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Everything You Ever Need to Know About Textbooks
For new college students, purchasing your own textbooks can be an anxiety inducing experience. Most commonly used textbooks are thick, high priced tomes that have been published in multiple editions and are hard to find through traditional book retailers. As the cost of books can total a few hundred dollars per semester, becoming an informed textbook customer is an important part of preparing for college. Some basic information on understanding textbook pricing, identifying ways to save on each book, and navigating the textbook resale market can save thousands over the course of a four year college education.
Who publishes textbooks
There are few publishers that specialize in the printing and distribution of textbooks. These may be third party publishing houses or in house university imprints. This relative scarcity of publishing houses is one of the driving factors in the high cost of textbooks, as is the fact that they are released into a market with little competition. Publishers do not typically offer these books for direct purchase through their site, instead selling them through university bookstores and online retailers.
An individual who is well respected and established in a field may author books, or a team of expert professors may compile them. In either of these cases, a portion of the price of each textbook is allocated for royalty payments to these authors. The author’s esteem can impact the size of this payment, which can account for some of the disparity in textbook pricing.
Where can I buy textbooks?
There are two main distributors of textbooks. The first is the university bookstore. University bookstores are student favorites for their convenient, on campus location and their superior organization. Often, bookstores sort textbooks by the class for which they will be used and the professor who will be teaching it. This allows students to be sure that they are using the correct edition of the required text. However, this convenience comes at a price. Most university bookstores offer all new books at the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, which may be considerably higher than the price offered through other distributors.
Large campus bookstores may also sell used versions of the same textbooks. While they may exhibit some signs of wear and tear, they are often sold at a discount of up to 40%. Students who plan on buying used textbooks should be aware that supplies tend to be limited. Shopping early can ensure that used books in good condition will be still be available through their college store. Before purchasing, always make sure that all the pages are still there, and that the book is not damaged to the point of illegibility. In addition, if the class requires the purchase of any supplemental workbooks or other materials, make sure that they available for individual purchase.
Major online retailers are another great source for ordering textbooks. In many cases, these retailers may offer these books at a lower cost than a university’s internal bookstore. When ordering online, the onus is on the student to make sure that they are ordering the proper edition of the correct book. The publisher, edition number and the year in which it was released should be clearly marked on any syllabus. While older editions are often less expensive, they may not contain updated information or problem sets for which you will be responsible. Any time you order online, it is important to order in advance so books will be allowed sufficient time to arrive before the start of classes.
These major retailers may also offer used editions through their site. Students should remember that companies or individuals that are not affiliated with the retailer itself might sell these used options. This means that used purchases may not be subject to the same shipping time lines and return policies that are offered on new books. Before placing an order, contact the seller to clarify which edition is being sold and how long it will take to be delivered.
Auction sites and internal college message boards are another great source for low cost used textbooks. As these books are for sale by the owner, they are not subject to the mark-up that is commonly added by third party distributors. Local auction sites connect students with sellers who are local to them, making it possible to examine the book before committing to it and cutting out the time that is lost in transit.
How can I resell a textbook?
Most of the stores and sites that offer textbooks for sale will also buy lightly used books directly from students. University stores are once again the most convenient option in terms of selling your textbooks, as they will generally buy them back outright at the end of a semester. This offers the advantage of not having to hold onto a book until it sells which enables student sellers to recoup some of their investment immediately. Each bookstore assigns its own buy back value to textbooks, so the amount that you can expect to earn depends on your bookstore’s unique policies. To increase your chances of selling your textbook back, make sure that you approach the university store before the beginning of the next semester. Be aware that bookstores will rarely buy editions of textbooks that are no longer being actively used in classes offered at your school.
Enterprising students often find that they can make more reselling textbooks themselves online. Selling a book yourself allows you to set your own price and access a much larger pool of potential customers than one school can offer. This is a great option for those with textbooks that are no longer being used at their schools but may still be a part of the curriculum somewhere else. If you will be selling your own textbook, taking the time to research the going rate for books in comparable condition will allow you to set a reasonable price and sell your book quickly.
Every college student should understand the process of procuring low cost textbooks and reselling books that they no longer need.