College students all too familiar with the hassle of finding the right textbooks for each class can find doing so on time an even more formidable challenge.
Luckily, there are numerous options depending on a student’s priorities, whether they are convenience, time of day or looking to buy or to rent.
If long lines make you cringe, then taking your business to a place like Ratcliffe Textbooks might be a welcome alternative.
Ratcliffe Textbooks is near the dorms and is not as busy as some other stores, which makes information and availability much less of a problem.
Unlike Ratcliffe’s, the University Bookstore, located under the Asp Avenue Parking Facility, is one of the busiest bookstores. Lines at the University Bookstore can become long and students may spend half an hour waiting in line.
But sometimes long lines have their advantages.
The University Bookstore gives students the option to preorder books so they will be ready and waiting. It is a convenient perk that students are picking up on. Zack Splittstoesser, a University Bookstore employee who works with online orders, said the number of students preordering their texts online has nearly doubled this year compared to last.
Lines and wait time could lengthen as the first week of school kicks off, but online orders may reduce some stress.
For customers looking to save a little money, quick and easy isn’t always the best way to shop for books.
Renting textbooks is becoming increasingly popular around campus. Ratcliffe Textbooks itself has seen about a 50-percent increase in the number of students renting textbooks as opposed to buying them, said Lauren Eidson, an employee at the store.
The University Bookstore, having just begun its rental program, has no comparative information from last year, said Tina Peterson, the University Bookstore’s director. However, Peterson said she does believe that compared to last year, there has been an increase in students renting textbooks at her store as well.
By opting for loaners, students have an opportunity to save money by renting their textbooks as long as they take care of them and send them back on time, otherwise they will be charged additional fees.
A complication that arises when renting textbooks is that some textbooks are used for more than one class level. For instance, Elementary Algebra and Intermediate Algebra classes use the same text; therefore, you would need to rent the text for more than one semester in order to take both classes. So it’s important to think about how long you’ll need the texbook.
So if you need a book and you’re crunched for time, students do have options.
Inventories remained well stocked at many stores. Sharissa Siebert, manager of Ratcliffe Textbooks, said most of the texts and supplies students need have been in stock.
Siebert did add that Monday and Tuesday are expected to be the busiest days this week because of students receiving their syllabi.
But some students and their syllabi won’t even leave their bedrooms this textbook-shopping season.
Many students who already know what textbooks they need for their classes this semester are taking advantage of ordering their books online. They surf sites like Amazon, Borders and CBR.com to find the best deals.
Online shopping can save some money, but there is an element of stress that comes with it.
Political science junior Alli Gorospe has already ordered her books online. She was able to completely avoid the store scene.
Although she has received half of her books in the mail, she still hasn’t received all of them.
“It’s a problem if my book doesn’t get here before class starts,” Gorospe said.
The major downfall of buying textbooks online is certainly centered on reliability.
Timely delivery is crucial, but the thought of not knowing if your order will be correct and on time can leave uneasy feelings. To avoid any mix-ups make sure to double check the ISB number, author and edition before ordering your books.
No matter where you buy your books, keep in mind these final tips: get to the bookstore early, avoid the lunch crowd and be patient.
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Elin9 9 months, 1 week ago
It's not that easy to find affordable and brand new textbooks. I personally like http://www.collegetextbooks.net . Here, We can simply rent or re-sell our college textbooks. That's why as early as now, decide on how will you use your textbooks.