<p>New State Law = Avoid bookstore gouging
A new Florida law could have college students flocking to the Internet for textbooks instead of the campus bookstore.
Public colleges and universities must publish a list of required texts at least 30 days before the semester starts, giving students ample time to scour eBay, Craigslist or Amazon for new or used books at discounted prices.
Florida lawmakers adopted the textbook affordability law last spring after reviewing government reports that showed textbook prices increased at twice the rate of inflation over the past two decades. The law:
- Prohibits college faculty from receiving payments in exchange for requiring students to purchase a specific textbook.
- Allows college employees to earn royalties or compensation from sales of textbooks that include their own work, and also collect fees for reviewing or critiquing texts.
- Requires instructors or departments to verify each item in a bundled textbook package, such as a workbook or CD, will be used during the course.
- Requires colleges post a list of textbooks required for each course at least 30 days in advance.
LINK: State</a> law allows students avoid campus bookstore | news-press.com | The News-Press</p>
<p>Finally! 30 years too late. ;)</p>
<p>All the sellers on Half.com ship super fast anyways.
Never had a problem.
Got a 160 dollar text for $10 and it only had a slight rip on the cover!
Abebooks.com is good too.</p>
<p>At orientation, we were told that the bookstore strived to offer students the best prices both for buying and buy backs. Meanwhile, I can find 100+ dollar books for 15 bucks on half.com; absolutely ridiculous the gouging that goes on. I wish everyone would be smart enough to find the books they need before the semester starts and BOYCOTT the official bookstore. Totally ridiculous how much they profit off the sale of text books.</p>
<p>Of course the university wants you to think you’re getting a fair shake at the university bookstore. My first semester freshman year, I did what just about everyone does and went through the FSU bookstore, but I relied more and more on online sources until that became my primary means. </p>
<p>The law requiring the publishing the of the book lists with ISBNs was very welcome and makes it incredibly easy to get the right edition. As mentioned, half.com is a great resource for both buying and selling, as is facebook, amazon marketplace and even flyers around campus. </p>
<p>If you’re going to be selling books back at the end of the semester, it’s worthwhile to put in the extra effort to do it yourself, either locally/in-person or listing it online. Not only will you get more money back than the bookstore will give you (in most cases), but you’re also supporting this market and helping your fellow students pay less than the bookstores charge!</p>
<p>I always wait a few days and see if I actually need the book, then buy it on half.com for like 20% of the cost at the uni bookstore.</p>
<p>My son has 4 books to buy. As of right now only 1 is available anywhere else but the bookstore. Will these books become available closer to his class start date or should I just go ahead and buy what the bookstore has used?</p>
<p>There are lots of “FSU” editions that seem hard to find. And there are bundles that have an ISBN number that is only sold at FSU. It is frustrating. But on Amazon and Half.com, if you need an FSU edition, look for the regular edition and then look at listing descriptions. You may find FSU editions for sale by reading the listing descriptions.</p>
<p>We have purchased FSU editions by looking a little harder. And I have listed for sale on Amazon and Half.com FSU editions under regular editions. When you go to list a book for sale on Amazon and Half.com, if you put in the ISBN for the FSU edition it says no such edition, so I list it under the regular edition with comments saying it is the FSU edition. </p>
<p>What classes or books are you looking for?</p>
<p>Look at Craigslist- Tallahassee
Under “books” FSU</p>
<p>You could also try searching in [Uloop</a> College Classifieds - Jobs, Apartments, Textbooks, Carpools, Roommates, Tickets, Furniture, Scholarships, Travel](<a href=“http://www.uloop.com/]Uloop”>http://www.uloop.com/) and [Cheap</a> Textbooks, College Textbook - CheapestTextbooks.com](<a href=“http://www.cheapesttextbooks.com/]Cheap”>http://www.cheapesttextbooks.com/)</p>
<p>Noles Mom: They tend to be updated as we get closer to the term. I know one my classes (a 4000-level MET class) had the text listed as “Special Order - Contact Bookstore” for the last few weeks, but was just updated the other day. </p>
<p>Also, several classes still don’t have assigned texts. </p>
<p>You will find more updates in the coming days/week (I don’t know what the penalty is for not listing them in time per the state law (if any), but I’ve had a class or two in the spring that wasn’t updated until closer to the start of the term).</p>
<p>I don’t know about everybody else, but classes start on the 24th and FSU’s website is only showing me the books I need for two of my classes (and those books were already available to me last month).</p>
<p>What’s up with that?</p>
<p>These are the courses Im looking for books for.
Thanks for all your help. Im new to this and need all the advice I can get</p>
<p>AMH > 2097 > 5
Nationality, Race & Ethnicity (w/Retrieving the American Past)
ISBN:9780558101282</p>
<p>CGS > 2100 > 16
BNDL: ACP SUCCEEDING WITH TECHNOLOGY, 3E FSU
ISBN:9781435435810</p>
<p>ENC > 1101 > 53
On Writing/McGraw-Hill Handbook Package
ISBN:9780077994907</p>
<p>MAC > 1105 > 2
PRECALCULUS PKG FSU
ISBN:9780536534446</p>
<p>Your having problems because of the FSU special packages for 3 of the courses. The Precalc package is one that includes a paperback workbook and you might as well buy it at FSU because it is not really amenable to using one used.</p>
<p>The ENC 1101 package is simply the combination of the book On Writing author Bishop FSU edition and the FSU edition of the New McGraw-Hill Handbook. You can get the individual ISDN numbers for each text on the FSU bookstore site. And you can find BOTH of those on Amazon and Half.com but you have to search for the title without using FSU edition, and then search the individual listings for a mention that it is the FSU edition. I just sold both this summer that way. The bookstore and Bills Bookstore do sell the ENC books used so you could get those when you get to campus. </p>
<p>After the first term on campus, it gets immensely easier to buy texts used. Your D or S will get group emails about used texts for sale. And D or S will have friends taking courses now that they will need the books for later. My D traded use of texts for spring. She found two books to use from friends and at the same time gave them each a book to use. They traded back at the end of spring.</p>
<p>Thank you so much Sunny! You’ve been so helpful.</p>
<p>Noles Mom,</p>
<p>I’m in ENC1101 now. The McGraw-Hill Handbook is NOT necessary for all teachers. Since it’s 80 dollars, I would highly recommend not purchasing this in advance and waiting to see if the teacher really requires it. From the sounds of it, it is just an MLA/Grammar handbook. Shouldn’t really be necessary for a college student.</p>
<p>The On Writing, however, is necessary, and is an FSU edition. I bought this from the bookstore used for 50+ dollars. Kind of a ripoff considering it’s paperback. If you can find a way to get that cheaper in advance, go for it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info Matt. Will the teacher tell you if you don’t need it? Will it be available quickly if they do require it.</p>
<p>Our teacher told us on day 1 that it would not be necessary to have that book. It should be available if need be at either Bill’s Bookstore or the on campus store.</p>