10 Tricks the Campus Bookstore Doesn't Want You to Know

1) You can buy & sell used copies through online marketplaces
Skip the bookstore, buy online! Often you will find with used books that sellers underrate the condition of the book  to ensure positive reviews. Check the sites below for the best prices and remember to post your book for sell on these sites at the end of the semester to make most of your money back!
                      Amazon                                                     Abebooks                                                   Albris
                      Barnes & Noble                                         BetterWorldBooks                                    BookRenter                                                          Chegg                                                        eCampus                                                     Skyo                                               
                      Valorebooks                                             Half.com


2) Save time by automatically searching all of the textbook sites at once
This price comparison tool automatically searches the top marketplaces to find the best deal on new and used books. 40-50% cheaper than other sites, and over 90% cheaper than the Bookstore! *Add this site to your favorites so can use the search tool every semester!

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3) Email UniversityTextbookDeals@gmail.com & receive exclusive Coupons 
Send a blank e-mail to UniversityTextbookDeals@gmail.com & instantly receive a list of current  coupon codes for all of the best textbook sites!


4) Amazon offers 2 day shipping + movie & music streaming to college students FOR FREE
Using THIS LINK and a ~.edu email address you can sign up for a free 6 month trial of Amazon Student Prime. The free 6 month trial will be able to cover free shipping on your books for both the Fall and Spring semester and then you can either cancel the trial or renew for $50 less than regular Prime! 


5) Your campus or public library has all of the required textbooks available 
Nearly every campus library is required to have at least one copy of every required textbook for every class each term! These books are often stored in a separate location and are not able to be check out, but if you will only occasionally need the book save money and simply use the free copy in the library! While you are at it, check the local public library if they have the book as well!


6) Find someone who already took the class and buy the book from them
Many Colleges have "textbook exchange" Facebook groups where students sell directly to one another. Try to find someone who took the class before you and still has the book you need. They will make more money than the bookstore will pay to buy it back, and you will likely save money on the price of the book.


7) The earlier you buy your books online the more you will save
Let the basic rules of supply and demand work for you in the online market compared to the Campus Bookstore monopoly.  Some textbook sellers want to sell their books as soon as possible and will price below the market value to ensure a rapid sell. These super cheap copies often sell out in late July or mid-August, so the earlier you buy the more you will save! 


8) While waiting for your book to arrive use a copy from the Bookstore
If your online book won’t be in on time for your first assignment, just buy it from bookstore and KEEP YOUR RECEIPT! Once the cheaper version arrives in the mail simply return the bookstore's copy. (Check with your School's Bookstore but normally you can return a book within the first 2-3 weeks of classes (that way if you drop the class you can return the books))


9) International Editions are usually identical & much cheaper
Searching online marketplaces, you will occasionally come across an international edition being sold much cheaper than any other copy. For most textbooks, you likely won't find any difference between International and USA editions except for the price! Typically there is just a different (softback) cover, and occasionally different page numbering and one or two different practice problems at the end. Try searching online for any message boards of people talking about the differences in international versions. 


10) The latest editions are rarely different than the older copies
Newer is almost never cheaper! You are typically safe buying textbooks one or two editions old at a much cheaper price without seeing substantial variations in content. Many publishing companies have discovered that if they release a new edition each year, they can charge more money for a "newly updated" version and can limit online market place reselling in which they do not receive any of that profit. More often than not the "new version" simply has a few fixed typos and an occasional new picture, but with nearly all of the real content being the same.  I recommend doing a little research online of what has changed if you go back too far.

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This price comparison tool automatically searches all of the textbook marketplaces, to help you find the best deal on new and used books. 
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