Buying textbooks online

Feb. 10, 2005
By Christina Neumiller
Staff Writer

Students attending college have started looking online for textbooks instead of their nearest bookstore, and prices could be a major factor in most cases.

Textbooks online can be bought for ten to ninety percent off the retail price that local bookstores can offer.

SAU bookstore director Kathleen Cameron warns that buying books online dosen't necessarily mean you'll get the right book.  She also warns you might end up with an international addition that is published for overseas.  Sometimes, the edition of the book could also be incorrect.  In these cases, books can not be returned to the bookstore.

"What we do has to be right," said Cameron.

The return policy for the bookstore is two weeks with a receipt.  When returning a book bought online, the return policy is usually 30 days after the book has been shipped and only will be accepted in its original packing. Plus, the student will have to pay the shipping cost unless it was the shipping party's error.

"We're the only one's who are responsible for making sure that you get what the teacher's want you to have," said Cameron.

Some of the most popular online sites that students use to look for textbooks are half.com, amazon.com and ecampus.com.

Textbooks can be bought online from the bookstore too. Students will pay the bookstore's cost still, but if convenience is the most important issue, the bookstore can help.

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