<p>Is it better to buy textbooks ahead of time or wait until class starts? I know it sounds stupid to wait until school starts, but I heard some classes don't even use the designated textbooks in accordance with Welcome</a> to Texas A&M University Bookstore</p>
<p>Thanks (:</p>
<p>i usually wait until school start, but I went to a different uni. last year… you could buy them ahead of time and then Im sure they have a full return policy if you return the books by a certain date. You could contact your professors in that time to ask them about the textbooks they will be using.</p>
<p>Two sons in 2 U, always buy ahead. It allow them to have enough time to compare shop for used online books and accommodate for shipping. It can save a lot and even if it is not the correct books, the cost is not too bad. The U bookstore also sell used but probably not as cheap as online. It might also be sold out by the time you want it. Bookstore outside of TAMU also sell used. Please note: If you live in TAMU on campus housing, the U will not accept US postal service (USPS). You have to get a mail box or ship the item by UPS, FedEx or others means.</p>
<p>I buy some books that I know FOR SURE that I will use for a class (ex math). You can get a great deal on them now like ucla011 already stated. If you wait 'till the semester starts, textbooks might be sold out or backordered. And the MSC bookstore at A&M is a ripoff. -_-</p>
<p>Yes, you should also get a P.O. Box from the usps website for your packages. I think it was like $40 per 6 months or something. A lot of students used it.</p>
<p>Where are you finding these cheap textbooks? Every site I look at the used ones are more than the MSC used ones and only a few dollars cheaper than new ones! We are getting ready to go ahead and preorder from there so my D can hopefully still get the used ones. I did find that you can get math books MUCH cheaper ordering through the math dept. <a href=“http://tamumath.ichaptersbuy.com%5B/url%5D”>http://tamumath.ichaptersbuy.com</a></p>
<p>Can someone explain “webassign” to me? I know it’s an online homework service, but I don’t understand why we would buy that through the bookstore. If it’s online, can’t we just PAY online? Also, I was told that not all teachers use it…true?</p>
<p>Webassign is the site where the math teachers will assign homework. The problems are to be worked out and then submitted online at that site for a grade. 90% of the math teachers use this website. I always just bought my subscription at the bookstore, but I think there may be a way to pay online as well.</p>
<p>oosmom - Try Bigwords.com. It searches nearly every site for the cheapest prices. Half.com and Amazon are great too.</p>
<p>My math teacher was one of those few who didn’t use Webassign. Gave us optional homework from the textbook;</p>
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<p>My S2 @TAMU also rent a E-book during Spring 2010. He say it is even cheaper.</p>
<p>1) Beware of International Edition, the problem and questions section may not be the same as US edition. Sons’ advise, avoid if possible.
2) If books come with CD, make sure seller mention it.<br>
3) Make sure it is the right edition.<br>
4) Read carefully in the New Book section for detail, then select the best from all the seller. That is seller reputation, site etc. Do not just pick the cheapest.
5) Remembered to add the shipping charges. Most ship within 2 weeks, but some can take up to 4 weeks. You can ask to ship to your dorm (via UPS, FedEx, etc) or PO Box (USPS). For detail dorm address, email or call your dorm adviser by visiting the housing website.</p>
<ol>
<li>Go to mscbookstore.com</li>
<li>Select your term, the classes you have registered for, etc.</li>
<li>It will show you which books each class needs with the price.</li>
<li>Since you have the name, edition and ISBN you can now look online for cheaper prices.</li>
<li>Beware that if you decide to change or drop a class not all online stores accept refunds.</li>
<li>If you are unsure of a class, it will be better to buy it at the mscbookstore since they do offer refunds until a week after the classes start.</li>
</ol>
<p>Good Luck. And Gig’ Them. :]</p>
<p>We went through all the sites and they just don’t have her books at good prices. I think we are just out of luck this year. I did notice alot of sites will pull up books with different ISBNs than what I requested so you have to really be careful. Also, what does it mean by “Free Edition”? I also have reservatioins when the retail price is 90 bucks and they are selling it for 4.99. Something’s just not right there. There may be some sites that are a few bucks cheaper, but for the reassurance that she is getting the right book, I think we will stick with MSC this year.</p>
<p>It probably depends on the book. For large freshman courses the used versions are plentiful and cheap (agree a $5 price is suspicious), but probably not upper level class books. </p>
<p>I would consider renting via [Chegg.com:</a> Cheap Textbook Rentals. Best way to Rent Books for College](<a href=“http://www.chegg.com/]Chegg.com:”>http://www.chegg.com/). That is getting more and more popular for books that will only be used one semester. </p>
<p>A senior in engineering told my son he emails the profs and asks if the older edition is ok. He said last semester every prof agreed and the total for his books was around $75.</p>
<p>Also, amazon is offering a “Prime” membership with a valid college email account, so the kids can get 2day shipping for free!</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>^ A lot of books don’t quality for Amazon Prime though. If they are are shipping by random people through the Amazon Marketplace and not through Amazon themselves, you don’t qualify for the free 2 day shipping.</p>
<p>Ok, just had a little first-hand experience I can share. We got all the ISBN’s for my son’s classes off the MSC website and then shopped at Amazon (Xcellerator was right - can’t use Prime for these, but shipping was $4 on each).</p>
<p>There were 8 books that were required and easy to match on Amazon. MSC total for new would have been $1064. I paid $409 (incl shipping). I’m a little nervous, but jeez…I could buy a few again and still come out ahead, right? I matched the ISBN’s and looked at the covers. I will report back on my success ratio when they get here :-).</p>
<p>There is still $216 woth of stuff that MSC has that I couldn’t find (ie “engineering graphics package”, a remote control doohickey for chemistry and a “mast.phys.acess-stand alone” which is apparently an access code for something online).</p>
<p>Now I’m nervous, but at least I got them. Two became “unavailable” from my cart (someone bought them) while I was shopping!!! Kind of fun…competitive shopping!!!</p>
<p>Times like these…I wish we got free issued textbooks like in high school. Oh well.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information guys (:</p>
<p>That is great, Allthis. With us, Amazon (and the marketplace) was only about 50 bucks cheaper on what they had (both new and used) and if we got used books from the MSC, they were higher! And these are just your average freshmen science books. I was really expecting cheaper used ones to be out there, but no such luck. I’m hoping that next year D will be able to buy books directly from older students and everyone will win.</p>
<p>I agree buying on Craigslist or FB Marketplace in person is so much better! I hope you are able to get the used ones at MSC. I have heard it’s tricky. Maybe you can order in advance to reserve them? I think there’s a form online. Good luck!</p>
<p>Hello OOSmom and AllThis,
Some how I think both of you are missing something as it is very rare you won’t find used books especially being only a Freshman. Go to “dealoz.com” enter your ISBN number, all the sites that sells new or used books will pop up. The site display list price on the top, the table display new and used prices. Since you already know the new price from MSC then compare. Don’t go to individual site, it is tiring to do that. The “dealoz.com” itself is only a search engine, it does not sell books. You actually buy from the “store listed”. I post a link how it suppose to look when you do it correctly from S2 Fall 2010 book search. Sons has been buying from half.com almost every quarter / semester and they are going to be Junior and Senior. Others like amazon market place, abebooks, bellwetherbooks, textbook.com with no problem. Best wishes.</p>
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