| Making the Green: Buying and Selling Textbooks Online | | | | list for a class is already available, buy textbooks in |
| One pass through a bookstore shows college | | | | May and June, when there are more sellers and fewer |
| textbooks aren't cheap. Even used copies can run | | | | buyers. |
| over $100 per book. On average, a student spends | | | | • Tip 4: Get international editions. The same |
| $900 a semester on textbooks. Returning books at | | | | textbook sold in Canada or Britain is significantly |
| the end of the semester doesn't recoup that. Often, a | | | | cheaper than its American counterpart, even though |
| $100 used textbook at the beginning of the semester | | | | the content is the same. |
| is only worth $20 at the end - and the campus | | | | • Tip 5: Check ISBNs and edition numbers to |
| bookstore resells it again. Many students don't realize | | | | get the right text. |
| that they're not required to buy their books on campus | | | | Get a Good Return: Tips on Selling Selling textbooks |
| - but there are other options. | | | | online is more profitable even than buying online. |
| Students are transitioning from on-campus bookstores | | | | Textbooks sell online in a couple of weeks for a lot |
| to online stores - because buying and selling textbooks | | | | more money than returning books to a campus |
| online saves money. Almost 10% of all college | | | | bookstore. About a quarter of online textbook stores |
| textbooks are bought online. Online textbook sites | | | | offer immediate buy-backs at a predetermined |
| offer more choices on where and when to buy or sell | | | | amount, similar to returning it to campus bookstores, so |
| books and control over what students pay. | | | | even cautious sellers get more money. |
| Make a Deal: Tips for Buying Online bookstores are | | | | Look for a reputable site to sell textbooks. The site |
| cheaper even for new texts, and as much as 95% | | | | should have reasonable commission rates, and it |
| lower for used textbooks. Textbooks from sellers in | | | | should always be free to list your textbooks. Look for |
| other states don't have a sales tax, saving almost 10% | | | | safe payment options through a site like PayPal or |
| on the cost of books. There's more time to browse | | | | direct payment to a credit card. |
| for deals since books can be bought anytime, not just | | | | With tools to get better prices by reaching more |
| in the couple of days leading up to the semester. The | | | | buyers and by letting you decide when the time is to |
| major drawback to buying online is the cost of shipping | | | | sell, selling textbooks online is easy. Just remember |
| back a return, plus delays getting the refund and | | | | three things: • Tip 1: Price it right. Check what |
| replacement. But that can be offset by finding the right | | | | other sellers are charging, and price accordingly. |
| books on the right site. | | | | Comparison shopping sites show what the same book |
| Find sites which focus exclusively on textbooks. These | | | | is selling for at multiple locations. |
| have bigger selections and better prices. Comparison | | | | • Tip 2: Keep textbooks in good condition. |
| shopping sites compile lists of all available online sellers, | | | | Keep CDs that come with the textbook. Keep it |
| which makes finding a deal easier. Some provide | | | | looking nice, with no creased pages, heavy marks, or |
| bulk-buying options to find the best total price for a | | | | cover damage. |
| complete book list. A site must offer a good return | | | | • Tip 3: Wait to sell at peak times, from late |
| policy (30-day, full money back), secure payment | | | | July to September and January. |
| methods, and good shipping options and rates. | | | | Closing the Deal Campus bookstores are convenient - |
| • Tip 1: Shop around. Use comparison | | | | but they don't offer the best deal to college students. |
| shopping sites to find the best deal. Definitely go to | | | | Online textbook sites have sprung up as independent |
| sites specializing in textbooks. | | | | alternatives to make textbooks more affordable, with |
| • Tip 2: Get only the required reading. Not all | | | | better choices on prices and selection, more money |
| of the books on the professor's list are required for | | | | back when the school year ends, and features like |
| the class, and it saves money not buying | | | | bulk-buying, comparison pricing, and instant buybacks to |
| recommended books. | | | | make buying and selling textbooks easier and more |
| • Tip 3: Buy off-season. Textbooks are | | | | profitable. |
| mostly sold at the beginning of semesters. If the book | | | | |