Problem
Each member of a research group visited either the Virgin Islands or Hawaii...
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So What?
Math questions involving two equations and two unknowns can usually be combined into one equation with one unknown.
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College textbooks are
expensive. You may spend $500 to $800 each semester (that's an additional 3 to
7 percent of your annual school costs), and the bookstore wants its money now!
What to do?
Some students get to campus
before the semester begins to be first in line at the bookstore and grab used
books at 70 to 80 percent of the original cost. But if getting to the school
bookstore early isn't an option for you (or if the person in front of you takes
the last used book), it doesn't mean that there isn't a used copy somewhere. It
just means that it isn't in your bookstore. Write down the price of the book
and look at any online booksellers, including eBay, to see if you can find it
cheaper. Remember to consider the actual cost of the book, the shipping and
handling costs and the length of time it will take to have it in your hands.
One of the drawbacks with online buying is that you need either a credit card
or a debit card. Also, you are taking a chance that the book not will arrive in
time for your class.
In general, one of the
cheapest ways to get books is from your classmates through campuswide e-mail,
word of mouth or flyers on campus. Expect to pay 50 to 70 percent of the
original cost this way. If you don't need a book right away, keep checking,
because there are always students who drop a course and have books to unload.
Some large universities have
several bookstores, usually with competitive prices, and there are often
off-campus bookstores within walking distance that cater to students and sell
used textbooks.
Still no luck? Don't give up
yet! Contact the professor. Sometimes the book is not required but rather
recommended or optional. Maybe the professor has assigned only a couple of
chapters from the book. In any case, you may be able to check it out of the
library or skim a classmate's copy. Sometimes professors put reserve copies in
the library. It's not the same as having the book within reach at all times,
but it will save you a lot of money. If you are really in a financial bind,
talk to the professor, who may be happy to offer you a loaner book to read over
the weekend.
Remember that you can get
back some of the cost later by selling the books. With this in mind, take good
care of them. If you plan to sell your books back to the bookstore at the end
of the semester, keep receipts (even though most bookstores go by barcodes);
don't write in the books; keep them away from food, animals and bad weather;
and rush them back to the bookstore by the sell-back deadline. You can expect
to get back 10 to 20 percent of the book's original cost. If the book isn't
being used the next semester, however, you're out of luck.
As you can see, the rate you
get from the bookstore isn't great. So again, some of the best sellback methods
are campuswide e-mail and selling them to friends. Students begin buying books
as soon as they get their lists for the next semester. You can expect to sell
for at least 50 percent of the original price.
In addition, almost all the
online booksellers buy books, and you can get a quote quickly. You will have to
ship the books, but at least get an estimate, including shipping costs.
CHECKLIST
The costs associated with
buying books are a fact of college life. But there are plenty of alternatives
to annually spending $1000 to $1600 in one-stop shopping at the campus
bookstore each year, but you will have to do a little research.
Buying books:
- Check the campus intranet and
bulletin boards. If you don't see what you need, advertise.
- Buy used textbooks at the college
bookstore.
- Know the bookstore price of your
books and look at online booksellers. Amazon and Barnes & Noble both sell
used books, but through a third party. Determine the shipping and handling
costs and expected date of arrival before you place your order.
- Look at bookstores that are off
campus.
- Contact the professor to see if
all the books on your book list are really required.
- Ask classmates to share or borrow
books.
- See if the professor has put any
books on reserve in the library. If not, request that it be done.
- Ask the professor to borrow the
loaner copy.
Selling books
- Advertise on the campus intranet.
- Get quotes from the online
bookstores, but add in your cost of packaging and shipping before making a
decision.
- Sell books back to the college
bookstore.
- Sell books to bookstores that are
off campus.
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