<p>This fall, I decided to purchase all of my textbooks and course materials new from the University store...yeah, I got reamed. I'm definitely trying to get more stuff used/online next time around.</p>
<p>Anyway, my question concerns what to do with my used textbooks. Most are in almost new condition, though some have highlighting. Should I sell them on eBay? Half.com? Amazon Marketplace? Back to my University Store? Myself, using our undergrad book listing?</p>
<p>Also, I've heard some people say that you should hold onto the books for your major, even from intro. courses. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>I would definitely recommend keeping books that relate to your major. As far as the others, don't sell them back to the U-store. Either post an ad on campus and try to sell them to another student or use the internet. My kids buy as many textbooks as they can on Amazon. We stick to there rather than Ebay just because we've never had a problem, but I've heard Ebay is just as good. My daughter just received her Calculus book from an Amazon seller across the country. She paid $45 including shipping and the book is in perfect condition- not one mark. At her U-store a used copy sells for $85, yet they only pay a student about $20 when they sell it back. Once you get rated as a good, reliable seller you should have no problem selling your books.</p>
<p>half.com is the answer, Mike D. I've made about $70 or so (I lost track) but was nice and mailed out the books with two-day mail service so I should subtract about $10 or so. Half.com also takes a commission out of the sales but I already included that in the $70 figure. Buy used anytime you can, preferably at half.com. At the college bookstore there is a small difference in price between used and new.</p>
<p>Yes, Amazon is great for buying and selling. My school is selling this one textbook for $55, which I got from Amazon at the price of $5 (that includes the shipping). Since my university gives about 50-25% of your money back (that is if they do take it back), I plan on trying to sell it back to my school next semester. If that works out, major profit to make up for some of the loses I took this semester. However, if it doesn't, I will be selling it on Amazon at the same cheap price that I bought it to help another poor college student out there.</p>
<p>I also reccomend keeping ones tha trelate to your major...I didn't my first year and kinda kick myself but I am not about to buy again...lol. I sold it to the school and they ripped me off! See, you pay for a book...lets say, $60....well, you sell it back to the school and you are lucky if you get $20 for it...even if it's in good condition. I ended up selling mine back because I didn't have room for them and didn't want to deal with them. You could try ebay or half or amazon like the ohters said. You are likely to get more of what you paid for it if you go that way.</p>
<p>I bought mine from the school originally because I change my classes all the time and thought it would be easier to return them...I didnt wiat to buy books til after add/drop because sometimes the books run out or the mean ol' prof/TA decides to giv eyou work during the first two weeks that require the book :)</p>
<p>Keep all your books. They will form an important nucleus of your personal library. I sold my books from college and I really regret it. By time I got to grad school I had smartened up and kept those books.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great advice. I have already found some killer deals on both Half.com and Amazon. Some of the prices were unbelievably low, even for like-new or new books. I'm really hoping that the books I ordered will materialize in their described conditions.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, and the justification for keeping my old books is a great excuse to be lazy, seeing how I hate making the trek to the Post Office :)</p>
<p>Pay close attention to the seller ratings on both Half.com and Amazon --- sometimes it's better to pay a few bucks more for a reliable seller. I've sold tons of books on both Amazon and Half.com and I think Amazon is a little easier to sell on - it gets more traffic and the prices tend to remain higher longer. Plus, they will deposit your earnings automatically into your checking account so you don't have to wait as long to get your money.</p>
<p>I just sold an economics textbook, thought I'd let you all know :). I paid $130, sold it for $60. I probably would have gotten $20 or something from the college bookstore. Never again.</p>
<p>i keep about half my books, the ones that pertain to my major or that may help with later classes in general - for those that i don't keep i sell on something like the dailyjolt, where it's other people from my school buying, so it's likely someone will need the book, i can get way more than the bookstore will give me, and no hassle about shipping things!</p>