<p>Hey! So, I've heard everything on this topic from "Wait until classes start to buy your books" to "BUY THEM ASAP". What do you think?</p>
<p>I'm considering e-mailing my professors to find out what books I'll need for my first semester. Is that a good idea or a bad idea? XD Either way, I'm sure I'll figure out eventually what the best way to do it is, but I figured I'd ask for your opinions here first.</p>
<p>Thank youuu.</p>
<p>At my school, the bookstore has a website where you can look up what books you need. You don't necessarily have to buy them there (it's usually cheaper somewhere else) but you can find out what you need there and then do an ISBN search on amazon or something. I usually buy my books in a bookstore, but not the campus ones. The ones that are off-campus are usually at least a few bucks cheapers (ex: my ethics book at the campus bookstore was 41.50 and where I got it, it was 39.00 new and 30.75 used. So I got the used copy and saved 11 bucks!)</p>
<p>Some professors are terrible at posting up their syllabi and/or reporting books to the bookstore. I would go ahead and e-mail them if you can't find them at the bookstore's website.</p>
<p>Never, EVER buy from your on-campus bookstore unless:</p>
<p>(1) The price of the book + shipping < the cost of the book at the bookstore. I let it slide between $1-$3 (if a book online is $32.50, and the book at the bookstore is $35, I usually just go to the bookstore).</p>
<p>(2) Rare book. This one is obvious.</p>
<p>If you can save $5+ on a book, the savings do add up!</p>
<p>Try half.com, Amazon marketplace, or campusi.com.</p>
<p>I would not try to contact your professors. They don't even know you at this point, and would likely say that you'll find out the book info on the first day of class. You could call the bookstore to ask if they have a website, or a book list for your classes. Most freshman orientations start at least a few days before classes, so you could still order them online at that point. (you may have to buy and return a copy from the bookstore; check return policies carefully though)</p>
<p>Amazon marketplace is my favorite, or using Google Products search with the ISBN.</p>
<p>No offense kwtortoise, but I've got to strongly disagree with that. You're well within your rights to email a professor and ask what books are required and recommended if that professor does not give his lists to the bookstore.</p>
<p>The only disadvantage with buying the books online is if you drop the class. The bookstore will often take the book back if you've got a drop slip and the receipt, but if you bought it online, you'll have to go through the trouble of reselling it yourself and probably lose money in the deal.</p>
<p>Our bookstore will look at your timetable and deliver all your first term books to the residence commons. When you fill out the form online, you can request new or used (and thus cheaper) books, required or optional readings, and you can also opt out of buying any books you already have (or are going to buy from somewhere else, I guess). It saves you from lining up, which is a huge advantage, and you can always return the books you don't need if you leave them in their original condition.</p>