<p>How much should I expect to shell out for books? What's a good price range for certain books? what is that website again.. like dukebooks.com??</p>
<p>another question on this topic: when do we find out what books we need to purchase?</p>
<p>can we safely assume that we can get the books for the classes we are registered in?</p>
<p>Haha, I'd assume; where are the book lists posted?</p>
<p>They're listed in the synopsis of each course.</p>
<p>Here's the website where they will display what books we need</p>
<p>I forgot exactly when they post for Fall semester. I'm sure someone will post on here when they do though.</p>
<p>I think the post towards the beginning of August. A lot of people are posting books for sale on Facebook Marketplace and there's also Dbooktrade.com. Start looking early so you can get used books which are cheaper!</p>
<p>Also, on ACES where you choose your classes, there are synopsis links beside courses. Sometimes (but not all the time) textbooks will have already been posted on that website. I know two of my courses have already done that for this upcoming fall.</p>
<p>What's your experience with purchasing books through Duke's book store? Is the pricing reasonable? Or is it purely convenience? How do most Duke students obtain their books?</p>
<p>honestly, i think more duke students than you'd think buy their books at the textbook store because it is so convenient. it's not all that cheap though, but it's easy, and i personally wind up buying a lot there.</p>
<p>some professors choose not to order books through the textbook store, but instead order books through The Regulator which is an independent bookstore on 9th st, just off east campus. if you have textbooks or science or engineering classes, this won't happen, but i've had a lot of english professors and a philosophy prof choose this option. also if you're buying books with these paperback novels, the textbook store is popular since they're all there in the same edition and it's hard to get them cheaper unless you're buying them used off of amazon. i never use the used sites other than amazon marketplace on some occasions (like only once or twice a semester), and either use bn.com amazon, or the duke store.</p>
<p>My personal policy for buying at the Duke store is not to do it unless </p>
<p>1) I need it within 7 days
2) It can't be found online (lab manuals, some Duke Press books)
3) It's a unique package that Duke offers
4) The price difference between online and Duke is less than $20</p>
<p>Otherwise I've found that significant amounts of money can be save by planning ahead and getting your stuff online (especially the hardcover math and science books)</p>
<p>Though I second SBR, if you really need books early,the best thing might be to first buy them from the bookstore, use them till end of Drop/Add, and then return them.That will give you ample time to buy books online and get them delivered to you.</p>
<p>Could you still return the books eventhough you are not dropping the class? Do they accept the books only in new or near new condition?</p>
<p>You can generally return books, yes. Of course, there is a huge exception to this. Alot of science classes/intro classes will have Duke-store-specific packages, and all the materials are shrinkwrapped together. They won't accept any returns if the shrinkwrap has been opened. For me, this has been the case with Chem 21, Physics 54, and I believe my Econ class.</p>
<p>So if I can find the textbook name in the synopsis of the course, should I just go ahead and buy the textbooks?</p>
<p>How can you tell whether a particular course require a special packaging that offer by Duke's bookstore only?</p>
<p>You don't have to get the specific package at all...they just do it so it's "easier" for you to just get everything at once. I know plenty of people who survived Gen Chem without the solutions manual, or just bought all the materials separately online. You just can't return the package once opened.</p>
<p>You can tell if it's required or optional by looking at the bookstore website when the books are put online in august. You can also tell if it's a package either by looking at the name (it'll say package) or ISBN. If the ISBN says it's a package or if you can't find the ISBN on amazon (or a textbook website) then it's a good bet that it's a package.</p>
<p>What's the best online site for buying textbooks (new and used)? So far, Amazon is not a good site for textbooks (full price) and B&N has 10-20% off if you are a member. Both site are for new books only.</p>
<p>drink...Amazon has a used section for every book.</p>
<p>I would highly recommend looking into the paperback version for books (this is not always available)--I have saved a bit of money doing this. Does anyone know at what rate the Duke textbook store buys books back?</p>