I recently started classes again. I had planned ahead and purchased my text book in July on Abebooks.com. The cost, brand new, was $30.89 and the shipping from the United Kingdom to the U.S. was $9.67 for a total of $40.56. I had done my research before making the purchase. And I couldn’t resist: What a deal it was.
The first night of class there were some students who still needed a book. How much would they pay for it now compared to what I did? I decided to do some more research; this information may help you make decisions about books for school, yourself, or even for gifts.Using my textbook as an example, here’s what I found (and the prices will vary from day to day, too!):
Name of book: "Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases," 7th edition, paperback
School’s bookstore: Book not available.
Abebooks.com: used: $33.70 to $61.88, depending on condition; new: $61.88.
Amazon.com: Brand new: $124.95; new or “nearly” new: $39.99 to $92.94; used: $22 to $40.92, depending on condition.
Bookrenter.com: Rentals for 30 days, $31.06; for 90 days, $41.24; for 125 days, $45.68
Borders.com (Borders Marketplace—used books):
Web site showed a copy of the book’s cover and a “Quick Buy $10.24” –
but a notation underneath that said “cover may not depict edition
offered for sale.” When clicked, it was not the same book and it said
that another customer had already purchased it (the $10.24 one), select
another, and the price increased. There was a 2009 Update available for
$113.46, but this was not the edition my class required.There were a number of used books from sellers all over, ranging from $27.72 to $164.01.
Chegg.com: Rentals for semester: $21.49; for quarter: $20.10.
Half.com (an eBay company): New and used: $29 to $59.28, depending on condition.
Walden’s Book Store: Unable to get it, not in the warehouse. Walden’s usually doesn’t have text books.
Linda
02:35:55 PM on Thu Oct 8 2009
Great information. Textbooks have become so costly and these sites can help students save money. The concept of renting textbooks is intriguing.
Pete Nikolai
07:42:25 PM on Thu Oct 8 2009
BarnesAndNoble.com has copies from $27.50 and up