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Articles: Education
- Saving on Books
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.
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