Selling books back to college bookstore

[tinnean]

It's been a long time since college, and the books were a good deal cheaper back then. (although it didn't feel that way at the time.) I've googled this, and it seems all the sites are for online selling and require an ISBN number. I've also looked up the cost of buying the books from the bookstore with no luck

Comments

[clover_elf_kin]

Yes. -_- In addition to the "that book's outdated now, can't take it" issue, some classes require buying workbooks, which generally can't be sold back no matter what. And those they do buy back--I seem to recall being offered all of $3 for a book once. As this wasn't exactly a cheap novel, I was PISSED.

I've admittedly never spent near that much on textbooks, but I always took a fairly light load of classes; I do remember once the total for ONE CLASS was supposed to be like $300. I went online and got them all for $~100... but this was several years into college. It took me a while to figure out that I could not only get current books cheaper online, but if I ignored the teacher's "you must have the current edition" claim, I could REALLY save some cash.

Plus, if you count the cost of computer software in textbook expenses, that major sounds like it would require some REALLY fancy and expensive programs, a la Photoshop. And those are NEVER something you can sell back.

[rainbowxgeek]

"It took me a while to figure out that I could not only get current books cheaper online, but if I ignored the teacher's "you must have the current edition" claim, I could REALLY save some cash."

This. Plus, ISEs (International Student Editions). MUCH cheaper (brand new, they can run about 1/2 the cost of a used US edition). And the content is the same. The ONLY time I've seen a difference was in physics--measurements were in metric instead of Imperial, as in the US eds. Guess which units get used in physics anyhow?)

They'll say "Not for sale in the US" but I've never had a teacher do more than make a teasing comment about it. If it's uncomfortable, book covers hide it.

[clover_elf_kin]

Sadly, I don't think I'd heard of ISEs when I was in college! Should I ever go back, note to self.

Also, icon love!

[rainbowxgeek]

:D Thanks!

And yeah, I didn't know they existed til I had to start paying cash for my books. My old school, if you got Pell, you could have the give you a bookstore credit. So I used that, b/c financial aid didn't disburse until like, halfway through the term.

When I transferred, things were done differently, so I could aford to shop around for books. Ebay is the best place to find ISEs.

[tinnean]

When I was in college, lo, those many years ago, software wasn't an option, and so now I didn't even think of it. The course I checked out had books and supplies for the 4 year degree at a bit over $6000, so I broke it down to $1500 a year, and then $1000 for books. However, computer programs could drive the figure higher. It would make sense he'd keep the programs, and since they're fairly compact, would be able to travel with them.

My son, who's taking mortuary science, told me he keeps his texts but sells the electives, which my MC could do.

Thank you very much! This gives me a good deal to work with. (and possibly a higher word count. *g*)