<p>When do students start buying their books? </p>
<p>During the summer?
Move-in day?
After first day of classes?</p>
<p>Also, which is the best site for selling your books from the previous semester?</p>
<p>Thanks in advanced!</p>
<p>I wouldn’t recommend buying your books until after the first class day to ensure you’ll actually use the book in the class.</p>
<p>The main problem with waiting to see if you’re actually going to use the book is that by that point it’s too late to order used books online (since you could be like a week into the semester before they arrive). If you can get used books for a decent price somewhere on campus, that might work out, but it’s often cheapest to buy books used online, and the savings from not buying one book isn’t going to outweigh the fact that you may be forced to buy new books from the college bookstore. 8 or 9 books at 200% markup is going to be way more expensive than 10 books without the insane markup.</p>
<p>If you know you’re either going to use them (Organic chem books, for example) or will need them right away (language books), I’d start pricing them during the summer and order them in August.</p>
<p>I tried to avoid waiting to buy books until after the class started because that’s when most book websites/bookstores are experiencing the heaviest load and thus slowest shipping times. I saved money, but ended up getting behind in my class because I was waiting (and waiting, and waiting) for the book to arrive. </p>
<p>You can sell your books back either at your bookstore, if they’re section specific; Amazon/B&N; or you can list them on Ebay or Chegg.</p>
<p>Sheesh, waiting is a terrible thing to do unless you’re interested in the highway robbery that is the on campus bookstore. Even if you’re renting books, the prices go up as the semester approaches.</p>
<p>Most rental places have a 2 or 3 week return policy so that you can rent the book and if you find out you don’t need it, you can return it and get a full refund.</p>
<p>I make decisions on a case-to-case basis. For example, if I can find the book in the library, I usually hold off on purchasing a copy until after I know how often I’ll use it. If I am not sure if I’ll be taking a specific class (this is true for about 50% of the classes I’ve taken), I’ll wait to buy the book. </p>
<p>I only buy textbooks ahead of time when I am very confident that I am going to need it.</p>
<p>Wait until after the first day of classes until after you read the syllabus.</p>
<p>Sell it on amazon or half if you can, the bookstore will rip you off.</p>
<p>I usually order mine 2-3 weeks before school starts. I don’t recommend waiting till classes start because you’ll probably have to wait longer to get your books and also because some teachers might get ****ed off at you for not having them. You’ll also probably get free shipping deals if you order earlier (depending on where you order them from though).</p>
<p>If you go the used book route, be sure you get the exact ISBN or equivalent. Many profs assign the brand new edition, which won’t be available used. I relied on google to sort this out. </p>
<p>My kids rent via Chegg- save a fortune. (Many college bookstores also promote them.) They can also buy used via the bookstore’s web site. If you do buy used online, check that seller’s return policy. Mine usually start hunting in August.</p>
<p>I generally buy the most expensive books via Amazon or other online retailer (whichever is the cheapest) and then just buy the cheap books (English class novels, for example) at the bookstore when I get to campus.</p>
<p>It depends on the college. Some have full, accurate lists ahead of time. Some force professors to write their syllabi ahead of time, causing the professors to tell students on the first day of class that they will not be using certain books and will be adding others.</p>
<p>
Chegg seems to offer good deals on some books and really bad deals on others. I’d only recommend renting if it’s not much more expensive than buying a copy and reselling it. (I am willing to pay a small price for the convenience of not having to resell; but I would never rent a textbook for 80% of the purchase price.)</p>