Back to Campus: Good Options for Buying Textbooks Online

It’s that time of year again: the start of a new semester! That means reconnecting with old friends, new extra-long sheets to fit those dorm room bunk beds, and enough ramen to feed you and some of those football players who live down the hall. The only thing standing in the way of all that excitement is your trip to the campus bookstore where you’ll stand in line for at least an hour and spend hundreds of those hard-earned dollars just to get a used Chemistry textbook or your Student Solution Manual for that Math class you have to take. Why not bypass all that hassle (and save some bucks) by checking out these online textbook suppliers:

Amazon.com

The quintessential online book seller, Amazon.com offers savings of up to 30% on new textbooks and a whopping 90% on used textbooks! Enter “TBFALL” at checkout and receive free 2-day shipping with your purchase $200 or more. Amazon offers the chance to win free tuition for a year Be sure to check out the Tuition and Textbook Sweepstakes where you can become eligible for some pretty cool prizes, including the chance to win free tuition for a year. For those of you who are accustomed to buying cds, dvds, and regular old books from Amazon, the transition to textbook purchases is hassle-free.

Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble is a great student resource that revolutionizes the search procedure for multiple textbook purchasing. This is especially handy if you are enrolled in a survey course which can require a handful of books. Simply enter a list of ISBNs and with some quick clicks of the mouse you’ll be all set for Liberal Arts 101. Plus earn free shipping on orders of $25 or more (but be sure to read the fine print to ensure that you qualify). Best of all, for those of you who are part of the B&N Member program, you’ll save 20% on new textbooks!

eCampus.com

If you choose to use eCampus , you’re sure to find their virtual bookstore program useful. Without even attending one class or looking at a syllabus you’ll have access to the exact textbooks that are required for your specific courses and school. Spend at least $49 and earn free shipping, plus get a FREE eCampus t-shirt when you enter coupon code “TSHIRT99″ at checkout. C’mon, every college student needs some more free t-shirts!

half.com

If you’re an ebay.com fanatic, be sure check out its affiliate half.com. This site provides lots of options for the frugal student, specifically advertising older editions of textbooks which can really increase your savings. Here’s some free advice though: before buying, be sure that your professor doesn’t mind that you plan to use an edition that is older than that listed on the syllabus–sometimes homework problems and even chapter content can vary.

Earn some Cash: Sell your old textbooks

Have you ever tried to sell back that Art History text to your college bookstore? A book that cost you $75 in September seems to only get you $0.50 in May. Luckily the online textbook suppliers mentioned above also let you sell your old books to other poor students who are just like you. Make some extra cash and you’ll be able to buy an extra pizza to feed you and your friends!

Update - September 6, 2007

I just noticed that eCampus.com has a nice college apparel shop. You can search to see if your school is featured, or just check out some of the random novelty items that every college kids needs in his or her wardrobe.