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