MUSIC EDUCATION FORUM CONCERT BAND

The next best method of buying books is from a bookstore off-campus. But even here you will still pay hundreds of dollars for books you probably won’t read. Off-campus bookstores are generally smaller and don’t have the selection size of a university bookstore. If you are buying off-campus be sure to pick your books up early, because they will probably run out.

In my opinion, the best method of buying books is online. You can not beat the prices. If you are new to college an unfamiliar with sites that sell textbooks, please visit Amazon (I have several links to them on my site). Half.com and Ebay are also excellent places to find new and used textbooks. Most teachers post their required textbooks online a few weeks before the semester starts. This is the perfect time to search Amazon for you book. You have to look early because shipping can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks. If you can wait the shipping time, buying online is the best option. I turned to online buying after my freshman year. It was the best money saving method I used all through college. You turn $350 semester book fees into a mere $150 (or less). It’s amazing how so few students are actually buying online. These companies are 100% safe. There is no reason not to buy online.

Now I will go through some of the pros and cons of buying books from our three different means.

On-campus Bookstore.

Pro – prime location.

Pro – save time. Pro – get the exact editions you need.

• Pro – offer new and used books.
• Pro – offer buy back plans. Con – too expensive.
• Con – you get like $10 buy back for a $100 book.
• Con – not as many used copies.

Off-campus Bookstore.

Pro – less expensive.

• Pro – lots of used books.
• Pro – offer buy backs. Con – may have older editions.

Con – not located nearby (unless you live off campus)