Dont let college bookstores get the better of you. UniversityStore.com does not sell textbooks because for it to be profitable for us, we would be ripping you off.

But, we can lead you in the right direction so you can get your books at a reasonable cost to you.

Step 1: Find out which books you will need for your classes by emailing your professor or checking the syllabus online if it is posted.

Step 2: Make your purchase through a channel other than your local college bookstore.

These channels include, but are not limited to:

Facebook: Search within your Universities network with the specific books or course numbers. Also you can create groups for people that you share a major with so you can exchange books, and as you get other students in the group that are either a semester in front of you or behind you it will become very easy to get books at fair prices. Typically these groups should agree on prices between what the bookstore will give a seller, and what the used cost for the book would be at that same bookstore. Making postings on Facebooks marketplace is very easy and only takes a minute or so, SIDE NOTE: also a good place to get extra football tickets if you are looking to invite friends for the big game.

www.facebook.com

Amazon or Ebay: Search your book by title, author, and edition. More likely than not, there will be books available, either used or new. Lots of times international editions are available for a fraction of even the used cost at your local bookstore. International editions are they EXACT same in most cases and the only downside is they have a soft cover. But after saving $100 its not a big deal.

SHIPPING: Shipping usually will cost less than $8, however if you need the book to be expedited you can get it the next day usually for around $18, from anywhere in the USA. As long as you stay on the ball you wont be waiting several days without a book you need. Half.com is a division of ebay that primarily deals with textbooks, and most of the time you can straight up buy them and not deal with bidding.

www.amazon.com
www.ebay.com
www.half.com

Library: Most of the time your textbook will be in your schools library, but usually they are not for long-term borrowing. SECRET: The State of Ohio has www.ohiolink.edu, a resource where you can get textbooks for your entire term. All you do is order it online, then in a few days pick it up from your nearest campus library, then use it FOR FREE all quarter. I would not be surprised if other states had such programs also, my advice is to google it.

Other Options: These include downloading pdf versions from the internet, just check to make sure its legal in your state ;). Sharing textbooks with roommates is also advisable, chances are you dont need the book at the exact same time, and in that rare case you do you should be studying together anyhow. Borrow books from older siblings or friends that have previously used them but want to keep them, tell them you will make it worth their while and get them a gift of some sort.

Examples: Accounting 501: Local college bookstore $198.75 (plus tax, also another perk of skipping the bookstore).

Same college bookstore, USED edition $141.73(again plus tax)
Ebay.com NEW international edition $64.95 (includes free priority shipping and no tax!!)
Stat 427/428: Local college bookstore $177.75 (+taxes)
USED $133.75 (+taxes)
BOUGHT FROM A FRIEND IN MY MAJOR ($80 cash) note: buy back was $70 although they sell that same copy for over $130.
Other books from this quarter included a hand-me-down book from an older sibling (BEST PRICE = FREE). And a novel that cost $3.50 from the bookstore (eek!!).

NOTE: If you go to any college bookstores in the Columbus, OH area, you will find that yes, indeed these are the actually prices from the bookstores, and I paid about 1/3 what typical students pay. Use this guide and save hundreds, then come back to this website and buy things, after all we sell TI-83+ for under $70. Also you wont find any of the same products on this website for a lower price at any bookstore in the country, so save money at UniversityStore.com.

WORST CASE SCENERIO: books are brand new and all the copies have been bought up off the internet before you check! Sometimes they win unfortunately. Sorry. (you could just schedule classes around this, but that is NOT advisable.

Step 3: Selling your books

Use the same mediums to sell your books for the best deals. DO NOT SELL THEM BACK TO THE BOOKSTORE, again THEY WILL RIP YOU OFF.

DO NOT wait to sell your books, once a new edition is being used, the value of your edition will drop exponentially.

Good Luck Students!