I have a pet peeve regarding college text books. WHY ARE THEY SO STINKIN' EXPENSIVE??!! Seriously, last week I went in to buy a book for my class and it was $118.00. Have you ever paid that much for a single book...especially one you actually want to read and keep? Of course there were no used ones because there is a new edition out which supposedly makes the old edition obsolete (even a used one would have been $89.00). At the same time I tried to sell back a book from last semester, which I paid $97.00 for and they were only willing to pay me $10.00 for it...again because there is a new edition out.
This whole "new edition" thing is a crock. Publishers are allowed to make minor changes to a book and call it a new edition, get rid of all previous editions, and charge an arm and a leg for the text.
Well, here is how I remedied the situation thanks to my niece, Ashley. Too bad I'm finishing up my last two classes and didn't take advantage of this goldmine for my previous 10 classes. I went to half.com and bought the book I need for $47.00. I also sold the one I had for $53.00 and came out $6.00 ahead. Hmmm, maybe I'll go treat myself to a Jamba Juice or something.
17 comments:
I hate the whole text book purchase then sell back process! It is the biggest rip off known!! Dana found half.com during his ME and it saved us a fortune! Jamba juice or Robeks'- either are worth your savings!! Have fun!
I LOVE half.com... and text books ARE a rip off! I hate it!
I totally agree with you!!! It is INSANE!! We are going through the same thing right now since my husband is back in school. Thanks for the half.com tip- I had never heard of it. I am going to check it out!!! :)
what is half.com? Where do they get their books? I'll have to tell Rachel about it. (She probably know, she's always a step ahead of the game.) Happy Jamba Juicing!
I so agree with you about the text book rip-off. I used Half.com for my text books when I was in my masters program and now my son, Alex, uses it for his ASU texts. When it comes to textbooks, Half.com is definitely a good "anger management" tool! Enjoy your profits.
Isn't it ridiculous? I hated when professors would write their own books specifically for the class they were teaching (so you couldn't buy on half.com) and would constantly come out with new editions (so you couldn't buy used). Ugh.
Lauri, I agree. It is a crock! Glad you outwitted them!!
Go have a Jamba now!! Heck, live it, have the Jamba while getting a pedi!!
See,you are a genius!
After reading your post I went to Nancy's and discovered that she had given me an award. I pass it on to you.
Come and get it and then pass it on!
I completely concur. I personally think its a huge conspiracy.
I know!! It is ridiculous! I remember getting 7 dollars back for an $80 book once at asu. SUCH a rip off.
Oh and actually... i bought one of my books from half.com last semester. Fantastic site. :)
Wow, never heard of half.com but I do have a friend that totally beats the system. He buys the book, takes it home, scans every page onto his computer and then sells it back the same or next day for full price. I haven't felt brave enough or rebel-ish enough to try it yet. Sounds like half.com might be the better option!! I'm so glad you have a blog! My life just got a little better!
I'm definately writing to my congressman about this!
I'm definitely going to learn how to spell after that last comment...
The word verification for this comment happens to be "Vance"... me and Lauri's fathers' name... Kewl!
As a parent who paid for tuition and books for 3 girls who graduated BYU, I know all about the "scheme" that has been devised dealing with textbooks! It is outrageous and I wish there was some way to fix it but now that we are "out of the university loop" it doesn't seem so pressing but my heart goes out to you! Hey, this morning I was cleaning the countertop in my kitchen and I realized that I have the flower box and Y.W. flowers that Kevin made for our presidency, all those years ago, still right there in my kitchen. I thought you might like to know that. During the Spring, I take the wooden flowers out and put in fresh ones and set the flower box on my porch. Everytime I fiddle with it, I think of Kevin and remember what a thoughtful gift that was from the two of you. Thanks for the memories.
I'm so glad to hear it worked for you! I haven't been back to the bookstore for a long time...in fact I usually avoid it like the plague because it really gets me fired up. And the new edition thing is a crock of you know what. I used the old edition of my accounting book last semester and the page numbers, problems, and text were verbatim with the "newer" edition. Crazy publishers are in one the scandal too! Thank heavens for the internet. By the way, I've never sold my textbooks on half.com, was shipping easy. I usually just sell off craigslist and uloop so i just meet the students on campus.
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