Buying used books is like recycling! And it's good for the forest in so many ways. For starters, you're using a book that already exists instead of claiming the life of a living tree in order to make a new one. That's more trees for the forest and less stress for the environment. On top of that, when you buy used books we say thanks by planting more trees. So now you're building a new forest! And finally, because used books are cheaper, you save some money! (That one's more for you than the forest, but by now you’ve earned it!)
It's no secret that textbook prices are on the rise. And there are a number of factors contributing to this beast of burden.
Textbooks are now being revised every three to four years and often times with very few changes. In one example, the UA Fundamentals: Adjusting to Life at a Major University changed three photographs on the cover and labeled the book with a new ISBN number. The publisher even neglected to update the preface in the 2007 edition which notes the changes in each edition.
Due to the release of this "new edition", students who had purchased the book received $0 back and students taking the course in the following semester were forced to specifically purchase new versions.
"Bundling" refers to additional materials that are required with the purchase of a textbook. When bundles are actually used by the professor, yes, they are important. However, all too often, the additional materials are not used by the professor or the student!
All we're saying is that we think students should have the choice to buy materials bundled or un-bundled. What happened to freedom?
Obsolescence comes in various forms; books with pages that will be torn out (like quizzes and worksheets), books sold with web-access cards, books with school names embossed on the cover, etc.
These glorious little add-ons guarantee that students lose 100% of their investment.
As previously stated, faculty play the biggest role in the amount of cash a student receives for his/her book at the end of the semester. They have the power to significantly reduce the amount of money you spend each year.
Ever wonder why textbooks seem to get upgraded every year with new editions? Yeah, we know, like History really changed. While some areas of study, like medicine or technology, are in constant need of getting out the latest and greatest as things change quickly, the real reason is because new textbooks make more money for the publisher and authors than used ones. So, change a word here or there, and students have to buy all new textbooks instead of bypassing them by exchanging them with each other or selling them back to the bookstore.
But guess who holds the power? That's right, your professors.
They can make the decision on whether or not the new edition is worth it. Unfortunately, they usually do very little research and just assume the new book must be better.
Other tricks by the publisher include bundling of course materials into a shrink wrap (the materials are usually worthless) or by creating tests and assignments that require students to rip out part of the book. Both of these little moves mean students have to buy new textbooks every semester instead of used ones.
The example above demonstrates the cost outcome for new and used textbooks when they are adopted (reused for another semester) versus when they are not.
As you can see, students receive much more cash back when professors readopt. It creates a demand for used textbooks and everyone who uses the book profits as a result.
Unfortunately, books that aren't readopted increase the true cost for students. These books maintain small value because the bookstore can try to sell them to another university in the country, but the cash back for the student is less because the bookstore has to sell it to a wholesaler who has to pay to ship the book to a warehouse and there are all sorts of costs incurred for handling.
We could do another chart to show you that you receive $0 back if your textbook had tear-out worksheets or quizzes, but that seems pretty obvious. The biggest point we're trying to make here is that professors play a major role in lowering costs for all of us. By readopting the same books whenever possible, they limit the need for new textbooks and excessive costs.
Used books are so much better than new books for the forest and your wallet. So this semester, do it right! Pick your school and buy from the nation's largest network of used books.