College Textbooks Cost TOO DAMN MUCH!!! - Page 2

Hanuman · 09-09-2010, 04:05 AM

Find previous students fresh off, they usually sell for 1/2 cost. What I heard: Book prices keep prof's pockets lined. True/False?

Professor Smarmiarty · 09-09-2010, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lev

Find previous students fresh off, they usually sell for 1/2 cost. What I heard: Book prices keep prof's pockets lined. True/False?

False, at least that I know of. Like are you suggesting kickbacks for pickign a particular book? Cause theytend to be pretty similar the world over.

Flarecobra · 09-09-2010, 09:46 AM

False, as it's the individual school that sets the price...

Azisien · 09-09-2010, 10:02 AM

True, if they wrote/co-wrote the textbook...

bluestarultor · 09-09-2010, 10:07 AM

If you act quickly enough, your school bookstore should have some used copies. If they don't have them out, ask if they have any. Even if they don't it never hurts.

Also, if your school system has a public announcement section to the email system (some do), it's common for people to post requests for used books. I'd imagine they're at least somewhat successful. Also check the bulletin boards around your school for postings, or, heck, make your own! Just put down somewhere beneath your ideal price "or best offer." Haggle a bit.

Professor Smarmiarty · 09-09-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azisien

True, if they wrote/co-wrote the textbook...

Even then the royalties are very low. And textbooks are pretty standard- as in only a tiny fraction of professors are benefiting.
Even then, professor wages are so ridiculously low if they can make more money I got no problem with it.

bluestarultor · 09-09-2010, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smarty McBarrelpants

Even then the royalties are very low. And textbooks are pretty standard- as in only a tiny fraction of professors are benefiting.
Even then, professor wages are so ridiculously low if they can make more money I got no problem with it.

There was one at my first college who was rumored to be a pizza delivery guy. :/

Textbooks are standard because they can all be traced to a small handful of companies that masquerade under different subsidiaries. I think in America there are literally only five, maybe six major parent companies. Almost everything is owned by them.

TopHatAssassin · 09-09-2010, 10:49 AM

Buy them if you absolutely need them. I managed to get through my undergrad without buying terribly many textbooks, but it helps if you go to class and actually pay attention. You can usually get the gist of what the book/chapter/passage is about (at least I could). Come exam time, stick with the stuff you know and try to avoid the stuff you don't. Make up the rest.

Professor Smarmiarty · 09-09-2010, 10:49 AM

Also th efact there is only so many ways you can write the same set of facts.

But yeah, I would recommend avoid if possible, I never bought any textbooks and I did fine.

Azisien · 09-09-2010, 11:15 AM

I should mention I also did the same. Well, I bought books in my first year because I was naive about their usefulness. After that, I bought perhaps one textbook (an actual useful one) over the next four years. Saved thousands, lost nothing.

And to date I am still trying to get rid of those first year books.

09-09-2010, 09:46 AM	#13
Flarecobra Burn. Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Classified Posts: 11,017	False, as it's the individual school that sets the price... __________________ "Only the fool wishes to go into battle to beat someone for the satisfaction of beating someone." -A Thousand Sons Rules. Read them, know them, love them.

09-09-2010, 10:49 AM	#18
TopHatAssassin Like a millionaire Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 637	Buy them if you absolutely need them. I managed to get through my undergrad without buying terribly many textbooks, but it helps if you go to class and actually pay attention. You can usually get the gist of what the book/chapter/passage is about (at least I could). Come exam time, stick with the stuff you know and try to avoid the stuff you don't. Make up the rest. __________________ Aye, num nums indeed.

09-09-2010, 04:05 AM	#11
Hanuman Love Is Strength Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Vancouver/BC/Canada Posts: 1,135	Find previous students fresh off, they usually sell for 1/2 cost. What I heard: Book prices keep prof's pockets lined. True/False?

09-09-2010, 10:02 AM	#14
Azisien wat Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,177	True, if they wrote/co-wrote the textbook...

09-09-2010, 10:49 AM	#19
Professor Smarmiarty Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: K-space Posts: 9,758	Also th efact there is only so many ways you can write the same set of facts. But yeah, I would recommend avoid if possible, I never bought any textbooks and I did fine.

09-09-2010, 11:15 AM	#20
Azisien wat Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,177	I should mention I also did the same. Well, I bought books in my first year because I was naive about their usefulness. After that, I bought perhaps one textbook (an actual useful one) over the next four years. Saved thousands, lost nothing. And to date I am still trying to get rid of those first year books.