How to Buy Textbooks
The cost of a college education is skyrocketing and so is the price of textbooks. There are ways to buy textbooks much more cheaply than the cover price. It takes some work, but it is worth the effort and can result in a lot of cash saved. You get extra credit when you find the best textbook at the lowest price. Here's how to find the best deals.
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Instructions
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Visit the college or school bookstore. If you don't already have a list of required books for your courses, this is often a good place to get one. Many campus bookstores buy back books at the end of a term so used copies of your textbook may be available. These are usually still pricey, but keep them in mind when doing your comparison shopping.
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Search online bookstores. Do a search for "used textbooks," and hundreds of websites will be listed. Visit some of the stores listed on the Campus Grotto site or one of the better known book sites first. These are a great source for discounted new textbooks and used copies in good condition. Not all courses use expensive textbooks. Copies of classic works of literature can be found at great prices, plus novels, study guides and every other book that may be required for a class.
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Investigate brick and mortar bookstores. If you are taking a literature class, these stores are often a good source for editions published by their parent company. Make sure to purchase an acceptable edition.
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Sift through the online auction sites. Popular online auction websites can also be a good source for college materials. If possible, buy the book quickly. You don't want to be waiting for an auction to end when your class has started.
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Tips & Warnings
It has been reported that the average college student will spend approximately $700 to $1000 to buy textbooks for their classes in one year. Researching the best price for textbooks is well worth the effort.
Start looking for textbooks as soon as possible and well before classes begin. Make a note of the required textbook title, the author, any specified edition and the ISBN number so you get the correct book.
There is no one best place to buy textbooks, but one website comes close. See the Resources section for Bookfinder.com, a specialized website that allows the user to enter the book information and then search the Internet for a list of comparison prices.
