How to Buy Cheap Used Textbooks

It’s almost as if college classes are not expensive enough – after signing up for classes and reading through syllabi, you discover that on top of course fees, you’ll have to pay several hundred dollars for textbooks. Learn how to buy cheap used textbooks and where.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• ISBN

1. Learn the Starting Price
   
   Go to your school’s bookstore to learn how much the textbook will cost if you purchase it there. While you are there, record the ISBN – you’ll use this later when you comparison shop. Many larger schools allow students to order textbooks online and then pick them up at the bookstore – if your school provides this service you’ll be able to get the ISBN without even leaving your house!

2. Ask Around
   
   Contact students who have taken the course before (ideally with the same professor) about the class. Find out to what extent the textbook was used – some professors do not even use the textbook and rather rely on notes and study guides. Sometimes professors require a specific textbook just so the students can use the CD that accompanies it. If this is the case, you can just purchase the CD, saving you a lot of money! While you are learning about the class from your fellow students, ask if they happen to still have their used textbook. If so, offer to buy it. Doing so can save you as much as 70%.

3. Shop Online
   
   There are several sites online that you can buy from. With your ISBN handy, visit several of these and compare prices. You can also use a used textbook price comparison website (see Resources below) which will compare several prices at a time. Be sure to consider the prices of shipping when you are deciding which site to buy used textbooks from. Also, make sure that “extras” are included in your purchase, such as CD’s or study guides.

4. Consider Other Editions
   
   Consider purchasing other editions such as international editions. Oftentimes, these textbooks are softcover with black and white illustrations. Be sure to ask the website or the specific seller you will be buying from if these textbooks come with any supplemental materials you may need (such as a CD) - many editions like this don't. These textbooks are oftentimes shipping from overseas, so allow yourself plenty of time to receive them.

Tips & Warnings

• The ISBN is labeled as such and is usually located on the back of your used textbook, typically by the barcode.
• Take good care of your textbooks so that you can sell them back for the most money (see Resources below).

Resources

• Big Words - Buy and Sell Textbooks
• How to Sell Used Textbooks for the Most Money

[godfather25]

on 7/28/2009 Nice article on buying used textbooks.