WSJ: Less-Costly Options Make Textbooks More Affordable

[Melsmom]

Thanks to this thread I went online today and ordered my d's books. I saved a little over 1/3 from $319 (I know cheap this semester!) to $198.12 with shipping. Froogle works for me, 3 of the books were from the same site & the other had free shipping, so good deal! They will be waiting for her when she returns to school in her mailbox there, with other goodies that I send throughout the summer.
Obviously, I couldn't do this Freshman year, but the kids should definitely know their schedules by now I would think...Check the website, ours has a section that has grades/schedules/requirements etc, if you don't have the password...shame on you!

[sharonohio]

We use overstock.com for my DS's non-science books which is cheaper than amazon in all cases. (We also get money back through Upromise for purchases through Overstock.) Science books we usually purchase from half.com but have used many other sources as well. Especially with Half.com you can see where the book is being shipped from and can speed up delivery by picking vendors with excellent ratings who are in close states. S's bookstore also doesn't publish ISBN's, so frequently S has sent email to professor requesting ISBN before semester starts; this year he had a friend still at the school who actually went to the bookstore and looked up the ISBN's for a few of the students.

The biggest problem has been newish science books (I'm thinking of a $150 anatomy book in particular) which don't have easy solutions. If my son doesn't expect to want to keep the book after the course we have occasionally purchased the international soft cover edition (book cheap, shipping expensive) which has saved a lot of money.

[dbwes]

What about things like access codes to web sites that come with new science books? Teacher wants the kids to have this. How can you tell if the used books will have this?

[JustAMomOf4]

IMO - science majors should "splurge" and get their books new. My daughters chem books will be $200 each from the school bookstore - the good news there is that it's a two semester course and will continue with the same book in the spring. Lots of science courses are like this.

The biggest rippoff is with English and history books. My d's English prof wants her to buy the "50th Anniversary edition" of Death of a Salesman - gimme a break.

If it's any consolation to you kids - this problem has been around since before you were born. Back in the day my parents and I would complain about what a ripoff college text books are. For liberal arts classes - never buy a book before the first day of class. Never buy "recommended" books.
I had classes where the prof would list 6 "required" books to buy and the first days would tell you that 3 of them were for your "personal" enjoyment.

used books can also be found at Half.com

[sharonohio]

Dbwes: If a used book is put on half.com or other sites and does NOT specifically say that it has the codes assume it does not. Many times the seller does indicate that the code comes with the book.

[dbwes]

Thanks, Sharon.