One of the great benefits of the Internet to online college students is that buying and selling textbooks is a whole lot easier. There are more options than the traditional campus bookstore or bulletin boards. These days, a range of websites cater to the textbook market with options for new, used, rented and even free textbooks.
The Old Dilemma: New vs. Used
You need to consider what kind of arrangement you want. Are you somebody who needs to have a brand-new textbook that has never been marked up and will last for years? Or are you most interested in saving money? Are you only one using the book for one class? Is it necessary that the book not be marked up (e.g. quizzes, tests, problems)? Is the most recent edition necessary due to special software or updated information? Check with your professor to determine the flexibility with editions. You may get easily get a better deal by using a previous edition. If new material is important to the course, then borrow/share a roommate or classmate’s book (or request a teacher-provided supplemental hand-out) for the specific information. Alternatively, some new websites allow you to purchase/print book chapters on demand. All these factors can guide your decision to go new or used.
Websites for Selling/Purchasing
Before you run to the campus bookstore, visit the World Wide Web. As a general rule, you should examine unknown sites for signs of quality: a real physical address, customer-service phone number, security/authentication badges (VeriSign, Thawte, McAfee etc.), and positive press references. Study your shipping options closely and be aware of the delivery time in relation to when you need the book.
- Police Practice Book – Police Recruitment Tests
- Amazon
- eBay
- half.com
- Barnes & Noble
- BookFinder.com
- AbeBooks Online marketplace for books; subsidiary of Amazon
- Akademos Online marketplace for student-to-student selling
- Flat World Knowledge Free digital textbooks
- Cash4Books online used-book buying service; operated by McKenzieBooks.com
Renting Textbooks
There is also a reliable alternative to buying new or used books. Chegg, a textbook rental service with over 1.5 million books rented in 2009, is the leader. It also offers full refunds for orders returned within 30 days, along with guaranteed book quality and delivery dates. Established in 2005, it appears to be here to stay, having raised more than $160 million in equity and debt. Another one to try is bookrenter.com. Additionally, check with textbook publishers or college bookstores for renting options. Mind your due date, or you’ll be paying extra.
Free Books in the Future?
Paying for textbooks eventually may become a thing of the past, as what’s called the “open textbook initiative” is gaining steam. Some open textbooks are available on the Creative Commons website. In fact, Florida students in state colleges or universities can get free textbooks online or half-price textbooks in print. California has also started to come on board the digital textbook boat. With digital audiobooks, e-books, and e-book readers becoming more widespread, look for other states to follow suit in the future.