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College Textbooks

bkekcsbkekcs500+ posts
Trying to reach the most possible readers I am asking this question here.

Seeing how much the textbooks cost (ouch!) I have been scouring the internet looking for any deals I can find to help my daughter. I have noticed on many of the different websites they sell "international editions" that claim to have the exact content etc. but may have different ISBN numbers or covers.

Have any of you or your children used these "international editions"? What has been your experience with the books or the booksellers?

I am attatching a copy of an email answer about these books I received from McGraw-Hill addressing this issue but would love to hear any feedback positive or negative before we possibly indulge.

From: "Prof_CS, College" <Customer.Service@mcgraw-hill.com>
To: ***x
Date: Wednesday - July 26, 2006 6:40 AM
Subject: RE: International Economics by Pugel edition 13
Mime.822 (2287 bytes) [View] [Save As]

Dear Customer,
Thank you for your inquiry.
The domestic sale of international editions is not authorized by
McGraw-Hill Education. While it is not illegal to purchase these books
in the United States, McGraw-Hill is in no way responsible for the
outcome of such purchases. Again, you may rest assured that these
purchases are not "illegal"; they are just not authorized or supported
by McGraw-Hill Education.

Sincerely,
McGraw-Hill Customer Service
Last edited {1}
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Y YourBasicMom100+ posts
bkekcs, I, too, know nothing about international editions. But I do know that there are good prices without having to even think about dealing with an international edition.

Go to the school's website, to the bookstore, to the textbook section. If that is not available, have her physically go to the bookstore, locate the books she needs, and have her write down the title, author, and most importantly the ISBN. The ISBN will give you the edition the teacher wants to use, and you won't be chasing down an incorrect edition.

Take the ISBN s to an internet search, and in quick time you are on the way to seeing the best prices +/- shipping costs.

I have also used http://www.campusi.com/
I also like http://www.alibris.com/
and I sometimes like half.com, haven't had much luck across the board with ebay, sellers usually jack up their shpping costs too much over the $3.50 media mail I find on half.com

I save a bunch of money. I have been buying a book every 2 weeks or so and having them shipped to him at school -- I am Finished book buying !! (for fall anyway) His school has a good track record of using the books that the kids are reqiured to buy. I also try to sell them later on ebay/half.
L lafmom5,000+ posts
YourBasicMom or anyone- Are you able to sell the books you buy on line to the school bookstore at the end of the semester or will you have to try and sell them back on line as well?

When we went for orientation a current student there suggested to son that he go Amazon.com and purchase his books.

I haven't performed any searches yet, but will this weekend.
Y YourBasicMom100+ posts
lafmom, yes, they can be resold at he bookstore because it is the book for the class. My experience is that the bookstore doesn't offer very much to buy them back, and if it is a newish edition - like 7th edition published Jan 2006 - you will get more $$ selling it yourself via those ways previously discussed.

I finally got through to him to stop selling them back to the bookstore. This way I keep the proceed$ and it helps to buy more books.

P.S. After the summer classes, this kid is actually a college senior. I'm pretty sure he has 3 semesters left, but amazing to me he is a senior.
Last edited by YourBasicMom
bkekcsbkekcs500+ posts
quote:
Go to the school's website, to the bookstore, to the textbook section. If that is not available, have her physically go to the bookstore, locate the books she needs, and have her write down the title, author, and most importantly the ISBN. The ISBN will give you the edition the teacher wants to use, and you won't be chasing down an incorrect edition.


I tried checking the one specific book I am looking for right now by ISBN. Using the link provided by Orlando,(a very useful link by the way)the first several books listed from that search were the less expensive paperback international edition. In my case I have learned that this particular edition is the one sold in the UK. It sounds like some of you may have purchased a less expensive paperback edition without it causing a problem at school.

So far no horror stories posted in answer to the original question. Any horror stories out there?

Thanks for your responses.
Last edited by bkekcs

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