<p>Just wanted to toss in a final and last 'two bits' about buying discounted International Editions of U.S. textbooks, now that the first semester is nearing an end at junior's engineering university.</p>
<p>Me, gleeful parent, just finished ordering the handful of textbooks Lake Jr. will need for the Spring Semester (he has already registered for Spring classes). Adding the cost from both semesters, I find that we have saved a small fortune by purchasing I.E. books from online sources. Perhaps more importantly, each I.E. textbook was identical or virtually identical to the version sold at the University Bookstore. Even the pagination was the same for each book, according to Lake Jr.</p>
<p>Prior to the first semester I was skeptical because I had read that I.E. books were copies that, unlike original U.S. versions, had no color printing and were published on a low -quality newsprint of type paper. With Lake Jr.'s engineering texts, I have not found that circumstance to be true. Just received two more paperback texts, both clearly from Thailand (but sold and forwarded by U.S. sellers) that are perfect copies of the U.S. versions. They are printed on quality paper with color drawings, diagrams etc. A book we received earlier was a hardbound edition and looked like any book you would expect to find the shelves of a U.S. university bookstore.</p>
<p>Buying I.E. has been a boon to us that has come with no problems thus far. My tip to other parents whom might consider buying I.E. textbooks; scrutinize the seller's description of the item. Look for offers that expressly indicate "in color" or "same paper as U.S. version." And choose a vendor whom offers a no hassle return policy.</p>
<p>^^^absolutely! To unnecessarily pay full price for a new hard bound textbook is throwing $$ away.
We bought International paperback textbooks when ever they were available, and were able to sell them after he finished his course! Net savings over his college career had to be close to $2000.</p>
<p>Please list the online vendors. Thanks.</p>
<p>The only time I screwed up with international books was when I ordered a statics book that was metric rather than English units. It was my mistake I didn’t choose wisely. Son later found the English units version on a Torrent site. </p>
<p>I’ve gotten international books from many vendors including Alibris, Ebay… Shipping speed is amazing, usually within days from Malaysia.</p>
<p>@co4USC</p>
<p>Alibris, Abebooks, textbooks.com and even Amazon (affiliated sellers) on a couple of occasions. Interestingly, Ebay has been good too, but finding a significant bargain on Ebay may not happen as frequently. One note of caution, most of the I.E. books at Alibris have boilerplate minimal or vague descriptions. It was on Ebay that I most often found details like “color printing” and “U.S. quality paper.”</p>
<p>JJW, I am no engineer, therefore I was worried about the measuring system used in I.E. textbooks. No longer worried. Friendly engineers and students here on CC let me know that the SI system is quite common in most U.S. STEM textbooks, though U.S. standards apparently prevail in the field of Civil Engineering. Lake Jr. received a brand new I.E. engineering (not Civil) text last week with SI figures…but it also included an EXTENSIVE conversion table in the front of the book. By the way, the book cost 25% of the price of a new U.S. edition at the university bookstore. No worries!!!</p>