An Education in Saving on Textbooks
By Heather Wallace
Every year students flock to the college bookstore to purchase the various
textbooks that they require for their classes. Little do these students realize
that, in doing so, they are throwing good money away. As unbelievable as it
may seem textbooks, in some cases, actually cost as much, if not more, than
tuition.
On the surface the college bookstore may seem like a convenient source for
textbooks. Titles are usually in-stock and students may purchase new textbooks
or opt for the cheaper alternative of used books. In truth the money saved
by purchasing used textbooks from the college bookstore is only a fraction
of the amount that students could be saving if they shopped online.
More and more online booksellers have begun selling textbooks at a considerable
discount off of the cover price. In fact, many major booksellers now have special
areas of their web sites that are devoted to selling nothing but textbooks.
Online used bookstores are another source for college books as they stock a
large number of textbooks, which means sizable savings for students. There
are also web-based retailers whose inventory is entirely devoted to college
books.
Students should avoid purchasing their textbooks at the first store that they
browse. Instead, they should investigate the alternatives offered by other
online booksellers. Price isn't the only factor to consider when making an
online purchase. Students should also factor in shipping costs and delivery
time when making their buying decision.
Online auctions are another option for students seeking a bargain. This option,
however, has its pros and cons. A plus is that students can get incredible
bargains when obtaining books via online auctions. One downside is that established
retailers have channels in place to ensure that you receive your order within
a reasonable amount of time. With an auction purchase, however, you are at
the mercy of the auction seller's timetable.
One way that students can really save is by obtaining books for free. Project
Gutenberg is one resource that English majors will find invaluable. At this
site students can peruse a vast collection of classics that have entered the
public domain. In the past students seeking assistance with their studies had
to pay for the privilege of that help by purchasing study guides. Today that
is no longer the case. Cash-strapped students can now visit Spark Notes for
free downloadable study guides as well as free downloadable classics.
Students who elect to buy online will no longer be able to resell their books
to the college bookstore at the end of class, but that doesn't mean that they
are stuck with the textbooks. Many web sites that sell textbooks also offer
students the option of selling their books to fellow bargain-seekers. This
allows students to easily recouping a portion of their money.
Textbooks normally consume a major portion of a student's budget, but that
doesn't have to be the case, because while the cost of tuition may be set in
stone the price of textbooks isn't. By taking the time to do a little research
on the best textbook values available college students can save money now rather
than acquiring debt to be paid back later.
Copyright © 2004 Heather Wallace
Heather Wallace is founder of http://www.BargainMartian.com Visit to take
advantage of the out of this world bargains from leading merchants found in
this comprehensive directory of deals, rebates, bargains, coupons, and money-saving
offers.