NFT: Just venting.. The price of college textbooks...

the prices were insane when I was in school 5 years ago.

Try to get used books if you can

put them online for free.

Why the whole educational system needs revamped (reinvented)

Too many good scholars on here that needed to be payed back for what they put in to educate our children.

It's robbery, just like tuition.

There are a few tips to save some money. First, buy used books and preferably online at a book marketplace like Amazon or Chegg. Sell the used books back, but not to the University bookstore at the end of the semester. Sell online on Amazon, possibly even wait until before the next semester is about to start.

Also, if you read the professor reviews on ratemyprofessors.com you can probably figure out which classes you need the books for and which ones you don't.

I remember complaining about the price of textbooks back when I was in college (30+ years ago).

In comment 12440605 JayBinQueens said:

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the prices were insane when I was in school 5 years ago. Try to get used books if you can

don't buy used textbooks the last guy who underlined them could have been a maniac
Link - ( New Window )

rotate them out every couple years too, so you can't keep the used books around and relevant too long.

and the "new" edition of the book usually has minor changes.

In comment 12440636 pjcas18 said:

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rotate them out every couple years too, so you can't keep the used books around and relevant too long. and the "new" edition of the book usually has minor changes.

Yes, that dirty trick is as old as the hills too.

and book reps would always come into my office and give me their latest edition. I would tell them that I don't have room for another text book and I don't make the decision on what text book to adopt. That's done by the department head.

I figured that they have to make up for all the books they give out to faculty hoping that their book will be adopted and that's why the prices are so high.

You'll save hundreds...we did this for all of our college boys. Good luck!

They are cheaper and they pay more than anywhere else to sell them back.

In comment 12440626 ctc in ftmyers said:

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put them online for free. Why the whole educational system needs revamped (reinvented) Too many good scholars on here that needed to be payed back for what they put in to educate our children.

Copyright laws prevent this.

Let's not pretend that the cost of higher education isn't absurdly astronomical, period. Books, online access, and any mechanism to deliver content is a drop in the bucket compared to what these colleges charge for tuition, room and board, and any number of fees they choose to tack on just for the opportunity to "earn" a degree that most likely means absolutely nothing and puts the student into immediate debt to the tune of well over six figures.

Yet people complain about books. Gimme a break.

How about Bitching about the funding mechanisms in place that create DEBTORS to the system rather than graduates who are not mal-employed. Ie the grads with legit degrees working in retail, customer service, fast food, service etc...living with their parents again...entering the workplace at a lower wage scale. All making it much more difficult to buy property, get married and participate as an earning, tax paying citizen. This issue goes well beyond the OP.

But yeah. Complain about textbooks. Come on.

is fed by greed.

In comment 12440741 B in ALB said:

Quote:

Let's not pretend that the cost of higher education isn't absurdly astronomical, period. Books, online access, and any mechanism to deliver content is a drop in the bucket compared to what these colleges charge for tuition, room and board, and any number of fees they choose to tack on just for the opportunity to "earn" a degree that most likely means absolutely nothing and puts the student into immediate debt to the tune of well over six figures. Yet people complain about books. Gimme a break. How about Bitching about the funding mechanisms in place that create DEBTORS to the system rather than graduates who are not mal-employed. Ie the grads with legit degrees working in retail, customer service, fast food, service etc...living with their parents again...entering the workplace at a lower wage scale. All making it much more difficult to buy property, get married and participate as an earning, tax paying citizen. This issue goes well beyond the OP. But yeah. Complain about textbooks. Come on.

All true B, but you'd figure at least with the text books they could find a way to not kick you in nuts once again, on top of the pounding you're already taking on all the things you mentioned.

I'm in my senior year of college. I don't buy my books until I see if it is necessary/get the method of the professor. Sometimes I just rent the chapter if necessary.

Then again, I'm a media production major. So I don't have to learn anything important, hehe.

B in ALB, I think textbooks are expensive as well.good point!

Aren't the books a part of your student debt? (If you choose to do so)

or could have used an older book since the information hasn't changed. Maybe there are changes in mathematics all the time, but never on the level that college students learn on.

that are charged with one thing - turning a profit. Used books are going to be a thing of the past for students as soon as textbook publishers migrate to digital content-only models and completely control the market.

