<p>When should we buy them? After class starts (prob not)? For some of my courses the books are not even listed. So, do you email the professor like a few weeks before class? Also, where is the best place? Amazon? Bookstore? Is it worth to rent?</p>
<p>If you log into SISWEB, if the reading list has been made available to the bookstore, you can see what books your instructors will be using (log into SISWEB, Select Student Services and Financial Aid,Select Registration, Select View/Order Textbooks). In general, get them before the quarter starts and avoid the bookstore because online resources and ASUCD Book Exchange are much cheaper.
Renting is a ripoff. The book may sell for $50 used or you can rent it for $35/$40. If you buy the used book you can resell it.</p>
<p>any others? So resell better huh.</p>
<p>All my books were pretty expensive =(
I ended up buying an international version for one for a lot less (the paper is super thin!) and bought an “acceptable” version of a text that had a ripped spine. Still, it costed me 70% less. My other book is almost new and was 50% off the UCD price. I usually never buy from the college’s/uni’s bookstore UNLESS they require a book that was made specifically for their class and not sold mass market. For the first time each class only required one book, which I am entirely grateful for. Some English classes require 9 books (used at different points in the quarter/semester) tha could all add up to more than $300. </p>
<p>I would NEVER recommend renting because the book isn’t yours. Sometimes after I put my notebook away the instuctor gives last minute details and I end up writing in the margins. Can’t do that if it’s rented. Amazon is always a good place because they usually have a list of vendors to compare. Sometimes I’ll pay an extra 2-3 dollars if the seller ships from California over a cheaper price from New Jersey because it usually arrives faster.</p>