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College text books

picky
1,957 views
When Alex was our only one in college, we pointed him in the direction of the university bookstore, told him to buy new as a last resort, handed him the credit card, and hoped not to faint when we got the bill.

Now that Philippa is joining him, I think we need to get smarter about buying textbooks. Any suggestions on where to ferret out required reading on the cheap side?

Replies

44
Miss Kitty avatar
Meow
#27
:bang: ...oh man BR, that just makes my head hurt.
peapod1980 avatar
percy
#28
]
You can stay here! Come while it's still pool friendly weather! :clap:
Hey, Mr. Pod is headed your way soon, maybe I'll tag along and accept the invitation on Mermaid's behalf. ;-)
NoHall avatar
hmmmm......can't remember
#29
I took my own advice today. One of my textbooks was going to cost me $100 new, or $35-60 if I could find a used copy in our bookstore.

I went to AbeBooks and found it for $2.91 (plus $3 S/H.)

I'm never setting foot in the campus bookstore again, except to sell them my old books and write down the names of the texts I'll buy elsewhere!:bang:
peapod1980 avatar
percy
#30
I took my own advice today. One of my textbooks was going to cost me $100 new, or $35-60 if I could find a used copy in our bookstore.

I went to AbeBooks and found it for $2.91 (plus $3 S/H.)

I'm never setting foot in the campus bookstore again, except to sell them my old books and write down the names of the texts I'll buy elsewhere!:bang:
Shut the front door!
NoHall, you rock even when handicapped. :biggrin:
NoHall avatar
hmmmm......can't remember
#31
Shut the front door!
NoHall, you rock even when handicapped. :biggrin:

Nope--I'm dumber than a bag of hammers. I bought $65 worth of books for one class yesterday only to discover today that I could have paid $22 for them online. Four texts--$21.50, $11.25, $11.25 and $14.75 at the bookstore. $15.48, $4.50, $1.00 (not a typo) and $1.00 online. Insanity.

I'm going to see if they'll refund my money tomorrow. If I have to lie and say that I dropped the class or that I have an incurable disease, I'm going to get my $43 bucks back!
pickyAuthor
#32
Nope--I'm dumber than a bag of hammers.

No, you're wrong. That honor goes to my daughter, who despite my best efforts here, ordered her books online from the University Bookstore. :bang: Mama ain't happy. :bang: :bang:
NoHall avatar
hmmmm......can't remember
#33
No, you're wrong. That honor goes to my daughter, who despite my best efforts here, ordered her books online from the University Bookstore. :bang: Mama ain't happy. :bang: :bang:

Ouch...(where's the cringe smiley?)
pickyAuthor
#34
Ouch...(where's the cringe smiley?)

You know, you walk a fine line when your kid goes off to college. On the one hand you want them to makes their own decisions and plans without you micro-managing every last little step, and on the other hand....they do dumb things like pay big $$ for textbooks. My only (small) consolation is that at least they were used!

And just in case, I'm printing off this entire thread for Little Miss to examine. Carefully. :biggrin:
NoHall avatar
hmmmm......can't remember
#35
You know, you walk a fine line when your kid goes off to college. On the one hand you want them to makes their own decisions and plans without you micro-managing every last little step, and on the other hand....they do dumb things like pay big $$ for textbooks. My only (small) consolation is that at least they were used!

And just in case, I'm printing off this entire thread for Little Miss to examine. Carefully. :biggrin:

If you're paying for the books, I think you have the right to micromanage it. If she's paying, let her buy them at Tiffany's if she wants!

Hope I didn't get you in trouble, Fyl!:blush:
Beach Runner avatar
beats on hood
#36
The thing is that big universities make it too easy for kids to buy their books, supplies, college logo clothing, Starbucks coffee, snacks, unnecessary dorm/sorority items, and other miscellaneous items at the Barnes and Noble "official" bookstore. So kids don't get the best deal on books, and all parents see is the bookstore charge not realizing that they're getting scammed by paying for more than school supplies.:bang:
Miss Kitty avatar
Meow
#37
Right on BR! Love the new tar!

Mermy...I know that hurt, but I bet Pippi will learn her lesson for next semester. You know better than anyone all the new things and decisions Pippi is faced with! Just hope she stays away from those dammmmm credit card hawkers with the free gifts!!! There oughta' be a law! :biggrin: We were lucky...for some reason, both my kiddies are afraid of credit cards...clarification...credit cards with THEIR names on the bill! :wave:

First semester, sarafunn paid her grad school tuition with a credit card (miles!) and when I got the bill, there was a huge fee for the convenience. :bang: Lesson learned.
Minnie avatar
Beach Fanatic
#38
www.textbooks.com

They are great, reliable, easy to deal with, will take returns, and shipping is fast and free for orders of $25 or more.

Also if you have to buy a new book from them, they guarantee 50% buyback.

My daughter is in her last semester and I could write a manual with advice for college kids and parents about things we learned the hard way.

Edited

dbuck avatar
Beach Fanatic
#39
www.textbooks.com

They are great, reliable, easy to deal with, will take returns, and shipping is fast and free for orders of $25 or more.

Also if you have to buy a new book from them, they guarantee 50% buyback.

My daughter is in her last semester and I could write a manual with advice for college kids and parents about things we learned the hard way.

Thanks for the link. Really you should think about writing a manual, we parents with college kids can use all the help we can get. :clap:
Minnie avatar
Beach Fanatic
#40
Thanks for the link. Really you should think about writing a manual, we parents with college kids can use all the help we can get. :clap:

I will try to jot down some of the hard earned lessons and share them here. Give me a few days and I will get back with it. Others that have been there already can add to it.

Some seem so simple now, but we had no idea at the time.
dbuck avatar
Beach Fanatic
#41
I will try to jot down some of the hard earned lessons and share them here. Give me a few days and I will get back with it. Others that have been there already can add to it.

Some seem so simple now, but we had no idea at the time.

Thanks, I'm always grateful for anything that makes life easier.
Beach Fanatic
#42
Thanks Minnie, I'm tellin' my gull to check out this www.textbooks.com, as soon as she wakes up. :biggrin: I'll call early, around noon. :idontno: She still has one year left. One week 'til classes begin @ MTSU. Her art history book was over $100 one semester. It's really phat. ;-)
Minnie avatar
Beach Fanatic
#43
Thanks Minnie, I'm tellin' my gull to check out this www.textbooks.com, as soon as she wakes up. :biggrin: I'll call early, around noon. :idontno: She still has one year left. One week 'til classes begin @ MTSU. Her art history book was over $100 one semester. It's really phat. ;-)

Is she at Middle Tennessee State? Several of Meredith's high school friends are there?
Minnie avatar
Beach Fanatic
#44
Thanks, I'm always grateful for anything that makes life easier.

You are welcome, I would be glad to do it. My brother is in Cadiz, KY, is that anywhere near you?
Beach Fanatic
#45
Yes, she is loving it at MTSU. Her major is in sculpture wit her minor in graphics. :wub:

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