buying books

kevster1001 · 07-06-2008, 09:45 PM

I'm planning to buy used books in amazon, but BU barnes has titles with specific editions and publishers for one to buy. If I don't buy my books from BU barnes, do I still need to get the ones exactly mentioned by BU barnes (same publisher, edition, etc)?

Particle_Man · 07-06-2008, 10:10 PM

Yes you do.

Lergnom · 07-06-2008, 10:54 PM

Yes, you need the ISBN #.

kevster1001 · 07-06-2008, 10:57 PM

This sucks. It's hard to find exactly the same books in amazon. And Barnes is expensive!

DJglover16 · 07-06-2008, 11:16 PM

If you order quickly you can maybe get a few used in your stock from barnes. I was happy enough to just order from barnes the first semester and not really have to worry about it with everything else that's going on. It's pretty convenient they package them all together and have it waiting in your own personal carry box the first day. You'll figure out more cost efficient ways to get books and be able to better determine if you actually need to buy the book later on.

bitesizeemma · 07-06-2008, 11:35 PM

when you say order, does that mean buy? i already made my checkout list but i haven't paid for anything yet.

Devilsrule · 07-07-2008, 08:53 AM

Whenever possible, try and get used versions of the books you need. This can save you a considerable amount of money. Do some searching on the web and see if you can find the same edition of a book you need. If you can find the exact one for cheap, go for it.

ud2006 · 07-07-2008, 12:16 PM

definitely get the same edition because there are a lot of changes that can really mess u up. but def try and get it for cheaper!

kevster1001 · 07-07-2008, 01:07 PM

Even the used books are expensive, compared to used books you can find in Amazon. These books, specifically the WR100 ones, come from the weirdest editions and unheard publishers. Cengage Learning, Hachette Books. I don't know, I've never heard of them. And the editions: 1960, 1995?

Does BU do this on purpose so students have a hard time finding them outside of BU Barnes?

But anyway, thanks for the responses. I'll try my best to find the same editions.

DJglover16 · 07-07-2008, 02:29 PM

I dunno if BU is especially out to get us although I wouldn't put it past those mofos. Suspiciouslly the ISBN#'s which allow you to easily locate really cheap used copies of the exact books you need are not made available on the BU affiliated Barnes site...

kevster1001 · 07-07-2008, 03:13 PM

Which is 1) suspicious and 2) annoying. I mean, why would a bookstore not put up the ISBN numbers for books. That's a must.

Luckily, I've found most of the books used. It took a ****load of time to find them. Do you know if all WR100 students need to buy the CONCISE WADSWORTH HANDBOOK? There is one that is WITH CD and the other without it, but the latter is marked as PACKAGE COMPONENT. This is what the site says:

"Titles that are designated as "Package Component" are components of a required package used for your course. If you would like to purchase the entire package, please select it. If however, you plan using only pieces of the package, some or all may be available individually. If you purchase only package components, you may save money if used is available. Be careful you don’t buy both."

Does this mean I can just buy the Handbook (no CD)?

astor · 07-07-2008, 03:14 PM

A lot of schools' bookstores don't readily publish the ISBN on the store sites. BU, Rutgers, BCC, CCC, PCCC...all of the ones I've seen don't readily do that. You can usually match up the info they do give though, like edition, author, and title on Amazon and figure out the ISBN that way. The fool proof way would be to just contact the professor teaching the course.

DJglover16 · 07-07-2008, 08:14 PM

yeah if the prof is cool they'll email the ISBN# and if you ask do so politely as you're pretty much asking to screw an author out of profit on their new text which may possibly be a colleague of or your professor him/herself. Many BU professors write their own texts so yeah just be aware.

I never used that Wadsworth Handbook but I think all freshman classes get it and the use is at the discretion of your "writing professor"..ehem some grad student that takes their job way too seriously..

Lergnom · 07-08-2008, 11:03 AM

The prices are high everywhere and BU has no role in setting them.

From experience, sometimes half.com doesn't deliver the goods.

bethpage · 07-08-2008, 11:42 AM

Before you buy books anywhere, go to this website and compare prices, edition & shipping costs:

CampusI.com | Buy Textbooks | Sell Textbooks | Used College Textbooks | New College Textbooks | Textbook Price Comparison | Cheap Textbooks | Cheapest Textbooks | Compare Textbook Prices | Textbook Buyback | Textbook Price Bot | New and Used Music |

It's an aggregator....it will search hundreds of online bookstores and book sellers at once for you. YOU will NOT have to go back and forth between the individual websites of book sellers you are aware of, trying to find the best deal.

Put in either the exact ISBN or title & edition of the book you need. It will pull up everything it can locate in one list for you with direct links to specific copies, giving you prices, shipping costs, seller ratings, etc.

It's a great tool. I've been using it for years as a first step when looking for specifi titles both as a librarian and a book seller, and a parent of college student.