Ordering used text books on Amazon??

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Has anyone done this instead of purchasing from the school. What was your experience? What would you think of purchasing the edition prior to the current one and saving a significant amount of money?

It took me a few years, but I finally started ordering books from Amazon and I could not be happier about it! I also just ordered an international version of a textbook off of eBay. Sounds a little sketchy, I know, but I spent under $60 for a $180 textbook. The cover is different, but the content is all the same. Even the page numbers match up with my classmates' books! The problems is, though, I don't think an international book can be sold to Amazon, which is my preferred method. Hopefully the book will be a good reference.

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This is the only way that I buy books....never had a problem and saved a lot of money

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Try bookbyte.com, if nobody has mentioned it yet. I got a $198 book for $5! I could not believe it. And it came in a few days. Their books go quick though. Obviously.

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Specializes in psych/dementia.
Maybe they're not, but the book companies sure do take advantage of us broke students, and it's hard denying that! They get representatives to come into our class and tell us the importance of the expensive practice question add ons and buying new over used....give me a break!

Your original post was about the bookstore, but even the book companies aren't all at fault. It's supply and demand. The faculty also assigns the books. We certainly don't choose which ones to buy. I have no idea who much it costs to research, write, and sell a textbook. A cost analysis would be fascinating, though I have no idea how it could be carried out without costing a small fortune itself.

I've never had a representative come to any of my classes, granted, not in nursing school, yet but already have another degree, and tell us to buy or not buy anything. And new over used IS better. YOU get to decide what is important, not whoever had it before you. Even if you highlight over the other person's work, you still focus on what they highlight, which may be good or bad depending. Though I doubt they know about this research.

Eh, it's OT anyway. I always buy new from Amazon. Rarely have I bought used books and then they were in "like new" condition so I knew they weren't highlighted or anything. I love having the ISBN available so I know I am getting exactly what I would be if I were to go to the bookstore.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

I've been working on RN to BSN and have a few comments. Love Amazon, but I shop around places like half.com and the college bookstore. I never find a better price at the college bookstore though. I pretty much regret most of my purchases there except for the Statistics book that came with the essential online math lab access code.

Rental:

When it comes to rental, the way Amazon always seems to figure it is the new price minus their current sell-back price. They do not always offer the best sell-back price. If I was on my home computer I could list all the companies I have dealt with but there are many and I have sold my books back to several different companies. Some send you a check, some give you paypal credit, some give you gift cards (like Amazon), consider this in the equation when you are deciding who to sell your books to. If you have the capital (and I know not all do), then the best bet is not to rent but to buy low, sell high and you will likely come out ahead of the rental price.

International editions:

I have heard (no personal experience) that these have the same content as the US editions, but their sell-back value is pretty much zero. Sometimes it would still seem worth it because they are so cheap used.

For Excelsior RN to BSN students:

I was selling back all my nursing course books as I completed each course. Then I found out all those books were listed as references for the final course Capstone. So don't make the mistake I did. The only good thing is that I had learned some great book buying lessons by then. Including that many prices on Amazon (even on their regular merchandise) fluctuates on some kind of algorithm. The prices of school books go up near the beginning of the semester and drop near the end. The buy back prices also fluctuate. When I figured out I needed to repurchase some of the books for Capstone I still had several months to go and I tracked the prices until I felt they were right then bought.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
For Excelsior RN to BSN students:

I was selling back all my nursing course books as I completed each course. Then I found out all those books were listed as references for the final course Capstone. So don't make the mistake I did. The only good thing is that I had learned some great book buying lessons by then. Including that many prices on Amazon (even on their regular merchandise) fluctuates on some kind of algorithm. The prices of school books go up near the beginning of the semester and drop near the end. The buy back prices also fluctuate. When I figured out I needed to repurchase some of the books for Capstone I still had several months to go and I tracked the prices until I felt they were right then bought.

I'm not an Excelsior student, but I'm not selling back a single nursing textbook (whether from the ADN or BSN program) until I graduate with my BSN.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

I'm wondering the same thing. I've sold many books on half.com and amazon and ALWAYS mail them media mail. This is what Half.com specifically tells sellers to do unless you offer the buyer the option for priority.

As far a text books... YES, I bought all my books in college (after freshman year when I didn't know better) on Half.com and saved a ton. Sometimes even made a profit selling it back.

It was the way they used media mail as the particular order didn't meet the criteria. The seller was trying to beat the system and got caught.

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I always purchase textbooks on amazon unless I can get them at the library. I'm not in nursing school yet though. I'm just finishing undergrad and I always find amazon to be the best deal when I buy books. I will probably buy all of my nursing books on amazon for fall semester. One year, my bookstore was selling the package of books I needed for organic chemistry new for about 225 dollars (textbook + solutions manual + online code) and amazon was selling the same package new for only $150!

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Also, if you go the amazon route--the prime subscription is totally worth it for free two day shipping. You might be able to get the prime student account for free for a certain period if you sign up with your email address that was given to you by your school.

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Specializes in Certified Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nurse.

I buy used books off Amazon for my MSN and my daughter's BSN classes. I save a fortune. I alsways buy "like new" because some of the lower levels of used books are pretty bad.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, Neurology, Rehab.
I wouldn't have made it through nursing school or my natural science pre-reqs if it weren't for amazon.com. I paid for my schooling out of pocket, so I had to pinch pennies wherever I could.

I congratulate you on paying for your classes without loans. You have accomplished a feat that is almost unheard of today. Blessings to you!!!

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I buy from amazon all the time. Their cs is top notch! I was in an ADN program so a lot of my classmates just borrowed books from other classmates (specialty specific like ob, psych, etc) since our program consisted of 3 different rotations each semester. So it was easy to find a friend in a different rotation who was not using that book.

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