KapCC’s bookstore has a selection of used books, but move fast to secure your copy.
10. Craigslist
There might have been a time when Craigslist could supply all of your needs at a reasonable price. For furniture, for jobs, for the sketchiest dates you might ever find. Craigslist may still be the place to go. However, for books, you’ll find your selection limited, and the prices often set by individuals driven more by hope than generosity. On occasion you might find a very good deal on Craigslist, and to that end it might be worth it for you to check. Keep in mind, you’re pretty much on your own to make sure you don’t get fleeced when it comes to Craigslist.
9. Amazon
Falling far behind the internet pack is Amazon. Every now and then you’ll find a decent used book price by a third party, but most of the good deals will be found on other specialty used booksellers. If you’re looking to buy a new book, the price on Amazon will likely be better than the price at the bookstore, but even in regards to new books, you’ll likely be able to find a better price from a smaller group. However, for the sake of customer security and the knowledge that you’ll be able to find the seller if something goes wrong, Amazon is pretty safe. Amazon is safe, but one of the more expensive ways to go.
8. Study the textbook stocked by the library.
This isn’t always an option, and even when it is, there’s no guarantee someone else in your class didn’t get the same idea. If you can access the book at the library however, this could end up being your most assuredly cheap option. A significant number of classes have the class textbook on reference at the library. You can’t bring it home with you, but you can read it while you’re there. For a lot of students who study at the library anyway, this might be a perfect fit. Keep in mind though that your study options will be extremely limited, and you’re essentially tied to the library.
7. Rent books from the KapCC bookstore
KapCC actually provides students with the option to rent their textbooks. What’s even more surprising is that the prices are quite reasonable. However, like many of the cheap options at the bookstore, there’s always the constant danger of there not being a large enough stock. If you’re coming to the party late, this might not even be a possibility. However, even if it is, it might just be a few dollars more to buy a used book through one of the above listed sites. In many cases, it might even be cheaper to buy a used book. Not to mention the added bonus of being able to resell your book afterward.
6. AbeBooks
AbeBooks is really more of a general book seller that also sells used textbooks. Due to this specialty, e-books and rentals isn’t something they really care much to get into. You’ll find decent prices here, but likely you’ll find better options and better prices elsewhere. Though if you’re ever in the market for a rare book, this is a good source.
5. Campus bulletin boards
Specifically, at the bulletin board down by the bookstore you’ll find a large number of books being sold by students looking for something better than the trade in value they’d get at the bookstore. By cutting out the middleman, you’ll have the potential for a better deal. You won’t have to worry about tax or shipping, but the prices typically won’t reflect the competition of online sellers. There’s also no guarantee the books you find on there haven’t already been sold. If you can get there early, and you’re looking for a common book, you have a good shot at getting a good deal. If the semester’s already started, it’d best to stick to other options.
4. Chegg.com
In just about every case, I was able to find better prices on Half.com than I was on Chegg. That isn’t to say there won’t be exceptions. Half.com certainly draws from a much bigger crowd. Chegg does offer etext, an option not offered by Half.com. The cost savings of e-texts vary greatly from book to book, but for some students, e-texts are preferable to physical copies. Also, Chegg is a straight up student textbook source. As a result, they offer other student-centric services, such as study help. Naturally these services cost money, but it doesn’t hurt to have the option.
3. Half.com
If you’re looking to buy a used textbook, this is probably your best option. Being one of the most well known sites for used books, this usually means you’ll often get a large number of sellers all fighting to make a quick sale. Even if you don’t find a good deal right away, you might luck out later when another seller comes along.
2. Bigwords
This site almost didn’t make it on the list simply because it’s a bit of a cheater. Bigwords collects prices and information from other sites, giving you an easy way to compare. Bigwords doesn’t sell, rent, or buy books directly, rather, they do all the legwork for you and redirect you to whatever prices or services appeal to you. If you want to sell your books, this is a great place to get an idea of what you can get for it, whether you want to list the book yourself, or sell it back immediately for a guaranteed price. Nine out of 10 times you’ll find your best price through here. I cannot recommend this site highly enough.
1. Make friends with an upperclassman
The closer you are to your source the better. If you’re best friends with the source, all the better. This situation has the highest potential for textbook savings, particularly because you might just end up getting the book for free. Find someone a year or semester above you with the same scholastic ambitions. Depending on how close you are and their level of generosity, you’ll likely get a very good deal on their books. Even if they’re not free, they’ll likely give you a good price so they can avoid the hassle of trying to find a better buyer. Just make sure you pay the favor forward though. When you’re done with the book, make sure you pass on your cheaply won textbook to an underclassman. It’s the classy thing to do. If you want to though, you could always make a soul-blackening quick profit by selling your free textbook when you’re done with it.