What is the DEAL with these textbooks?

[2ndLife]

I was hoping to get some kind of deal on my textbooks through Amazon, Half, Textbooks.com, Chegg or one of the other online sources. Unfortunately, most the books I need are packages that include CDs and web access codes that I'm told I will need. I don't trust that any of the sources offering new book and say "unopened, shrink wrapped" will really include all that I need. That means the total cost of my books is around $700!! Any suggestions?

[pinkturtle]

"For my A&P class our prof would constantly tell us that the newest edition was the only edition we should have in her class. She'd literally market the it to us at the beginning of class for the first few weeks of class (I think she was getting a cut of the profits or something)."

On the other side of the fence, my A&P teacher told us not to waste our money on the bookstore text. He offered to bring in old copies of textbooks for us to borrow if we could not find a book on our own for less than $50. He sincerely felt Anatomy does not change over time and spending $300 on textbooks was a waste.

[2ndLife]

Here's a question for everyone. Should I curb my enthusiasm and NOT remove the shrink wrap from the books until class begins? I so very much want to open the books and start reading and doing my chapter outlines. Yes, I'm a geek and proud of it. But if there's a possibility that the prof says we will not be using the book much, then I'd want to return it and get an older edition. I can't return it if I remove the shrink wrap. Maybe I should just get some A&P, Nutrition and G&D texts from the library and study with the those before class begins.

[pinkturtle]

I'd find an anatomy text book at the college library. Start there and wait to open your text book. I'd spend time learning what the different body systems are, anatomical terms, and planes of the body. That way you'll be at least a week ahead. Good Luck!

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

I sincerely think you should just use an older edition or an international edition of the book if saving money is a priority, what counts is that you master the material. I would also seek out someone that has purchased the new edition and see what's changed. Often enough, if you look at the front few pages of the newer edition text you will find a section that explains what changed from prior editions. At least that was the case in my A&P book. I managed to rent my textbook online and I saved $150. Still aced the classes.

[Busia]

I've had good luck purchasing from other students who are a semester ahead of me. It works well for both of us, they don't have to wait until December to take their books to the buy back, and I get the books for less than the bookstore's used price (usually right about what the buyback would pay, which is half the used price.)

[waterpaint]

I am an experienced Half.com user. I can say that if you're buying what they say is a brand new item...it includes the CD. Most of the time, I would email the user and ask if it were indeed included just to make sure.

If you're not satisfied with your purchase, you can always return it there being a return policy.

Hope this helps!

[ladside, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

I religiously use Barnes & Noble. They have authorized Used-Book sellers listed for every textbook on their site if you should choose not to buy a new book. I've never had a problem with B&N nor their sellers and I completed my first buy-back with them as well at the end of this past summer semester. I can't say enough about good things about them. Plus they offer a member discount on nearly everything in the site for an annual fee of 25bucks.

[Stephanieee]

I wish my books were only $700!

[benegesserit]

I found that I was able to buy the online access codes directly from the publisher, then buy the book for much cheaper from somewhere else.

Honestly, I had a HORRIBLE experience with this from Elsevier, and I'm not sure I can recommend that route. For Nutrition, it worked great. The code was $15 and I was able to check the book out from the library as needed (or could have found a previous edition for very very cheap), so it was a huge savings. For Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, not so much. The codes themselves were expensive (still cheaper than buying the package new, though), and I had truly awful customer service issues. Really bad. I loathe having to support them now with my books for nursing school, and I'm not the type to hold grudges like that.

So... it's an option, and probably a really good option, but may not be worth the hassle if the publisher is Elsevier and they haven't gotten their act together.