Buy Used College Textbooks. - No shocker here:
80% of textbooks sold each year are used, but here are some important
details:
- Make sure the book you are looking at is the correct
version or release by using the ISBN to verify. Check out the campus
bookstore; this will establish your local maximum price,
plus you can get the ISBN confirmed.
- Ask your professor if an older version is OK. It could
be as much as half the price. Don't go back more than one edition.
Use the index to find the information in your previous edition when
the instructors tell the students with the new (expensive) book what
pages to read.
- There is no suggested retail price on used discount textbooks,
so shop around. However, used textbook inventories change quickly,
so use a real-time quick comparison tool like Quick
Compare to locate your discount college textbooks.
- Buying from individuals on marketplaces like Amazon
Marketplace and Half.com may be
cheapest but look at the location of the seller and shipping methods
offered. Media Mail can take two weeks from coast to coast. Follow
up after the purchase to make sure it has been shipped.
- Check the bulletin boards at school for used book ads
or buy used books from students in the classes ahead of you. Watch
for or organize textbook swap parties. - Consider the resale value as you use the book. Textbook
care affects its condition and resale value. Reduce overall cost
by maximizing resale value.
- Put you book on the market ASAP after finals. Don't
jump the gun and list too early; most services require you to ship
the book within two days of its sale.
- Get the best price by selling it yourself. I
have found the best demand (quickest sales) from Amazon and Half.com but don't overlook the convenience and speed of selling it to a online book seller like eCampus (a little cash in hand could be better than unsold inventory online) See our textbook buyback page for more choices.
