Online Text Sellers Offer Alternative Solutions
At the beginning of a term, students jam the college bookstore trying to buy textbooks. The UCC bookstore is a great resource. However, online options to sell, buy or rent books also offer some great deals.
For book rentals, several online companies are especially helpful. Chegg.com not only sells books, but also has a direct search link to UCC at the top of their page. They also have a check it button so students can input any questions about homework that may be answered by fellow posters. Chegg also posts information about different colleges in America featuring course reviews from students and grade distribution.
Another company, Campusbookrentals, offers a video that shows the consumer how to use the site. They also have a program called refer-a-friend where users receive $5 for every friend referred. Plus every friend referred to gets 5 percent off their next purchase.
One more of the many companies is collegebookrenter.com. If you like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter, there may be discounts or coupons on textbooks; also, they have the largest text book inventory. Plus if you rent three or more textbooks from CBR, you could receive a bundle discount, according to the website.
For book purchases, a favorite online company is Amazon.com where buyers can receive up to 70 percent for used books.
“I saved a tremendous amount of money even with two day shipping using Amazon.com,” said UCC student Troy Wilder.
Amazon has a text book browser to make finding the right text easier. Students through Amazon can also save up to 60 percent on Kindle e-Text books for Ipad, Pc or Mac.
“I looked at the UCC bookstore for a Geology text book; the price was $100 for the used version. I went on Amazon and got the exact same book used for $5.42,” said Kayla Gordon.
Barnes & Noble also has several options such as up to 30 percent off and free shipping on all orders over $25. Students can try eTextbooks free for seven days before they rent or buy. Additionally, students can save up to 60 percent on instant downloads.
Buy.com offers students a chance to earn points towards online products with each purchase. Students may view the many products offered through Buy.com with Buy TV video.
As the chart shows, students can save about 75 percent on some textbooks with just a little online shopping and a little planning ahead.
Comparsion of new, used, and rented textbooks
Textbook |
UCC NEW Price |
Amazon NEW Price |
Cash4books.net NEW Price |
UCC USED Price |
Amazon USED Price |
Cash4books.net USED Price |
Chemistry for Today, 7th ed. |
$182.70 |
$145 |
$154.79 |
$137 |
$110.61 |
$146 |
Human Anatomy & Physiology |
$228.75 |
$171.89 |
$185.88 |
$171.55 |
$54.88 |
$99.65 |
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Textbook |
Half.com RENTAL Fee |
Chegg.com RENTAL Fee |
Bookrenter.com |
Bookbyte BUY BACK Payment |
Cash4books.com BUY BACK Payment |
UCC Buy Back Payment |
Human Anatomy & Physiology |
$47.38 for 125 days |
$57.99 for 4 months |
$24.74 for 90 days |
$28 |
$16.37 |
Not buying back |
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