One of the most painful expenses facing college students every fall is the cost of textbooks. Prices rise every year, and some books are now so customized that used bookstores don't sell them.
College student Alexis Wiggan says she can't believe she had to pay $291 for her new Anatomy book.
Alexis says the book includes an interactive CD Rom, and the bookstore had no used copies with the CD. She says it's, "ridiculous, ridiculous, it's way too much for a book."
Alternatives to the Campus BookstoreBut students like Kyle Smith are finding ways around those costs by shopping online.
Kyle says,
"I used eBay and stuff like that, and it was a real good source, and it was really easy to find books there."
Cool Websites to CheckIn addition to eBay, other sites many students use for finding used books are:
Amazon.com, Half.com and
AbeBooks.com.
And check out
CheapestTextbooks.com, which scans other book selling sites for the lowest price.
Another new solution:
rent your books from a texbook rental site, like
Chegg.com. (UPATE 9/22/08: I am hearing some complaints about Chegg's book renting program. While they have a Satisfactory rating from the BBB, you may wish to do an online search for reviews and complaints before you order from Chegg.)
But beware: Before you buy online, check the the book's ISBN number at your campus bookstore....so you don't get an outdated version. And if the book is customized for your school, or comes with a CD, ask the professor if you really need that version.
Don't forget E-BooksIf you live in the State of Ohio, Ohio's State University system in the Spring of 2009 starts a deal with an electronic textbook provider called CourseSmart. Under a deal brokered by Governor Strickland, you'll be able to read many textbooks online, at a savings of more than 50 percent over the print version.
Meantime, students anywhere should take a look at electronic textbook providers. More than 4,000 current college textbooks are now available online.
So before you buy a hardcover, check to see if your book is available in an e-version, so you don't waste your money.
I'm John Matarese.
