The beginning of a new semester arrives in a flurry of setting up dorm rooms, catching-up with friends and preparing for classes. And in all this preparation, students must face the burden and expense of buying their course textbooks. All students know the harsh feeling of sticker shock as they watch their total climb higher and higher out of the realm of affordability. Yet as painful as the buying process can be, receiving 10% of the cost of all those books back when selling is even more defeating.
So, with the acknowledgment that textbooks are a vital part of your educational experience, what can students do to ease the burden?
Buying Textbooks:
While the campus bookstore may be the most convenient and fastest way to acquire all of the books you need for the semester, you may save money by doing a little digging first.
1. Buy Books Online-
There are many online companies that sell textbooks. E-bay, half.com and Amazon are all obvious choices, but there are many other smaller companies that offer good deals. It's best to start looking as early as you can to compare prices. Of course, you should also try to buy early to ensure that your books arrive in time for your first class.
2. E-books-
This option can be less expensive than purchasing paper books. E-books can be read on a personal computer, and it is sometimes easier to carry around one laptop over several heavy textbooks. However, there are a couple things to consider when buying an e-book. Some textbooks are not available in electronic format. Also, you must have a computer and if the book is needed in a class where the professor forbids laptops, you could be unprepared.
3. Borrow or Buy from a Friend or Split the Cost of a Textbook-
Ask around with the people you know who may already have the textbook you need. See if they would be willing to lend it to you or sell it for a low price. You often get the best bargain for books by making a deal with another student.
Another option is splitting the cost of a course text with another student taking the class. Of course, this requires greater coordination and cooperation between the students sharing the book. It also may not be practical for classes with heavy emphasis on the reading material.
4. Library Reserves
Often, Professors will put required texts on reserve at the library. If you are willing to hike over, you can borrow the book for two hours at a time. With this option, you get the textbook for free. However, it requires greater planning on your part to make sure you get to the library early and allow for the possibility that another student may have already borrowed the book.
5. If all else fails, or after considering your options and you feel as if buying at the university bookstore is best for you- buy used. Some "used" books come at significantly lower prices than its' "new" counterparts.
Some other things to consider:
- Discuss with your Professor the possibility of scanning the necessary portion of a textbook onto LATTE instead of requiring students to buy the entire book.
- Ask your Professor if sharing a secondary text is appropriate.
- Ask your Professor what older editions of the text are usable for the course.
Selling Textbooks:
1. Sell Online-
You can often get more money back for your textbooks by selling them online if you price them competitively. There are a couple of online options. First, you can sell to an online company like Barnes and Noble Textbook Buyback, which will pay you a greater percentage of your textbook than the bookstore usually would. Second, you can sell online directly to a buyer through web-sites like Amazon and half.com. However, both of those companies take a small cut of your profit (usually around 15%). You must also ship the book and wait for payment while the bookstore provides instant gratification.
To sell a textbook online without facing a cut in your profit, post your wares on craiglist.
2. MyBrandeis-
The MyBrandeis forums are a great place to sell textbooks because the students viewing your ad are Brandeis students who may take the same course with the same required reading. It is often easy to meet up with the student for the swap because you will both be on campus at the beginning of the semester.
3. Sell by Word of Mouth or Post Ads-
Ask your friends if they will be taking the course that you have the textbook for, or if they know someone that will need it. You can also post fliers around campus advertising the textbooks you will be selling, and at what price.
4. Second-Hand Book Shops-
What to do with all of those novels you bought for Brit Lit? Well, second hand bookstores may buy them! Of course, the point of selling your books is to make money and the point of a second hand bookshop is to sell cheap books, so they may not pay you top dollar. However, if the campus bookstore won't pay you anything, it is a better deal.
5. Donate to libraries or charities
Some donations are tax exempt! That's another way to save money.
6. Of course, if you're too lazy to list your books online or lug them to a bookshop farther away, the campus bookstore will pay you for many of them. The buyback quote tends to be up to 50% of the sticker price assuming the book will be used the following semester. Be sure to bring your books in early because if the book is being used again, the bookstore may only buy that book until it has enough for enrollment. The bookstore may also use things like Brandeis and national demand to price books.
You can save on books without sacrificing your educational experience. To make sure you are getting the best deal, compare options and do the legwork yourself.
Welcome Back,
Savvy Student
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