Rent or buy textbooks?

mindofmidwifery, ADN · Dec 17, 2014

Have you searched by the name? I went on Abe books or whatever and got my anatomy book for $10 granted it's not in the best condition I don't need a perfect book if I'm using it for one semester. I got an edition one below the recommended one but I doubt it'll make too much of a difference

tbird88 · Dec 17, 2014

Thank you mindofmidwifery I will try Abe books and maybe I can get an older edition. It is for Biology.

futureLVN40 · Dec 17, 2014

I'm doing the exact same thing the books are so expensive! I rent them off Amazon and they don't have my Math book so I don't know what I'm going to do since it's $100. I'm gonna check out Abe books too.

RN403, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2014

Maybe bookrenter.com.

verene, MSN · Dec 17, 2014

Check author/title/edition when you search as well. I've found that if the school bookstore gets a "custom" edition that the ISBN will not show up in any search for online retailers. Usually the custom is because text and supplements are bundled rather than separate.

I tried renting a text book from my bookstore and it wasn't worth it cost wise. I found it more affordable to buy new or used books and then sell for slightly less than purchase price rather than rent and not be able to make anything off the book at the end of the quarter. Sometimes I can even find used books for less than rental price.

Also, I've had good luck in e-mailing instructors about texts and asking about more affordable options. Sometimes you can buy a text elsewhere and the instructor will allow you to use his/her code for online access if that is the issue, sometimes they'll recommend picking up an older edition of the book, or tell you to not bother with buying a supplement because it isn't worth it.

Leonardsmom,LPN · Dec 17, 2014

Also if you haven't already check cheeg. It does look that from doing a search on the ISBN it is a new book that is being published for this school year. Also on the Pearson site it looks like the ISBN is linked with an e-text. One of the things that I dislike about the Pearson books, makes it difficult to find it at other sources. Not sure if I can post the link I found from the publisher, will try to pm you with it. From what I can see it doesn't seem like they are using the learning lab so probably will be safe not having the access code, although I would check with the instructor or department first if you get the book from another source, or it could end up costing more.

tbird88 · Dec 17, 2014

Thank you all for your feedback. I think I will email the Instructor and see if I can get more info on the book. Then maybe I can get a different ISBN to lookup the textbook. Because I am not having any success finding my Biology book. I found my Psychology book for a slightly lower cost. I am just hoping I can afford my books this quarter.

AmantesDelSol · Dec 18, 2014

I used Half.com this past semester and had no complaints. It saved me a few bucks. I still had to buy the online access code from the publisher, but it still ended up being cheaper.

Girlafraid13 · Dec 18, 2014

Bigwords.com is a search engine that shows the cheapest online.

thatnursingguy03 · Dec 18, 2014

Cheapesttextbooks.com searches different sites and gives your all of them compared. Also it gives you the best renting option as well as helps you sell books back

tbird88 · Dec 18, 2014

Thank you everybody for the search engines/websites I will investigate them now.