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Where is the best place to buy college textbooks?

I know amazon prime is a good online access to everything to buy. Should I buy it in person to make sure it is in good condition? I have also heard about websites that sell used textbooks? Is that trustworthy? Is buying a used textbook worth it?
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Armand’s Answer

Hi Melanie,

I agree with previous responses as stores where to buy Textbooks. As a previous Amazon employee, I would recommend it, but others are also good and might have more second hand offering.

If still in search and for others looking for the best options, I would recommend using this website as for comparison: https://www.bookfinder.com/textbooks/

You can search by ISBN or title. It is an affiliate website, which will earn a fee if you shop from them, but they do the job of comparing among many stores for you to find the best price/availability.

Hope this is helpful
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Melisa’s Answer

Hi Melanie.

Great question and I'm sure many other students can benefit from your asking this question.

I am also sharing this feedback as a mom of college age students, one who is in grad school and finds her textbooks on Amazon or through her school's online groups. If your college also has an online Facebook or other social media group, that can be a great resource. My daughter has found it helpful to ask other students and a couple who even just gave her the books she needed because they no longer needed them.

Best wishes to you in your educational and career goals!

Melisa recommends the following next steps:

See if your college has a social media group you can join or ask other students their thoughts on textbook resources, or a way to trade, exchange or purchase used books through there.
Consider selling back or donating your used textbooks to others, once you're finished with them. Your notes can also be helpful to others planning to take the same courses.
Pay it forward. Keep coming back here to CareerVillage to ask your great questions and offer advice to others! Thank you.
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Sheila’s Answer

Hello Melanie:

You've received some very good input regarding where to purchase college textbooks. I'd like to add a few other tips for you to consider.

Best of luck to you!

~ Sheila

Sheila recommends the following next steps:

Check with local bookstores in your area to see if they buy used books (keep them in good condition)
Check with students from the college you attend. The next class of students may be interested in buying your used books
Sell them back to your college bookstore
Amazon
Donate your books. Or, keep some of your major books (add them to your home library)
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Yvonne’s Answer

Hello Melanie,


Here are some of the trustworthy websites that you could buy/rent college textbooks from besides Amazon:

(1) Chegg

(2) CampusBookRentals

(3) Textbooks.com

(4) BookRenter

Some of these websites even allow you to sell your used textbooks too! Personally, I think buying a used textbook is worth it because they are usually still in a good condition. Further, some used text books comes with notes from previous used and they may be able to help you understand a topic better. When I was still in college, I would choose to rent my textbook for classes that are electives and are not related to my major. I would either buy a new/used text book for classes related to my major because they could be a good reference book as I proceed to take a higher level class! Also, towards the end of the semester, do ask around your seniors if they are looking to sell their textbooks that you will need for the next semester! You may be able to just buy it from them.
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Lisa’s Answer

I would agree that Amazon is a great place to buy college textbooks. There are several websites that buy/sell used college books. You can save a lot of money versus buying in the campus bookstore. But always remember to buy the exact edition that is on your syllabus and any of the supplements if the professor is requiring. For example, I purchased a used book online but it didn't have the supplemental CD that came with the book new. Being my professor required the CD, I had to go to the campus bookstore and buy the entire book new. Also, if you are going to resell your textbook online, do it as soon as you can as the editions have a "shelf-life" being professors typically require the latest editions.
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