General Discussion

deucemagnet

(4,549 posts)

16. Yes, but I think the internet is making things better now.

Tue Jan 22, 2013, 10:56 PM

Jan 2013

About 1/3 of my students now buy their books on Amazon or some other online source. There is also textbook rental available online, which is even cheaper.

The biggest ripoff, by far, is the campus bookstore. Don't give those bastards your money!

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71 replies

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Have textbooks always been such a ripoff? [View all] white_wolf Jan 2013 OP

Yes. In 1988, I paid $110 for an English Lit book... ScreamingMeemie Jan 2013 #1

Just wait till you sell it back. sadbear Jan 2013 #2

Yeah I paid over a 100$ for a book once and got 5$ back. white_wolf Jan 2013 #4

Have you tried half.com or swapbooks.com? Incitatus Jan 2013 #71

In HS a looong time ago, I bought and sold used textbooks Bozita Jan 2013 #62

Business Law book HappyMe Jan 2013 #3

I paid a hefty sum for mine but sold them back. JaneyVee Jan 2013 #5

Public admin 110 book $135.00 Poli Sci 329 two books on $110.00 other $35.00. Ed Suspicious Jan 2013 #6

$250 for one book Confusious Jan 2013 #33

'Twas ever thus. Richardo Jan 2013 #7

That should be banned Hayabusa Jan 2013 #67

I don't think so... Kalidurga Jan 2013 #8

Yep...and to prove it..I bought a hard bound copy today of "Windows 8 Bible" about 600 pages... BlueJazz Jan 2013 #9

Yes, my books back in the 60's cost a fortune, especially some of the math and physics ones ... RKP5637 Jan 2013 #10

Yes jberryhill Jan 2013 #11

Yes, they've always been expensive Poiuyt Jan 2013 #12

I remember some college textbooks MadrasT Jan 2013 #13

I had an anthropology class that had 6 required textbooks which were $80-120 each. baldguy Jan 2013 #14

Engineering textbooks used to be $500/semester librabear Jan 2013 #15

Yes, but I think the internet is making things better now. deucemagnet Jan 2013 #16

I try not too, sadly I had to for the book I mentioned in the OP. white_wolf Jan 2013 #24

I always bought used books..... prairierose Jan 2013 #17

They were in 1995. New editions every semester, anyone? DirkGently Jan 2013 #18

I can't speak for all of time, obviously, liberalhistorian Jan 2013 #19

Just wait till you sell it back to the univestity...they'll give you $45 for it. TOPS. n/t Earth_First Jan 2013 #20

...then sell it used next semester for $90. n/t Earth_First Jan 2013 #21

Yes, textbooks have always been costly. Brigid Jan 2013 #22

Yep... FirstLight Jan 2013 #23

Nobody has beat me yet Confusious Jan 2013 #30

Was it good? MannyGoldstein Jan 2013 #36

Big ripoff. Colleges are in the scam, too. demosincebirth Jan 2013 #25

Totally, and never more so than now. MichiganVote Jan 2013 #26

just bought a neurobio textbook for 190 dollars Cane4Dems Jan 2013 #27

Kandel and Schwartz, by any chance? MannyGoldstein Jan 2013 #41

haha no its by Bear Cane4Dems Jan 2013 #68

Well, I hope it's not a bear to read! MannyGoldstein Jan 2013 #69

Thank you! Cane4Dems Jan 2013 #70

Professor's perspective alcibiades_mystery Jan 2013 #28

Since I was and am in education, duffyduff Jan 2013 #53

That's the right thing to do. JVS Jan 2013 #61

I do try to use books that would be "keepers" for students alcibiades_mystery Jan 2013 #63

At least since the late '70's PDittie Jan 2013 #29

I'm still the winner, or loser as you may see it it Confusious Jan 2013 #31

Yes! cilla4progress Jan 2013 #32

Chegg? No, I normally use Amazon. white_wolf Jan 2013 #34

Must check out Chegg. cilla4progress Jan 2013 #38

Always Leslie Valley Jan 2013 #35

1976 -- Yup, a rip-off. earthside Jan 2013 #37

I think so--even back in the early days of affordable tuitions, I always thought books were dear. MADem Jan 2013 #39

absolutely. but if it makes you feel any better, the professors get ripped off too. unblock Jan 2013 #40

I worked in a campus bookshop 5 years ago and some law students and radiology applegrove Jan 2013 #42

1000$ per term? white_wolf Jan 2013 #46

Yup. They were by far the most expensive textbooks. And you needed a lot of them. applegrove Jan 2013 #47

Major rip-off. A couple of my professors have mentioned that their texts get updated periodically. rhett o rick Jan 2013 #43

Ha! I was on the other end of this some years ago. MannyGoldstein Jan 2013 #44

i was ripped off in the 90s but not that bad. damn. dionysus Jan 2013 #45

Textbooks are expensive... the devil Jan 2013 #48

Yup nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #49

I had to buy a book this semester for Fitness Walking. VenusRising Jan 2013 #50

Let me save you 65$. Put one foot in front of the other in a slow leisurely pace. white_wolf Jan 2013 #51

My jaw dropped when I saw the price on that book. VenusRising Jan 2013 #54

They've always been duffyduff Jan 2013 #52

My statistics text cost $230 new (with accompanying disk and online module "license") haele Jan 2013 #55

I posted about this recently, complaining about having to buy a new Shakespeare each semester Orrex Jan 2013 #56

No wtmusic Jan 2013 #57

A big ripoff in the 90's. hughee99 Jan 2013 #58

That's not so bad. JVS Jan 2013 #59

i did`t buy my books when i went to community college in the late 60`s madrchsod Jan 2013 #60

Yes. and it's getting worse. nt bemildred Jan 2013 #64

Yes, they've always been a ripoff ... JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2013 #65

They've always been really expensive. LWolf Jan 2013 #66