The bookstore better sell more sweatshirts, banners, note pads and pencils.

rate my professors😐 you can view your professors review and it says the amount of textbook use

[b]NFT: Just venting.. The price of college textbooks...
Tom from LI : 7:56 pm
So here I am watching my wife pay for her college text books. If there is anything that is a bigger ripoff than college textbooks, I don't know what it is?

ever. STRIKE! I worked 16 hours a day in the coal mines and paid my college off with my left foot.

-Every baby boomer, ever

in class.

Yes, if it's in the syllabus as a required text, it will be used.

Like the class syllabuses are to be taken in stride in an earnest/solemn matter. Professors change that shit every day of the week, complete joke. Tests are never synchronized with the syllabus either. I guess you have to account for snow days and shit, but mostly I just throw all that shit away. All A's too.

get on amazon or other sites online and buy the books used, even buy one previous generation, you will save a ton

In comment 12440850 Maccorkles667 said:

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Like the class syllabuses are to be taken in stride in an earnest/solemn matter. Professors change that shit every day of the week, complete joke. Tests are never synchronized with the syllabus either. I guess you have to account for snow days and shit, but mostly I just throw all that shit away. All A's too.

You're still a disgrace to your parents, by the way.

But take heart - three months from now, you can sell them back to bookstore for 1/10 the price.

"PDF" to the search

You'd be surprised how many you can find available online

In comment 12440850 Maccorkles667 said:

Quote:

Like the class syllabuses are to be taken in stride in an earnest/solemn matter. Professors change that shit every day of the week, complete joke. Tests are never synchronized with the syllabus either. I guess you have to account for snow days and shit, but mostly I just throw all that shit away. All A's too.

You don't teach to the test you fucking troglodyte. You teach to the skill.

Will you please disappear?

I have 2 boys in college right now...i rent from amazon...helps a little...

In comment 12440741 B in ALB said:

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Let's not pretend that the cost of higher education isn't absurdly astronomical, period. Books, online access, and any mechanism to deliver content is a drop in the bucket compared to what these colleges charge for tuition, room and board, and any number of fees they choose to tack on just for the opportunity to "earn" a degree that most likely means absolutely nothing and puts the student into immediate debt to the tune of well over six figures. Yet people complain about books. Gimme a break. How about Bitching about the funding mechanisms in place that create DEBTORS to the system rather than graduates who are not mal-employed. Ie the grads with legit degrees working in retail, customer service, fast food, service etc...living with their parents again...entering the workplace at a lower wage scale. All making it much more difficult to buy property, get married and participate as an earning, tax paying citizen. This issue goes well beyond the OP. But yeah. Complain about textbooks. Come on.

Well, my wife and boys attend local SUNY schools which is not much more expensive than a private level high school. Yes it is still expensive and I have one more son graduating high school in June 2016.. but I can manage those costs opposed to what my friends are paying for one kid to go away to school. I have saved over the years for this cost and while it's not enough to cover the whole cost it does a good job at most of it.

My boys take loans and if they pass everything I pay if they fail they pay. When they graduate I have joint accounts with them that will be used to auto pay their loans. This in turn will help with establishing credit. (my plan in theory)

So the whole textbook purchase is just the straw that just seems to break my back. I just paid out over $3G for textbooks this semester and when you go to sell them back at the end of the course I would be lucky to recoup 1/6 of that.

We've tried the rentals and they are as expensive also..

The kicker for me is you do your research on these professors and classes to see what you need and a good portion of the time you end up purchasing textbooks you don't even use.

With that being said it's just frustrating.

Personally I believe that the student loan bubble will be the next to burst..

It's obscene what these colleges charge but that wasn't my argument today for I feel I am getting away with paying less for SUNY schools.

In comment 12440864 RC02XX said:

Quote:

In comment 12440850 Maccorkles667 said: Quote: Like the class syllabuses are to be taken in stride in an earnest/solemn matter. Professors change that shit every day of the week, complete joke. Tests are never synchronized with the syllabus either. I guess you have to account for snow days and shit, but mostly I just throw all that shit away. All A's too. You're still a disgrace to your parents, by the way.

