That time of year is coming up again: back-to-school shopping. When you’re in college, that includes shopping for textbooks. Now I, and anyone else who’s been through this ordeal before, can tell you how pricey textbooks are. They add to the already expensive tuition and fees pretty significantly. As someone with sufficient experience in the world of college bookstores, I’m going to offer you some tips on navigating this confusing world, because as my old work t-shirt said, “I speak textbook.”
1. Rent, rent, rent!
Rent your textbooks when possible, people, especially all of you freshman and sophomores working through core curriculum. Trust me, you’re never going to crack open that book on the first century of American history again, if you ever do at all during the semester. Renting books is much cheaper, sometimes as much as $100 cheaper. Plus, most bookstores allow you to highlight and take notes in all rentals, so you get to treat it just like it’s your own. Now when you reach your junior and senior years and start focusing more on your major, there may be some books you want to keep because you might use them in the future. In that case, buy away! And let’s say you do rent, but end up wanting to purchase when the semester is over. Don’t fear, again, most bookstores have a program where you can buy out your rental.
2. Utilize used.
Like rentals, used books are so much cheaper. You can also rent used textbooks most of the time, which is the definition of a win-win. They’re usually in pretty good condition, too. We don’t take back or sell books that have any water damage or significant spine damage. The most they might have is a little bit of wear and tear or some highlights and notes here and there. But used books are a great deal, especially if you’re renting.
3. Try out e-books.
E-books are still a growing market. Not every textbook is going to have an equivalent e-book, but more and more are each semester. Now online books might not be for you. You might like having the textbook in your hands. But e-books do have several perks. One, you don’t have to carry 15 pounds of books everywhere. All you need is a laptop or tablet. Two, they really help in online assignments. Need to look up a phrase? Type it in to the search bar, and the page and paragraph will pop up right there. And three, they’re quite a bit cheaper. Most e-books are a fraction of the price of a physical copy, and you can also rent e-books that disappear when the semester is over. So if you don’t mind not holding the book in your hand, give e-books a shot. I loved mine, and rent them every chance I can.
4. The truth about buybacks.
I’m sure your bookstore has an advertisement along the lines of: “We buy back books!” And while that’s true, you are never going to get your books back for what you paid for them. In fact, you’re not even going to get close to what you paid for. I’ve had people come in to sell their $200 chemistry textbook back and get $40. And getting $40 is actually pretty good, as far as buybacks go. I’ve bought eight books back for $100 before. Eight books that probably cost several hundred dollars in the first place.
A lot of the time, we won’t even buy the books back, even if they were just used that semester. Editions change, teachers change and books change. When you do go to sell your books back, please don’t yell at your bookseller for what the store is buying it back for. We have no control over that. We scan the bar code and our offer pops up. We know it’s a rip-off and if you ask us, we’ll be honest and tell you that you might have better luck selling it privately. Power to ya, it’s no skin off our back if you decide not to sell it. This is another reason you should rent your books: It’s just a better deal.
5. Price matching.
When you go back to school, ask your bookstore if they price match. I’ll use my store as an example of what price matching is. We have two companies we price match with, and so all you have to do is find your textbook on one of those websites, come in and get your books and show us the price you found online. We have to go to our computer to verify that the price is correct, but if it is, you get the book right that second and for the cheaper online price. But beware of your store's price match conditions.
For example, ours will not match with private sellers on Amazon Marketplace: Amazon itself has to be the seller. So that $15 pre-calc book that’s normally $150 being sold by Joe Moe from Idaho? Sorry, it’s a no-go. We do match rental prices, but the two sites we use only rent out used books, so don’t try to price match that shiny new rental book: We can’t do it. Additionally, the book has to be in stock on whatever website you’re buying from, or else we can't sell it to you for the online price. Price matching is a really wonderful tool to utilize, because it saves you money and ensures you get the correct textbook before class starts.
6. Unsure of what books you need?
Don’t worry, that’s what the booksellers are here for. You can bring your schedule in and the bookseller can help you find what you need. Bookstores are usually laid out by subject and then course number, so it’s not too hard to navigate if you want to tackle it yourself. Odds are your bookstore has a website and a “textbook” section where you can enter your class, course and section, and bam, it pulls up your books.
You can order them online and have them shipped to you for an additional shipping fee, or arrange for an in-store pickup at no extra cost. But don’t call the store on the phone asking exactly what books you need and how much they’ll cost. Most have a policy against doing that, and you will be directed to either come into the store or go on our website.
7. But it says no text required for my class. What do I do?
That’s great! Usually that means that there really is no textbook and you can save a few bucks. But sometimes the professors do not communicate with the store on time or at all and will require a textbook. If you do come across that “no textbook needed” or “textbooks undetermined” message, don’t call the bookstore in panic. First, reach out to your professor. You can usually find their email on the college’s website. Ask them if they will be requiring a textbook, and if they are, reach out to us and we’ll contact them, as well. But the information you see on your computer for what books are required is the same information we have, so we’re not hiding anything from you.
8. Be aware.
Make sure you know the return policy on your books. Some stores will not give you a full refund for your book beyond the first or second week of classes. My store is like that, but if you bring in proof that you dropped the class in the middle of the semester, we will refund you then, as well. I’m not sure if all stores are like that, so be sure you ask your bookseller before you leave. Life happens, and you don’t want to possibly be out $200 for a class you didn’t finish.
9. Explore other options.
Your bookstore isn’t the only place in the world to buy textbooks! There’s Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Chegg and countless other avenues to find private sellers. Explore those and see what they’re selling for. But the nice thing about your bookstore is that you know for a fact you’re getting exactly the materials you need. It’s also so convenient. You don’t have to worry about shipping your books back or not getting them in time for classes. The store is right there on campus for your immediate needs.
College bookstores are a very unique world of their own. No other time in your life will you be asked to buy a $200 book that you might not even use for a period of time as short as a semester. Take these tips and go forth into your bookstore with confidence.
