Top 10 Reasons to Rent Textbooks Online
There are many students who trying to think of ways to cut the cost of attending college. Of all the materials that are needed to prepare yourself for the rigorous essays, assignments, and exams that will be put before you, there is one that you cannot go without. It is the cornerstone of each class that you will sit in, the companion for your late nights of studying, the centerpiece of every word spoken by your professor, and probably the most expensive... your textbook. As long as you’re in college there is no getting around spending money textbooks, but there are ways to reduce these costs. I would argue that the most efficient and cost effective way to do this is by renting your textbooks online. Here are 10 reasons why you should rent your textbooks online.The cost of college textbooks has tripled over the past 30 years and continues to go up. College campus bookstores are selling brand new books that range from $100-$200. They also sell used books, but I'll cover that later. In exchange for buying those books from the bookstore some stores offer a buy-back program at the end of the semester. These stores will offer the owner of the book a percentage of the books value in cash in exchange for giving the book back to the store. That percentage is based on whether or not the book will be in use at the school for the coming semester. If the book will be in use the following semester, I've seen stores offering as much as 50% of the purchase price for brand new books. If it will not be in use, that percentage will drop to about 0%-25%. So let's do the math: If the cost of the book is $200 and it will be in use the following semester, that's $100(or 50%) back in your pocket. But if it won't be in use, then you will get $50(or 25%). Some won't buy it at all. It's a gamble. Whereas renting your books online is a sure thing from a cost standpoint. For $200 you could have rented 3 books. You will save money up front.
Throughout your college years you will be taking classes on various subjects that are not related to your major but are required in order to meet your degree requirements. Now while you may have books related to your core classes that you want to hold on to, the books from those other classes will probably just take up space around the house. It would be a better choice to rent these books for a cheaper price and send them back at the end of the semester rather than to buy them only for them to collect dust on a bookshelf or in a closet. (Or if you're in need something to prop up an end of your sofa. )
Well, the semester is over and now it's time to see if you can get some of the money you spent on those textbooks you no longer need back in your pocket. The prospect of getting a better price for your book than you could from the bookstore by selling to another student appears to be the better option. So you print out some flyers, post them up around the campus, and hope you get a bite. There are three possibilities: (1) Someone calls and you get the price you are asking for. (2) Someone calls and offers to buy for a lower price than you're asking for. (3) No one calls. Only one of these possibilities plays out in your favor. You can save yourself the time and the money upfront by renting your books online.
Waiting in line in a crowed bookstore can be a pain. In the days leading up to the first day of class a college bookstore is like a buzzing bee hive, full of noise and activity. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, you may find yourself standing in a loosely filed line that may extend from the cash register to the back of the store. You can avoid this potential headache by renting your textbook from the comfort of your PC or laptop. (It is the 21st century right? Or your tablet or smartphone. )
Reasons for renting textbooks online may vary from student to student, but the predominant one is saving $$$. Websites such as The Department of Textbook Rentals offer free shipping BOTH ways. This way you are guaranteed to save those precious dollars when renting your textbooks online.
! ) When studying a college textbook you will find that some information is more important than others. Highlighting is a valuable tool to distinguish between the two. It helps you cut down reading time and direct your focus to the most pertinent information. But when it comes to value, highlighting will drive the value of your brand new book down when it comes time to sell it. All of the books that I have rented online have allowed reasonable highlighting without penalty.
Any student who has access to a device with an up to date browser and a decent internet connection can rent textbooks online fairly easy. The Department of Textbook Rentals has a search bar at the top of the homepage where you type your textbooks' UPN number, title, or the books author and you will be forwarded to a user-friendly listing of books that matches the information you gave.
Last, but not least, convenience. You cannot make getting your college textbooks any more convenient than clicking a few buttons, in between checking your Facebook news feed, and waiting for your textbooks to arrive at the front door. Renting your books online allows you to acquire your most important college materials without having to leave the comfort of your home.