Each semester, college students hand over hundreds of dollars from their notoriously slim budgets in exchange for textbooks that usually only get 16 weeks of use. Knowing how to get the best deal on textbooks can ease some of this financial pain, although some methods might make buying books more time-consuming than the long checkout lines already make it.
One of the easiest and quickest ways to save money is to purchase used books, because they cost less than new ones. Fred Mcilrath, general manager of TIS College Bookstore, said used books sell faster because of the cost difference, so buying textbooks early acts in students' favor.
"It's best to buy during the first day or two, when we have the most used books," he said. "Students are most frustrated when they come in and we only have new books."
Freshman Angela Jansen doesn't agree that sooner is better. She has spent about $400 each semester on books and, like most students, wants to make sure she gets the most for her money. Jansen said that her first-year experience has taught her that comparing prices among the three bookstores on the Ball State campus is more important than buying books early.
"I wait a week before I buy my books, (so) I can compare," she said. Aside from giving her time to compare prices, waiting one week to buy books also allows Jansen to gauge which books she feels she will actually use.
"Last semester I had a class where I bought the books and didn't open them at all," said Jansen. This is a phenomenon that senior Jerod Kienitz has experienced numerous times. His solution to buying unnecessary books is simple.
"Ask the professor to see what books are most urgent and hold off on the rest," said Kienitz. Jansen agrees.
"Most of (the professors) will tell you how often you use the books," she said.
If you've held out on buying books too long and indeed find that the only ones left are new and cost a monetary arm and leg, the Internet can be a valuable resource. A popular textbook Web site is Half.com.
The site works much like eBay.com, but without the bidding. Potential buyers type in what book they are in search of and a list of matches, or in some cases close matches, is presented. This list includes the book's condition, title, author, edition and other related information. Book prices are determined by the seller, which Kienitz has found to usually be well below that of bookstore prices if the desired book is for sale. The trade-off is the uncertainty that accompanies such online transactions.
"Buying online is a lot cheaper, but you don't really know what you're going to get," said Kienitz. "My girlfriend got three books (online), but one had to be sent back because it was the wrong book. I like seeing what I'm getting."
It can also take up to two weeks for books to be received, according to Half.com, so be prepared to do without or mooch off of fellow classmates.
Students should not be afraid to take the time to search out the best deals and comparison shop, because no matter how it's done, hard-earned money is still being spent. And who knows, maybe the money saved by being a smart shopper will be enough to donate to a worthy cause, such as a pizza run.
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