<p>Make sure that if you buy through half.com or some other private seller, that you leave enough time in case the book doesn’t show. This happened to one of my kids.</p>
<p>Email your professors! Many professors are required by the school to have a required text, but then they never use it.</p>
<p>As soon as I registered for classes a few weeks ago I emailed all of my professors asking if they have chosen a book, or if there will be one. Several have replied with the ISBN numbers, and one replied saying that taking notes will suffice (she said the books were too expensive and discourages students from buying them – granted this is not for a core class).</p>
<p>Also, a great way to save money (considerable amount) is to buy online or rent. Chegg.com is a great trusted website that I use. You can use code CC129593 to save 5% more off your purchase or rental. They also include a full money back guarantee, so if you end up not needing the book, return it and get all your money back! I’ve saved so much money through shopping online.</p>
<p>You have all summer. I’m not saying don’t worry, but you have time to find your books! (=</p>
<p>ALSO! Be wary of international editions. I haven’t used one, but when you see a usually really expensive textbook for next to nothing, check the edition. International editions are muchhh cheaper than US editions, but there are some differences. You don’t want to end up buying something you didn’t know you were buying. Be careful and good luck!!</p>
<p>And do NOT have the books sent BOOK RATE…you’ll be lucky to see them by the end of the term. Pay for the faster shipping. DD used Amazon both for purchasing and selling books back. She tells me that when she sold back to Amazon, they paid the shipping. She got a credit on her Amazon account which she used for future purchases. Not a bad thing. </p>
<p>She too bought the freshman books (but used) at the book store first term. After that it was online all the way UNLESS she knew someone who had taken the course and wanted to sell their book on campus. That was the best way…a deal for the buyer and a hit for the seller…and no waiting.</p>
<p>I hope 2VU0609 and other similar professors will get less annoyed when students e-mail them in the future to ask about books, since it’s clear from this discussion there’s a reason why they do.</p>
<p>My experience doesn’t add much the the overwhelming weight of advice here. The only things I have to add are (a) I would rather my kid have to deal with the vicissitudes of the Reserve Desk at the library for a couple of week than pay $100 for a textbook for a course he will decide to drop after the second class, and (b) most of the time it’s fine to use the penultimate edition, as long as you understand what changes were made. Chances are the teacher is using the penultimate edition (or earlier) anyway. You do have to pay attention, though.</p>
<p>Book rate: With rare (very rare) exceptions, everything I have ordered for Amazon or abe or related sellers has come within 5-6 business days without paying for extra super-duper shipping.</p>
<p>Being stuck with a textbook that you can’t resell if your kid drops the class after one session will wipe out your savings for an entire semester. Make sure that even if it’s on half.com or another discount site that everything is returnable just in case the local bookstore won’t buy back the book.</p>
<p>Be careful of novels in translation. It pays to buy the edition recommended by the professor.</p>
<p>The other nice thing about textbooks.com is that they have a “guaranteed buy back” program for many titles (not all). It is good for new or used titles, if it is offered for that title. Just recently we ordered a used copy of a book for $76.51 (their price for a new copy is $102.02). They offer guaranteed buy back of $51.01 for either the new or used copy. They also give you free shipping both ways. So when we return that book at the end of the semester, it will have cost us $25.50. We could also choose to re-sell it online at amazon or half.com if those prices are better at that time than the buy back price.</p>
<p>We also bought a little paperback book used for $6.18. It has a guaranteed buy back price of $4.12. So it will cost us $2.06. Not a bad deal.</p>
<p>Guaranteed buybacks!!! My UG was LOUSY at that! My books ended up being $1 or $2 when I got them between $15-40… I never showed my face again.</p>
<p>Guaranteed buy back is at textbooks.com, not the college bookstore. S checked out the amount he would get if he sold them back to the bookstore once and it was a mere pittance. So we do online transactions now.</p>
<p>Another thing I look at when buying online is the location of the seller. If I am in a bit of a rush, I will look for an East Coast seller or someone closer to where I live.</p>
<p>Half.com and Amazon. And when you are done with books, relist them on those sites. You will get WAY MORE than buybacks at bookstores. I buy good used. I buy with comments like “bought book and never took the class” or “opened the book 5-6 times” or " highlighting on first chapter only." And as soon as the semester is nearly done I list the books that D will not be using again. We save quite a bit doing this.</p>