So, every semester I would check our college online bookstore and get the ISBN for our books that semester and search www.chambal.com to see if I could find the book cheaper.
So, nothing different this semester...checked online and the ISBN's weren't listed. So, I called the bookstore and asked them for the ISBN and they said they couldn't give them out anymore...that they had been told by the college that they couldn't do that. WHAT???? :angryfire I asked her why...she didn't really give me a straight answer (and I couldn't really understand her and didn't want to sit there and try to figure it out).
But I know why!!! They want you to order from them and not get it cheaper online! Now, the only way I can get the ISBN to be certain I get the absolute correct book is by going into the bookstore at the college and getting it that way (which is not convenient for me at all with a full-time job and a baby).
AND...I am taking an online course this summer and she said I HAD to get my book from them because now they have some kind of web code with the books...come on - as if everyting else isn't expensive enough...now your going to try to force the students to buy books from you that I could have gotten for 1/2 the price online? Whatever!!! Just a little frustrated...thanks for letting me vent! :smackingf
My Jr. College in CA does this. You have to go into the store get the ISBN and Edition number (which they frown upon). Also, there is a discount text book store right across the street who will not share the information either. I have found that if you can email your instructor before school starts, many are willing to give you the ISBN numbers.
I went to my student bookstore to get ISBNs for my A&P and Chem. course books. I saved a bundle on Amazon and half.com. However, for each course, there is a "custom" lab manual that one of the profs made up. The price is $53.00 each, and there is no way to get a discounted copy online. Oh, well!
So, every semester I would check our college online bookstore and get the ISBN for our books that semester and search www.chambal.com to see if I could find the book cheaper.
So, nothing different this semester...checked online and the ISBN's weren't listed. So, I called the bookstore and asked them for the ISBN and they said they couldn't give them out anymore...that they had been told by the college that they couldn't do that. WHAT???? :angryfire I asked her why...she didn't really give me a straight answer (and I couldn't really understand her and didn't want to sit there and try to figure it out).
But I know why!!! They want you to order from them and not get it cheaper online! Now, the only way I can get the ISBN to be certain I get the absolute correct book is by going into the bookstore at the college and getting it that way (which is not convenient for me at all with a full-time job and a baby).
AND...I am taking an online course this summer and she said I HAD to get my book from them because now they have some kind of web code with the books...come on - as if everyting else isn't expensive enough...now your going to try to force the students to buy books from you that I could have gotten for 1/2 the price online? Whatever!!! Just a little frustrated...thanks for letting me vent! :smackingf
I am sorry if you already answered this question but can't you just wait until the first week of class to see what book you need and order it then. I don't know how online classes work but the first week of classes is usually only sylabus run down. Just a thought.
The thing that irks me about books is how often they change the editions. I payed 200$ for books this semester and I can only return one because the rest have "new editions".... dirty, greedy book companys. The REALLY crappy thing is when you buy the book but hardly even needed it in the class!
LOL, yes I usually end up swinging by the bookstore before the start of each new semester getting a visual on the book, author name edition ect. sometimes I get the ISBN sometimes not. I order them online and even usually get the international versions which only difference is paperback instead of hardback. I usually get my books for about 20% of bookstore price and have on occassion even lower. I will continue to do so that is a bunch of malarky. You paid for your course and they cannot require your book purchase. I would even visit with the dean if neccessary.
They are always trying to suck every last drop out of us.
I am sorry if you already answered this question but can't you just wait until the first week of class to see what book you need and order it then. I don't know how online classes work but the first week of classes is usually only sylabus run down. Just a thought.
The thing that irks me about books is how often they change the editions. I payed 200$ for books this semester and I can only return one because the rest have "new editions".... dirty, greedy book companys. The REALLY crappy thing is when you buy the book but hardly even needed it in the class!
I have a hard time waiting to buy books...not sure why, but I can't wait until after the class starts. I can go in and get the ISBN (according to what the girl says), but with this class, I had to order it from my bookstore because I guess for online courses, there is a webcode that we have to have now that you will only get if you order it from them. Courses at the school you should be able to get your book from anywhere...which is what I will continue to do - just won't be as easy! And in my experience, I usually have assignments the first week of school online! We shall see if this proves to be the same!
Oh, and they ended up charging me for a new book as well...I think this too is yet another new version, so you can't buy used...I agree - it's not right how often they update these books!
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Oh, and they ended up charging me for a new book as well...I think this too is yet another new version, so you can't buy used...I agree - it's not right how often they update these books!
I tried and tried not to comment on this thread because I knew that I could b*tch for days. :)
Roped off books? - Yep
Snide employees? - Yep
Cryptic/useless book information online? - Yep
Endless profit margin for an entity that is not even really part of my school but they feel the need to have "exclusives" that I can't get anywhere else like webcodes and custom lab manuals?!!? - Yep
The one thing that I do understand is the new edition every two years or so.
The bookstore sells a new book for $100 and the publisher & author get $10. At the end of the semester student sells book back to bookstore for $15. The bookstore then sells book to next student for $85, publisher & author get $0. Pure profit for the bookstore. Cycle continues for as long as that is the most current edition.
Say the book comes out in January 2005:
Spring 2005 profit for bookstore - $90
for publisher/author - $10
Summer 2005 profit for bookstore - $70
for publisher/author - $0
Fall 2005 profit for bookstore - $70
for publisher/author - $0
Spring 2006 profit for bookstore - $70
for publisher/author - $0
etc, etc, etc, until a new edition comes out. The publishers & authors are a little perturbed that a retailer makes the most from their work, so they repackage the same crap every couple years with a new cover and a handy CD-ROM. Voila.
Doesn't this make you all warm and fuzzy inside?!
I must admit that it takes time to find the best deal. This will be my 7th semester as a full time student and I have learned a thing or two. I also have a deep, personal hatred for my bookstore so I make sure to share the ISBN#s with everyone that I possibly find.
What I did last semester was made the employees bring me the books, then I proceeded over to the counter where I wrote down the ISBN#s. I then smiled, and handed the books right back to them with a cheery "Thank you so much".
They seemed a little angry about that, so this year I actually bought the books, came home, found them online ($98.50 bought for $32), and took them back yesterday! (30 day return policy) One of the books was bundled with a CD-ROM and when I researched it, it was a better deal at the bookstore ---shocking. Must have been an error on their part!!
I have found that if you want the absolute best deal, be willing to look everywhere. I have bought books from every one of these sources:
I use a program called price pirates to search ebay and the internet for the books. It works pretty well, but I make sure to also use search engines like http://www.dogpile.com/ and http://www.mamma.com/ . Once you have the ISBN, the possibilities are endless.
Good luck to all against the tyrannical bookstore devils!!!
I usually use www.chambal.com because it searches numerous online bookstores (such as half.com/ebay.com/amazon.com), but I don't think it searches all of those you listed!!!
Thanks - I'll have to keep this post handy when I can possibly get a book somewhere other than the bookstore next semester!!
Oh, well!
jitterbugg
50 Posts
My Jr. College in CA does this. You have to go into the store get the ISBN and Edition number (which they frown upon). Also, there is a discount text book store right across the street who will not share the information either. I have found that if you can email your instructor before school starts, many are willing to give you the ISBN numbers.
Best of luck.