<p>I have just ordered the books for two of my daughter's courses and there were 14 books NOT including the text books. She wants to look at the "used" books at the bookstore before we order them to see if she can find a few decent copies. The other books were novels and supplemental reading. I hope the other courses aren't so reading heavy. Her major is writing/reading intensive, but I guess I didn't think the book load would be so crazy!</p>
<p>“She wants to look at the “used” books at the bookstore before we order them to see if she can find a few decent copies.”
We bought most of my sons books from used book sellers- through any one of the hundreds of book sellers listed below each new book on Amazon. If you know the name of the book then just by it used on the internet- the college bookstore usually charges 75% of the new book price, and for classic books, you can find used books for far, far less online…</p>
<p>More like 90% <.< they rip you off for it.</p>
<p>We always buy used books. Never buy new unless there’s no other option.</p>
<p>I have always fared better with used books from Amazon Marketplace (or new copies straight from Amazon for cheap classics) than with used copies from the bookstore. The only exception is if I find a used copy in the bookstore that has useful highlighting or comments in the margins - I am willing to pay extra for that :)</p>
<p>I recommend checking for the books on library.nu. You have to sign up but it’s free and all the books there are available for download for free. </p>
<p>Also, if any of these books are old (75 years or older I think?) then they might be on Project Gutenberg. After a certain amount of time books lose their copyright rights. </p>
<p>I recommend those sources for trying to save money on books.</p>
<p>I hope they actually use all of the books. VERY annoying to buy a book and only use 1 or 2 times!!! or not at all.</p>
<p>When we bought used books from college bookstore, they were in far worse condition than any used books we bought online - and more expensive too! But if she wants to check out the used books in the bookstore, she better get there very soon as they go very quickly. And the ones in better condition will be gone first.</p>
<p>We have always done well with half.com, amazon and textbooks.com. I just sold 2 textbooks this week on half.com. One sold for $74.00 and the other for $90.00. They were bought used from amazon or half and sold for close to what we paid.</p>
<p>We have decided to find some online and are just shopping right now. The “little” paperbacks, I just opened windows to both Barnes & Noble and Amazon, look up each book on each site and bought the cheaper of the two. It wasn’t so bad but that is only two classes worth. We will do the rest today. I feel pretty confident she will probably read every book based on the facebook page of her program. Most of the freshman last year confirm she will need everyone. Better her than me! LOL.</p>
<p>Yes, there are great deals on new and used books through Amazon and their affiliated booksellers. If you definitely know that you will stay in a class, don’t wait too long to order, because the best priced online books go fast. Also, some of the affiliated sellers may not be real quick in sending out books - one took 2 weeks to arrive. </p>
<p>Through Amazon and affiliates I got many textbooks that really were in nearly new condition, as well as brand new books for less than the college bookstore’s used price.</p>
<p>Anyone with an edu email address can get free 2 day shipping from Amazon for one year. Also, Amazon in most cases doesn’t charge sales tax.</p>
<p>If you are taking classes with many readings from older books that are almost all text, I recommend buying a Kindle. Most older books are free to download. Also, classic books can often be found cheaply at used books stores - especially ones that are near a college.</p>
<p>Amazon in most cases makes people tax cheats and cheats the states who really need the money. Not to mention cheating locals stores from fair competition…</p>
<p>thank you, barrons, for that political interlude…</p>
<p>and now back to our regularly scheduled thread…</p>
<p>I don’t care for bezos so much, but I like being able to find what I need online instead of running all over town and having to settle for whatever is in stock instead of what I am looking for.
Having two kids who are science majors ( expensive texts), forced our family to find savings wherever we could.</p>
<p>I rent most of my books. I usually use Chegg, but last semester Chegg didn’t have a book I needed and I ended up using CampusBookRentals…turns out they often have great deals on the books I need (like getting a $120 book for $15…)</p>
<p>I think paying required taxes due is not politcal but a citizen’s duty. Amazon’s approach is totally apolitcal. Just business strategy right down to locating in Washington rather than CA or NY. Bezos admits to that much. Setting the tax rates is the politcal act.</p>
<p>^ I’m fine with that, as long as it is currently legal then it doesn’t bother me one whit to patronize them.
We get most of DSs books used at Amazon or Half.</p>
<p>
Sorry, but if people choose to cheat it’s not Amazon’s fault. On your state tax return there is a “use tax” section for calculating internet transactions where the state tax is not collected. Not rocket science and Amazon is one of many online retailers who do not collect state tax.;)</p>