<p>Half.com. The UCLA store wanted over $300 for books for only TWO of my classes, which is obscene. I got them for $80 ($100 including shipping) on half.</p>
<p>Figured I'd re-post this link since there are new people. It explains how to find the ISBNs by viewing source code for the book store website. So that you know exactly which book you're looking for online. UCLA obviously doesn't publish ISBNs on their book lists since they'd so much rather you buy from them. </p>
<p>when you're looking at all the books you need from <a href="http://www.uclaestore.com/ucla/textbook_student.asp?ref=ucla%5B/url%5D">http://www.uclaestore.com/ucla/textbook_student.asp?ref=ucla</a> , to find the isbn of one of them, you can hold down control and click right above the drop down box that says prefer new or prefer used and then right click that (should be highlighted now) and click view selection source. Then look for the number (ignore N or U). This way, you don't have to look through the whole file to find the numbers, you can look at the source of each book individually, all without changing pages.</p>
<p>I usually buy good or like new, depending on the description and the seller's rating and the price. A lot of times private sellers (as opposed to the big half.com centered book stores) are other students who just want to get rid of their stuff so they'll sell a like new book for really cheap. Just have to keep your eyes open. </p>
<p>But Acceptable usually equals not so acceptable. Good is as low as I'll go.</p>
<p>"decent condition! lots of highlight! Oh but no cover!" NO THANKS.</p>
<p>I saw an "acceptable" book with a horrible description listed for $47 yesterday (the original was like $83). All of the other acceptable books were in the $20 range. So dumb. And meanwhile I got the same book for $15 in "good" condition. But we shall see.</p>
<p>They're really, really good if you, say, never got around to buying the book at the beginning of the quarter and need to write a paper and use them to find quotes so you can BS your way through it. </p>
<p>Um. Not that I've ever done that. A few times.</p>
<p>But for real reading? no. too many distractions on the computer for me to keep up with a whole book.</p>
<p>If you're going to buy online, buy EARLY. A- because sometimes it takes sellers longer than it should to ship, and B- because on systems like half.com, the cheapest books sell out the fastest. </p>
<p>And yeah, as long as the book is exactly the same and is being used again by UCLA, you can sell it back to the bookstore. They have no way of knowing where you bought it.</p>
<p>yeah you can sell it back to UCLA no matter where you got it from, but they give you REALLY LOW prices. you're better off reselling to friends, or on amazon/half/ebay 95% of the time.</p>
<p>hey it's my first time using half.com, is it likely that a student will actually buy the books that you listed? </p>
<p>random: funny how another UCLA student is listing the exact american govt book that i listed. except he/she wrote the truth "i bought it for my poli sci class but didnt need it and never opened it" lol</p>
<p>hey allie..or anyone else...what if you decide to buy your books at UCLA's bookstore? does it matter if you wait and buy the books once you're there...or should you order them from the bookstore now..get them shipped to your house..and bring them to LA? is it easier/more convenient either way?</p>