| Making the Green: Buying and Selling | | | | the book list for a class is already |
| Textbooks Online | | | | available, buy textbooks in May and June, |
| | | | when there are more sellers and fewer buyers. |
| One pass through a bookstore shows college | | | | |
| textbooks aren't cheap. Even used copies can | | | | • Tip 4: Get international editions. |
| run over $100 per book. On average, a student | | | | The same textbook sold in Canada or Britain |
| spends $900 a semester on textbooks. | | | | is significantly cheaper than its American |
| Returning books at the end of the semester | | | | counterpart, even though the content is the |
| doesn't recoup that. Often, a $100 used | | | | same. |
| textbook at the beginning of the semester is | | | | |
| only worth $20 at the end - and the campus | | | | • Tip 5: Check ISBNs and edition |
| bookstore resells it again. Many students | | | | numbers to get the right text. |
| don't realize that they're not required to | | | | |
| buy their books on campus - but there are | | | | Get a Good Return: Tips on Selling |
| other options. | | | | |
| | | | Selling textbooks online is more profitable |
| Students are transitioning from on-campus | | | | even than buying online. Textbooks sell |
| bookstores to online stores - because buying | | | | online in a couple of weeks for a lot more |
| and selling textbooks online saves money. | | | | money than returning books to a campus |
| Almost 10% of all college textbooks are | | | | bookstore. About a quarter of online textbook |
| bought online. Online textbook sites offer | | | | stores offer immediate buy-backs at a |
| more choices on where and when to buy or sell | | | | predetermined amount, similar to returning it |
| books and control over what students pay. | | | | to campus bookstores, so even cautious |
| | | | sellers get more money. |
| Make a Deal: Tips for Buying | | | | |
| | | | Look for a reputable site to sell textbooks. |
| Online bookstores are cheaper even for new | | | | The site should have reasonable commission |
| texts, and as much as 95% lower for used | | | | rates, and it should always be free to list |
| textbooks. Textbooks from sellers in other | | | | your textbooks. Look for safe payment options |
| states don't have a sales tax, saving almost | | | | through a site like PayPal or direct payment |
| 10% on the cost of books. There's more time | | | | to a credit card. |
| to browse for deals since books can be | | | | |
| bought anytime, not just in the couple of | | | | With tools to get better prices by reaching |
| days leading up to the semester. The major | | | | more buyers and by letting you decide when |
| drawback to buying online is the cost of | | | | the time is to sell, selling textbooks online |
| shipping back a return, plus delays getting | | | | is easy. Just remember three things: |
| the refund and replacement. But that can be | | | | |
| offset by finding the right books on the | | | | • Tip 1: Price it right. Check what |
| right site. | | | | other sellers are charging, and price |
| | | | accordingly. Comparison shopping sites show |
| Find sites which focus exclusively on | | | | what the same book is selling for at multiple |
| textbooks. These have bigger selections and | | | | locations. |
| better prices. Comparison shopping sites | | | | |
| compile lists of all available online | | | | • Tip 2: Keep textbooks in good |
| sellers, which makes finding a deal easier. | | | | condition. Keep CDs that come with the |
| Some provide bulk-buying options to find the | | | | textbook. Keep it looking nice, with no |
| best total price for a complete book list. A | | | | creased pages, heavy marks, or cover damage. |
| site must offer a good return policy (30-day, | | | | |
| full money back), secure payment methods, and | | | | • Tip 3: Wait to sell at peak times, |
| good shipping options and rates. | | | | from late July to September and January. |
| | | | |
| • Tip 1: Shop around. Use comparison | | | | Closing the Deal |
| shopping sites to find the best deal. | | | | |
| Definitely go to sites specializing in | | | | Campus bookstores are convenient - but they |
| textbooks. | | | | don't offer the best deal to college |
| | | | students. Online textbook sites have sprung |
| • Tip 2: Get only the required reading. | | | | up as independent alternatives to make |
| Not all of the books on the professor's list | | | | textbooks more affordable, with better |
| are required for the class, and it saves | | | | choices on prices and selection, more money |
| money not buying recommended books. | | | | back when the school year ends, and features |
| | | | like bulk-buying, comparison pricing, and |
| • Tip 3: Buy off-season. Textbooks are | | | | instant buybacks to make buying and selling |
| mostly sold at the beginning of semesters. If | | | | textbooks easier and more profitable. |