Don't you think this guy sounds an awful lot like Rich Huston?

Is supposed to be a good search engine/app on chrome that finds 5he lowest of the ripoff prices

In comment 12440939 BMac said:

Quote:

In comment 12440864 RC02XX said: Quote: In comment 12440850 Maccorkles667 said: Quote: Like the class syllabuses are to be taken in stride in an earnest/solemn matter. Professors change that shit every day of the week, complete joke. Tests are never synchronized with the syllabus either. I guess you have to account for snow days and shit, but mostly I just throw all that shit away. All A's too. You're still a disgrace to your parents, by the way. Don't you think this guy sounds an awful lot like Rich Huston?

Yes...with his talk of his "one that got away," his disappointed parent(s), and just outright idiocy. And with a little Asian flair...which makes it even more comical.

In comment 12440942 RC02XX said:

Quote:

In comment 12440939 BMac said: Quote: In comment 12440864 RC02XX said: Quote: In comment 12440850 Maccorkles667 said: Quote: Like the class syllabuses are to be taken in stride in an earnest/solemn matter. Professors change that shit every day of the week, complete joke. Tests are never synchronized with the syllabus either. I guess you have to account for snow days and shit, but mostly I just throw all that shit away. All A's too. You're still a disgrace to your parents, by the way. Don't you think this guy sounds an awful lot like Rich Huston? Yes...with his talk of his "one that got away," his disappointed parent(s), and just outright idiocy. And with a little Asian flair...which makes it even more comical.

Not "little" Asian flair; HUGE Asian physique.

In comment 12440741 B in ALB said:

Quote:

Let's not pretend that the cost of higher education isn't absurdly astronomical, period. Books, online access, and any mechanism to deliver content is a drop in the bucket compared to what these colleges charge for tuition, room and board, and any number of fees they choose to tack on just for the opportunity to "earn" a degree that most likely means absolutely nothing and puts the student into immediate debt to the tune of well over six figures. Yet people complain about books. Gimme a break. How about Bitching about the funding mechanisms in place that create DEBTORS to the system rather than graduates who are not mal-employed. Ie the grads with legit degrees working in retail, customer service, fast food, service etc...living with their parents again...entering the workplace at a lower wage scale. All making it much more difficult to buy property, get married and participate as an earning, tax paying citizen. This issue goes well beyond the OP. But yeah. Complain about textbooks. Come on.

put way better than I could have, thanks

get an increase in royalties when they raise prices? They use a lot of the same ones in Law School and Medical Schools. If they cost $16.00 in 1950
and the same book goes for $250.00 today, do the authors see any of it or do the publishers pocket it?

In comment 12440766 B in ALB said:

Quote:

that are charged with one thing - turning a profit. Used books are going to be a thing of the past for students as soon as textbook publishers migrate to digital content-only models and completely control the market. The bookstore better sell more sweatshirts, banners, note pads and pencils.

I used to work in Yale's bookstore and if I recall correctly, textbooks were crappy mark ups. Used were better profit but at least a good savings for the students.

Also, unless I'm mistaken, a ton of dough goes into the creation and updating the material in textbooks so the authors are making very little money.

In other words, they are a necessary, expensive part of getting edumacated.

in which a college in Maryland (UM?) is eliminating textbooks, making them accessible online.

That college tuition doesn't cover... YOUR TEXT BOOKS.

In comment 12440992 bc4life said:

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in which a college in Maryland (UM?) is eliminating textbooks, making them accessible online.

That's UMUC - University of Maryland's University College, not main campus. They were a night-school alternative and have moved more toward online courses.

Just had dinner recently with a cousin and her college-age children and all the girls rented textbooks (St. John's/Fordham).

not get paid that much for them...

In comment 12440626 ctc in ftmyers said:

Quote:

put them online for free. Why the whole educational system needs revamped (reinvented) Too many good scholars on here that needed to be payed back for what they put in to educate our children.

Go to reddit and search "free textbooks". There are tons of sites that have them online for free. (Just not necessarily legal)

See if this helps you.
Openstax College - ( New Window )