<p>I used eCampus.com for my Gas-Turbine Systems textbook; got it for $39, when new it was $160; sure, it's the international version, but it's the same material, only softcover. To hell with campus bookstores; raped there once, won't be raped there again.</p>
<p>I've bought from new users and have never had a problem. I've found that many new users with many items are sometimes better than more established users because they want really good reviews to get going.</p>
<p>Will it take too long to get books online (from half price books or Amazon) if you buy the books during the first week of classes?</p>
<p>if the seller offers expedited shipping, then def. choose it because most of the sellers will use USPS Media Mail because the service was designed only for books and gives a cheaper rate. Only problem is that books sent via Media Mail take a long time to receive. </p>
<p>BTW: you can also try craigslist for books. You might pay a little more than amazon or half.com, but you can see the book before you purchase it and get it a lot faster.</p>
<p>i recommend ordering at least 3 weeks before hand if using media mail. with my experience, media mail can take a couple weeks depending on what part of the country it is coming from.</p>
<p>i've never order expedited, so i am not sure how long that takes.</p>
<p>are the deals where they sell used books for like $2 just too good to be true?</p>
<p>Which books? Some novels go for that (or less) but a textbook for $2? That sounds pretty out there. I'd love to see something like that.</p>
<p>nah. i purchased a calc book for three bucks and while it was a little beat up, it was definitely usable</p>
<p>try to order the book a week or two before class starts just to give enough time for it to come in the mail. They usually come within 3-4 days but some might take longer and u can get really stressed out if u have a test the first week and dont have a book.</p>
<p>is it ok to buy the instructor's version of the book? the amazon description says its the same as the student copy but with answers and hints in the margin. would teachers be mad if they saw kids with the teacher's edition? :/</p>
<p>and is there a difference if two different publishers put out the same book? like one version is from Houghton Mifflin Company and another is from Allyn & Bacon but your professor wants the version from Pearson? even if its still the same author and stuff.</p>
<p>(sorry for the doublepost but i can't edit my other post)</p>
<p>Yeah, people should definitely check out the <em>resale bookstores</em> around the college before buying online. Last semester I bought a history book for the great price of $20 :) plus shipping at Half.com only to find the same exact book at the local Half Price Books bookstore for $8 :( . Online buying is a great money saver but sometimes the <em>local second hand bookstores</em> does even better. Just know that there's always the possibility that your book isn't in stock.</p>
<p>Jsc10, </p>
<p>I don't think the professors would get mad if you get the teacher's edition of the text. Most of the time they will just assign some reading or recommended problems from the book, but they will have separate graded homework assignments that don't come from the book, so you'll be safe with a teacher's edition and won't be cheating or whatever. Plus, you get all those extra practice problems and solutions!</p>
<p>As with the different publishers, personally I just ignore them because it's the samebook and the publishers that my college bookstore post for their books are bogus and not correctly paired with the books.</p>
<p>I haven't decided if I like buying used textbooks form Amazon. I just got my Chemistry book in the mail today, which was $120, perfect condition, except for one problem. It stated quite clearly that the OWL (online web learning, which is $46 to buy separate and is required for the class) was included, and it most definately was not. It's a large seller with their own website, so I'm going to call and b**** at them tomorrow, get a refund and go through the whole searching process again. </p>
<p>And I was not dumb, before you judge me. Copy and pasted from the description: CD-ROM & General Chemistry Now Access Code Included</p>
<p>thoughts/comments/suggestions from an amazon seller:</p>
<p>-read amazons product descriptions carefully before you buy. if something is listed as being in 'good' or 'acceptable' condition, it is allowed to contain highlighting and look a little beat up. if it is listed as 'very good' or better, its not. also read sellers descriptions if you need a cd/access code for your text. if nothing is mentioned, the cd/code is required to be included per amazon policy.</p>
<p>-of course, some sellers dont follow the rules. if you receive a book and it is not as described, contact the seller first. he will likely offer you a full refund and may even offer you money to return the book. if not, amazon has an 'a-z' service that protects buyers. if you can document that the book delivered was not as described, you WILL get your money back.</p>
<p>-you are also allowed to return a book, no questions asked (and provided it is in the exact condition as purchased), up to 30 days after its postmarked date. sellers can charge a restocking fee up to 20%, however, so the above method is preferable if you get hit by a bad seller.</p>
<p>-media mail can take up to three weeks if a book is being shipped across the country. amazon lists where the buyer is located, so if you dont want to pay the extra $3 to have the book in less than 8 business days (sellers are allowed two days to ship and six to get it there via expedited), find someone selling the book in your same geographic location.</p>
<p>-stay away from any seller with less than 96% positive feedback. and if youre nervous about buying online, stay away from anyone with less than 98% positive. a rating in the high 90s is fantastic on amazon... and will all but ensure you are getting what is described (and have responsive customer service).</p>
<p>-most 'cheap' textbooks, especially if there are a lot available inexpensively, really arent too good to be true. its a simple issue of supply and demand. lots of people buy stewarts calculus 1 book every semester and very few want to keep it when its over!</p>
<p>...if anyone has any other questions about purchasing textbooks on amazon, just post here. ill be glad to help!</p>