Textbook Tips

There are any number of ways to save time and money when buying textbooks. Here are just a few. We have also included links at the bottom of the page to other helpful articles about college textbooks.

How to Buy Textbooks

1. Get the List of Required Books from:

The College Bookstore or
The Course Department Office or
The Professor’s office – email the professor or contact the secretary

Find out from the professor whether a book is actually required or just recommended. Also, ask if an earlier version might be acceptable.

2. Get the ISBN numbers for all the books. If you don’t yet have the ISBNs, visit the college bookstore to find them.

3. Compare Prices
The best way to compare prices for college textbooks is to use our free Book Price Comparison service. Search by ISBN for best results.

Helpful Hints

Shop Early
The earlier you have a shopping list, the more options you have to find a good deal.

Shop Online
By far the best prices are available on the internet.

Compare Prices
Save time and money by using a price comparison service. Search by ISBN to get the exact book. Search by Title or Author to find similar textbooks.

Buy Used
A copy of a used textbook will often (but not always) be less expensive than a new one.

Consider Other Versions

International version – often an identical book with a different cover or only slight differences. Beware, however, that more significant differences may exist.
Teacher version – if you can find a copy of your book with teacher’s note’s and answers to questions, all the better!
Previous version - check to see how much difference there really is between the new version and previous ones. An older version will likely be considerably less expensive. If there is little change between them, the older one could be a great deal.

Buying Online

Pay attention to shipping times – media mail (usually default) is slow. Pay a couple bucks extra for fast shipping – you’ll still be money ahead.
If buying from an online marketplace, check the feedback of sellers.

To save lots of time and money, use our quick and easy Price Comparison service to shop for textbooks.