<p>Well I am a student not a parent but I wanted to get another parent's opinion. </p>
<p>I just started my first semester and there's a book my mom bought me at Barnes & Noble for $26. At first I thought that was strange since my teach said it was only $15, so i checked Amazon.com (which is what he recommended) and sure enoigh it is $15! Its on sale but its suppose to be $26 on there too.</p>
<p>Now i want to return the Barnes & Nobles one to save her money but she said no. I get that she wants to support an actual book store (plus I already have it & dont have to wait for shipping) and not an online vendor but I jus wana save her money.</p>
<p>And i'll even buy it for Amazon so its technically free for her since i already have money on my account from prior gift cards.</p>
<p>I never checked my college's book store since sometimes Barnes & Noble can be cheaper with my mom's membership.
But is there anyway I can convince her to return it?? (She used her credit card so obviously I need her to do it.)</p>
<p>It’s your mom’s money, and if she doesn’t care, then it’s fine. Unless you guys are strapped for cash, the difference isn’t worth worrying about. Next time, just shop around for the best price.</p>
<p>I know many people who are very well off and aren’t willing to jump through hoops to save $11. That doesn’t mean they don’t have a penny to they’re name or that their bad at managing their expenses. It just means that they are relatively well off. I’m not saying that everyone is like that, but it’s all relative.</p>
<p>If the OP’s mother doesn’t want to return the book and getting a cheaper copy, she likely either doesn’t consider $11 a lot of money or is very bad at managing her money. If the OP has no reason to think their mother isn’t able to manage money effectively, then they shouldn’t worry too much about it.</p>
<p>It’s good that the OP wants to save their mother money, and all of this little stuff adds up. But they don’t need to “convince” they’re mother to return it. In the future, shop around for the best price. That’s generally good advice when buying anything. This isn’t a discussion of whether or not the $11 is a lot of money to some people; it’s about whether the $11 is significant to this particular family. That’s something only the OP can decide. In my opinion, it’s not a big deal, and it’s not worth the effort to argue with the mother to return it. Try to get the lowest price in the future, and move on.</p>
<p>However, if you feel that your family is bad at managing money or you’re in a financial bind where every penny matters, then this would be a different story.</p>
<p>If you can return it without any great inconvenience, go ahead. I wouldn’t stress over it. Also, as suggested, make sure you can use the book. If it’s a bargain it may be because it’s an outdated version or an International Edition or an instructor’s edition. While some Int’l Editions are identical to the U.S. version (with the typical exception of the book cover) other Int’l Editions are lame.</p>
<p>I’d just consider it a lesson learned, and move on. My son is a junior this year and we’ve learned a lot when it comes to spending money on books. </p>
<p>His first year, first semester, I was dealing with a dramatic health issue, and I just wanted him to start out having the books he needed. The school bookstore would sell used books for less if they had them and you wanted them. I had to keep it simple, so we got books there, some new and some used. The next semester, I was feeling better, and was better able to surf the net looking for discount books son needed. I looked them up using the IBN numbers the school provided and saved well over $200. We still bought one or two at the bookstore that we couldn’t find online.</p>
<p>It’s surprising how many times son barely cracked open some of those pricey books! So now, he starts class without books and determines if they’re really necessary by what the professor says. And he got an iPad for Christmas last year which he uses in class, and when possible, he either buys or rents an iPad version of the book, which costs less than the hard copy of a book.</p>
<p>Btw, son is no slacker, he’s been on the dean’s list every semester and is a hard worker.
Best wishes to you as you start your college life.</p>
<p>I don’t think it is, but I know many who would. Those are generally the same people who say don’t worry about the $11. It’s a convenience thing. Some people are willing to do whatever to get the best deal, and some people don’t care.</p>
<p>Edited to add that there have actually been situations where returning things have been a HUGE hassle. I do it anyway, but yes, there are situations and companies where returning things is very annoying. And then you have to purchase it from another source, in which case you have to wait for it to be shipped to you. For some, they aren’t willing or don’t have the time to wait for shipping.</p>