Why do people rent text books?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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So far, I've been able to sell my used books for about what I paid for them (I always buy them used), except the consumables like lab packets. Renting costs almost as much as a used book and then the money is gone - there is no option to sell it afterwards. So, why do people do it?

Specializes in Cath Lab/ ICU.

Me too! I dropped a class a week later because the teacher was CRAZY and I returned my book, no questions asked...

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Chegg.com is where I rent my books from too.

BEST way to go BY FAR!!!!!!

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My daughter's Western Civ book (one she will never use again) New 57.25, used 43.00 and rent for 27.91, her Math books (again, not needed once the class is done) new 183.25, used 137.50 and rent for 89.33,,

She would never be able to sell the books back (buying them new or used) to the bookstore for much more than what it costs to rent them..I say, why wouldn't you rent?

Renting was something new to us. We found out last semester. But her books were not ragged at all, they actually looked just like a brand new book. And you can highlight and write in them..as long as its not over the top highlighting and writing.

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My question would be; why wouldn't you rent? Renting has been FAR cheaper than buying used, on every book I've needed. When I've rented, I've gotten a brand new book that costs me a fraction of what I'd pay, even used, and I don't have to worry about trying to find a buyer for my book when I'm done with it.

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Saysfaa, I never would rent at my school bokstore. They jack up the prices, I see why you believe it costs as much to rent as it would to buy used because at a college bookstore I'm sure it would cost about the same. I use a lot of different textbok renting sites online to see which is renting my book the cheapest and I get it. But to each his own.

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Now I'm starting to get curious as to why the math isn't working the same for me as it is for most of you. I don't know what it is but I don't think it is the bookstore factor. Of the 5 books I still need this term, two are not availabe for rent from Chegg, one rents for the same price, and two rent for more at Chegg than at the bookstore. I'd never looked at Chegg so I thought maybe that was the difference. My curiosity is piqued, so I compared other classes I've taken and most are less at the bookstore. Only one was less expensive to rent at Chegg.

My first thought was simply luck but it has been six semesters. That seems a bit too lucky to be just luck.

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Renting is more convinent then buying and selling, and it places the risk on a company vice the student. Many of us dont have the time to monitor Amazon accounts and prep books for shipping, so renting make more sense.

I have not rented any books, I buy them used if I can and give them to my professors (or a classmate if I know that they are taking that class) at the end of the semester in hopes that my professors can pass them on to a student in need.

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

Um, renting is my ONLY option when there is a new book that costs over $200 and I don't plan on keeping it and I can rent it for $50. Same goes for a used book which is non returnable at the end of the term for cash back and I don't plan on seeing it again. Renting is worth it in the right situations!

ETA: Rarely have I ever returned a new book costing over $200 and received more than $50 back, the biggest gypp around ... which is why I still feel renting is therefore the best option in this instance. Unfortunately, one never knows either how much a buyback will be (if at all) when one is buying a new book at the beginning of a term anyway! :(

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I rent as well. One of the books I needed for my Research in Healthcare class sells for $160, I rented it for $74 on chegg. My friend who is an Accounting Major always rents too because it is so much cheaper.

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Now I'm starting to get curious as to why the math isn't working the same for me as it is for most of you. I don't know what it is but I don't think it is the bookstore factor. Of the 5 books I still need this term, two are not availabe for rent from Chegg, one rents for the same price, and two rent for more at Chegg than at the bookstore. I'd never looked at Chegg so I thought maybe that was the difference. My curiosity is piqued, so I compared other classes I've taken and most are less at the bookstore. Only one was less expensive to rent at Chegg.

My first thought was simply luck but it has been six semesters. That seems a bit too lucky to be just luck.

My school uses http://www.efollett.com/ as the rental company. Check there and see if your school is participating with them. I haven't heard of Chegg.

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My Chemistry book cost $240.00!!! I would never use it again...ever! I rented it from Chegg.com for $70.00; free shipping. Great option. Book looked brand new.

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
My school uses http://www.efollett.com/ as the rental company. Check there and see if your school is participating with them. I haven't heard of Chegg.

My school used them too. I looked into it and I was kind of shocked at all the info and paperwork that was required! I mean, I don't know if this was school specific requirements for renting or what, but I was like "What the hell is this? A real estate closing??" :eek: ... Chegg and BookRenter don't have those hassles, and I rent from whoever has the best deal at the time. Not loyal to either, though I have rented more from Chegg on average.

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