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