It’s the most wonderful time of the year, exam time, and that can only mean one thing- Tis the season to sell back books- fa la la la la la la la la.
Nothing says Merry Christmas like getting ripped off by the bookstore.
The only thing worse than spending hundreds of dollars on books at the beginning of the semester, is selling them back to the bookstore 16 weeks later for next to nothing.
Case in point: Fall Semester 2004. August. I arrive at the University for freshmen orientation and buy all of my required textbooks at used prices. I realize that I’m getting ripped off, but take some comfort in the fact that it could be worse. At least I’m saving money by buying used books.
Fall Semester 2004. December. Reality sets in as the semester comes to a close.
Shopping in the campus bookstore doesn’t save you money, regardless of whether you buy used books or not. I gather most of my textbooks and head to the off-campus bookstore, Student Book Exchange. I set my books on the counter and within seconds am told how much I will be offered for them.
In most cases, this price is not even one-fourth of what I originally paid. However, since I really have no use for those critical thinking books now that my eight-hour final is over, I sigh and accept what little I am offered. I’m no genius, but I’m smart enough to know that the bookstore has made out like a bandit at my expense.
Spring Semester 2005. January. I’ve learned from last semester’s mistakes and only buy one or two books from the bookstore. I buy the rest of my books from others in my dorm.
The books cost much less than any used textbook that the bookstore could offer. I laugh to myself thinking that I have beaten the bookstore in some way.
Spring Semester 2005. May. Of course, I am mistaken and come to learn that the bookstore has beaten me again. I am unable to sell some of my books to others in my building, so once again I gather my books and head to SBX.
Of the three textbooks I have brought with me, only one is accepted. And when I say accepted, what I really mean is that I am offered $7 for a book that I bought used for $60. On the other hand, the biology book that I paid $75 for and never even looked at once is quickly turned away as another book that I bought new earlier in the semester.
Darn those pop culture books for becoming outdated so quickly! I refuse to take the $7 and return, with all my textbooks, to my dorm.
I dislike textbook buyback with a fiery passion.
It’s not enough that tuition costs are on the rise; textbook prices are rising at an astronomical rate too. I mean, just this semester I spent $95 on an astronomy book. That seems a bit excessive if you ask me.
Luckily, there are alternatives to buying your books at the bookstore.
As textbook prices continue to climb, more and more students are turning to web sites such as amazon.com and half.com to save money.
These sites, and many others like them, allow students to buy and sell their textbooks. Students can save a great deal of money. And who doesn’t want to do that?
I was able to buy a book that would’ve cost me $90 at the bookstore for just $25 at the half.com site. The sites are easy to navigate and really worth looking into.
In addition to buying books online, there are other ways to avoid paying the bookstores high prices. You could just borrow a textbook from a friend, check it out of the library if possible or simply not buy the book at all.
I don’t know how many classes I’ve had where the book wasn’t even used.
My advice, if you have to buy from the bookstore, wait until it is absolutely necessary and you know you will use the book.
Perhaps in the future, e-books will become more popular. These versions of college textbooks are available for download at a fraction of the cost of current textbooks.
Until then, a Merry Christmas to all, and to all a happy textbook buyback experience.
‘#160;
Send comments to Taylor at [email protected].