good place for college books.

emericanchaos · 08-12-03, 11:51 AM

it's that time. i need books but my school's book store is nuts. some of the stuff i need is like $70 used. where's a good place to get books?

Illah · 08-12-03, 12:21 PM

A tip I've learned: Don't buy books until like two or three weeks into the semester unless you are 100% sure you're really going to need it. I've wasted hundreds on books only to not even open them, the re-sell them for like 25% of their value because they were 'used'.

But if you know you're gonna need em, Amazon.com is great.

--Illah

emericanchaos · 08-12-03, 12:42 PM

OMG are you serious? the school is making a big to-do about buying books.

yeah i've been on amazon since i posted and have found all but 1 book i need. the school bookstore with all used books cost like $280. so far i'm just over $100.

Illah · 08-12-03, 12:56 PM

Schools are always big on things that involve money going from you to them. And see how they gouge you in the school bookstores? They're like, "Better buy books, and it's great to buy them right here in the school bookstore! Where they are four times more expensive! And you might not even use them! Don't shop around for lower prices, we have everything you need!"

Then at the end of the semester they offer to buy them back at like 25% cover value, then they re-sell them as used books for like 75% of cover price! It's a cash cow.

Just my two cents. I went two semesters without buying books, and last semester I bought some and guess what? I never opened them. Be prepared to buy them if you need it, but don't just buy everything like crazy just cuz it's in the supplies list or something.

--Illah

emericanchaos · 08-12-03, 01:41 PM

alright cool thanks. btw, to anyone reading this i've got 5/6 books i "need" and i've spent $130. one of which the school wanted $70 used for and amazon had it for $30.

Krusty · 08-12-03, 04:46 PM

www.half.com

www.amazon.co.uk

One quarter, the cost of books at the UK amazon.com was so much cheaper than amazon.com, half.com, or the school book store that I actually wound up saving about $100 over the next cheapest alternative even with the shipping from the UK.

Jeff Bolton · 08-12-03, 05:47 PM

i was thinking about buying my books off of amazon as well for this semester. personally i like to keep my books regardless of wether i use them or not (you can never tell when you'll need it for reference), but what would stop someone from selling back a book from amazon to the school? that would be pretty messed up.

08-12-03, 11:51 AM	Thread Starter #1
emericanchaos Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Williamsport, PA	good place for college books. it's that time. i need books but my school's book store is nuts. some of the stuff i need is like $70 used. where's a good place to get books? __________________ xp4000+ crap MSI board 2GB XMMS x700xt not worth OCing with this board.
	QUOTE Thanks

08-12-03, 12:21 PM	#2
Illah Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco	A tip I've learned: Don't buy books until like two or three weeks into the semester unless you are 100% sure you're really going to need it. I've wasted hundreds on books only to not even open them, the re-sell them for like 25% of their value because they were 'used'. But if you know you're gonna need em, Amazon.com is great. --Illah
	QUOTE Thanks

08-12-03, 12:42 PM	Thread Starter #3
emericanchaos Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Williamsport, PA	OMG are you serious? the school is making a big to-do about buying books. yeah i've been on amazon since i posted and have found all but 1 book i need. the school bookstore with all used books cost like $280. so far i'm just over $100. __________________ xp4000+ crap MSI board 2GB XMMS x700xt not worth OCing with this board.
	QUOTE Thanks

08-12-03, 12:56 PM	#4
Illah Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco	Schools are always big on things that involve money going from you to them. And see how they gouge you in the school bookstores? They're like, "Better buy books, and it's great to buy them right here in the school bookstore! Where they are four times more expensive! And you might not even use them! Don't shop around for lower prices, we have everything you need!" Then at the end of the semester they offer to buy them back at like 25% cover value, then they re-sell them as used books for like 75% of cover price! It's a cash cow. Just my two cents. I went two semesters without buying books, and last semester I bought some and guess what? I never opened them. Be prepared to buy them if you need it, but don't just buy everything like crazy just cuz it's in the supplies list or something. --Illah
	QUOTE Thanks

08-12-03, 01:41 PM	Thread Starter #5
emericanchaos Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Williamsport, PA	alright cool thanks. btw, to anyone reading this i've got 5/6 books i "need" and i've spent $130. one of which the school wanted $70 used for and amazon had it for $30. __________________ xp4000+ crap MSI board 2GB XMMS x700xt not worth OCing with this board.
	QUOTE Thanks

good place for college books.

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08-12-03, 04:46 PM	#6
Krusty Insane Overclocking Clown Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Orange County	www.half.com www.amazon.co.uk One quarter, the cost of books at the UK amazon.com was so much cheaper than amazon.com, half.com, or the school book store that I actually wound up saving about $100 over the next cheapest alternative even with the shipping from the UK. __________________ There are 10 types of people in this world: Those who understand binary and those who don't.
	QUOTE Thanks

08-12-03, 05:47 PM	#7
Jeff Bolton Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Middle Peninsula Virginia	i was thinking about buying my books off of amazon as well for this semester. personally i like to keep my books regardless of wether i use them or not (you can never tell when you'll need it for reference), but what would stop someone from selling back a book from amazon to the school? that would be pretty messed up.
	QUOTE Thanks