bookstore off-campus. But even here you will still pay | | | | Tip 5. Swap books with other students |
| hundreds of dollars for books you probably won't read. | | | | If you are going to get anything out of this article, the |
| Off-campus bookstores are generally smaller and | | | | most important point being made is to be smart with |
| don't have the selection size of a university bookstore. | | | | your money. Buy your books online. It is by far the |
| If you are buying off-campus be sure to pick your | | | | cheapest method. You can buy previous editions of |
| books up early, because they will probably run out. | | | | the book you need for a fraction of the price. Editions |
| In my opinion, the best method of buying books is | | | | don't change from year to year. Buying edition 4 |
| online. You can not beat the prices. If you are new to | | | | instead of 5 will not make a difference. This is based |
| college an unfamiliar with sites that sell textbooks, | | | | on my experiences, the pages numbers and writing will |
| please visit Amazon (I have several links to them on | | | | be exactly the same. Publishing textbooks is all a big |
| my site). and Ebay are also excellent places to find | | | | scam. They update editions every year or two and |
| new and used textbooks. Most teachers post their | | | | expect us to buy them for $150. |
| required textbooks online a few weeks before the | | | | Also, please be cautious when buying books from a |
| semester starts. This is the perfect time to search | | | | bookstore on or near campus. They will tell you "Bring |
| Amazon for you book. You have to look early | | | | you book back at the end of the year and you will get |
| because shipping can take anywhere from a few | | | | CASH!" They always make up these gimmicks that |
| days to two weeks. If you can wait the shipping time, | | | | put a picture of you stuffing wads of twenties in your |
| buying online is the best option. I turned to online buying | | | | wallet. What they don't tell you is that they don't |
| after my freshman year. It was the best money | | | | always buy books back. If a new edition comes out, |
| saving method I used all through college. You turn $350 | | | | guess what, you're screwed. I would say 75% of the |
| semester book fees into a mere $150 (or less). It's | | | | time you will wait in the buy back line and they will say |
| amazing how so few students are actually buying | | | | "I'm sorry, we aren't buying that book back". If this does |
| online. These companies are 100% safe. There is no | | | | happen to you I suggest you make an Amazon |
| reason not to buy online. | | | | account and sell your book online. I've done it, and it |
| Now I will go through some of the pros and cons of | | | | works. |