Saving Money on Cheap College Textbooks

College students throughout the United States search for cheap college textbooks every spring and fall.  The search for cheap college textbooks can be conducted entirely online if conventional avenues like used book stores and friends do not have the necessary inventory. 

Tips On Finding Cheap College Textbooks

The simplest way for a college student to purchase novels, textbooks, and other materials needed for class is through friends and family members.  Every student probably has someone close to them that went to college recently and could not unload their used books.  College students can mobilize personal networks quickly by putting out a call for certain textbooks by email, Facebook©, and Twitter©.  Since colleges and universities place their required reading online, students can simply cut and paste these books into their messages for easier delivery. 

Another tip for getting college textbooks cheap is to search used bookstores away from campus.  Major universities like the University of Wisconsin and the University of Texas have used bookstores near their campuses that are privately run.  These bookstores sell used and older editions of textbooks that can save students hundreds of dollars per academic year.  A college student taking literature, humanities, and history classes where classic fiction and non-fiction are assigned can use discount bookstores away from campus to complete his reading list. 

College students have to make calculations about when to purchase textbooks in order to get the best deal.  Budget-conscious students can find cheap college textbooks as soon as the next semester’s books are available, because the bookstore will have a greater inventory of used books.  The high turnover of students in freshmen-level classes coupled with restrictive return policies may equal wasted money for students who switch courses.  The best bet for students uncertain about their courses is to wait until the first class to purchase books.  This wait-and-see approach to buying cheap college textbooks has been aided by online textbook sellers.
 

Amazon© And Barnes and Noble©

If you are unable to find books through friends and used book shops, you can head to the Internet as the next semester approaches.  Your first stop should be major retailers like Amazon© (http://www.amazon.com) and Barnes and Noble© (http://www.barnesandnoble.com) with major inventories of cheap college textbooks.  The reliability of these retailers along with their low prices makes them necessary resources for thrifty college students. 

Amazon© is a great resource for college students who want to learn more about their textbooks.  A quick search using the book’s title or author will bring up a page of book information, reviews, and used prices.  The website’s reviews are written by college students, avid readers, and gift givers who have read and used the books in question.  Amazon© has a used book marketplace where college students can find biology textbooks, math workbooks, and study materials below retail prices. 

Barnes and Noble© is one of the most recognizable retailers in the United States with hundreds of stores from the Atlantic to Pacific.  The bookstore’s website offers a book buyback service where undergraduate and graduate students can get money for their old textbooks.  This service from Barnes and Noble© is perfect for current college students who want lightly used textbooks for art, history, and physics classes.  Barnes and Noble© maintains rigorous standards of quality for its used textbooks, ensuring that buyers will find books without tears, missing pages, and highlights. 

eCampus.com©

eCampus.com© (http://www.ecampus.com) has been selling cheap college textbooks to America’s colleges and universities since 1999.  The running offer on eCampus.com© is free shipping on all orders over $59, which reduces the cost of shopping online for the average college students.  The website claims a savings of up to 75% compared to new book prices.  In addition to cheap college textbooks, eCampus.com© sells T-shirts, calculators, and hundreds of other products needed for life on campus. 

The user interface on eCampus.com© ensures a quick book search for every college student.  The main page features a detailed search tool that asks for title, author, ISBN number, and other information.  This tool is ideal for students looking for a used version of a single textbook unavailable at the college bookstore.  eCampus.com© has an extended search tool that allows users to enter up to 10 ISBN numbers at one time to take care of their book buying needs. 

CampusBooks©

CampusBooks© (http://www.campusbooks.com) offers plenty of numbers to back up its popularity among college students.  The website claims that its inventory of new and used college textbooks is more than eight million, a necessity for any retailer trying to sell college textbooks nationwide.  CampusBooks© also promotes an average savings of 61% compared to new book prices. 

CampusBooks© goes above and beyond the textbook offerings of Amazon© and Barnes and Noble© with a variety of useful services.  The free comparison tool is ideal for students who are looking at new versus used textbooks for the upcoming semester.  CampusBooks© buys back college textbooks to replenish its inventory, helping college students recoup some of their expenses in the process.  The website’s textbook blog gives students advice on buying and selling their textbooks throughout the year.
 

CollegeBooksDirect.com©

The longest lasting resource for cheap college textbooks among current websites is CollegeBooksDirect.com© (http://www.collegebooksdirect.com).  The company has been running for thirty years and started out with brick-and-mortar and mail order operations.  CollegeBooksDirect.com© may have a more modest inventory than its competitors, but its focus on service is a welcome site to busy college students. 

CollegeBooksDirect.com© has a basic search tool where a user can enter the exact book name or ISBN to turn up available textbooks.  Shoppers get same day shipping with every textbook purchase to ensure that books arrive on time for the beginning of the semester.  The website also buys back used textbooks, workbooks, and novels that are in high demand for college students each semester. 

DealOz©

Every student looking for a comprehensive resource for finding cheap college textbooks should bookmark DealOz© (http://www.dealoz.com).  This website aggregates cheap textbook listings from more than 200 bookstores including Alibris©, Barnes and Noble©, and eCampus.com©.  For example, a college student looking for a used copy of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle could enter the author name or title to get dozens of used textbook listings.  DealOz© lists the source of the used textbook, the price with standard shipping, and any discounts or coupons available with purchase.  The website claims a potential savings of 95% for particularly savvy shoppers at DealOz©.