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