Best Way to Buy Textbooks

Liza Carrasquillo | Contributing Editor

For the first few weeks of the new school year students can always count on the campus buildings to be a little more crowded than usual. This overcrowding is most apparent inside the UNC Wilmington Bookstore.

The line to receive a student’s books can take nearly an hour to get through, even more so if they chose not to pre-order and pre-pay for their textbooks. All of that stress from the lines does nothing to lessen the stress on their wallets, as students are often forced to by the new versions of already overpriced textbooks when the used versions run out or are not stocked. This year, skip the bookstore anxiety and follow these easy tips for the best (and cheapest) ways to buy textbooks.

First, students should always start a few weeks before school begins and check online via the UNCW Textbook Wizard to see what books their teachers have required for their specific class and section.

Different teachers or classes require different books, and some departments can decide to switch their standard textbook to an entirely different one than the one they used the previous year. Some books, like novels or writing guides, are most likely to be referenced extensively in class, while others, such as textbooks for intro classes, may not be necessary so long as the student takes good notes and pays attention in class.

If a student isn’t sure about whether or not they will use certain books, or their class does not yet list a book, then it is best to wait until classes start and see what the professor says about it. This is also true for classes that a student may drop during add/drop week.

Once a student has a list of books they know they will need, it’s time to start some online shopping. Using a website that compares numerous bookselling websites, such as the book section of Finderscheapers.com, is a great place to begin, especially when that website compares Amazon prices as well. Finderscheapers.com will show the base cost of the book, plus the shipping cost and any discounts the bookseller might be offering. Also, keep in mind the price that the UNCW Bookstore is offering, because every once in a while, their prices may win out.

If Amazon or Barnes and Noble turns out to be the cheapest option and you’d rather pick up your book on campus instead of at your mailbox, ask the bookstore about its new price-matching policy to see if an equitable on-campus deal can be made—but be wary.

According to the UNCW Bookstore website, “We happily price match Amazon & BN.com. Online marketplaces, however, like ‘Other Sellers’ on Amazon, Amazon’s Warehouse Deals, ‘fulfilled by’ Amazon, BN.com Marketplace, as well as peer-to-peer pricing, are not eligible.” Ordering as many books as possible a few weeks before school starts can save students time, and more importantly, money.

For any last-minute books a student might need to pick up, finding booksellers through other students is a great way to save money that would have been spent in the overpriced bookstore or on expedited shipping.

Check the class pages for UNCW to see who is selling their old textbooks or to post about buying one. UNCW senior Suzanne Zeid is no stranger to this book-buying method, and says she prefers it over the dealing with the bookstore.

“I’ve bought and resold three books over Facebook,” said Zeid. “I just find it easier than dealing with the crowd during add/drop week.” Aside from UNCW’s class pages, don’t forget to check Randall Library, either—if they don’t have a book in stock, they can borrow it from other libraries at the student’s request.

Ordering books ahead of time using comparative websites, such as Finderscheapers.com, and looking to buy them from peers or borrow them from the library are just a few of the ways to skip the bookstore anxiety and save some money in the process.