They give out codes to save an extra 5% when renting or to make an extra 5% when selling back. Mine is CC108863, feel free to use it!

Or one of my econ classes had a special class packet that we had to buy. It consisted of 1) the teacher’s half-written book 2) attendance cards 3) a code for the teachers own homework submission system and 4) excerpts from another econ. text. All this for just under $200. The entirety of other text itself was available new for under $30. The rest wasn’t available separately, but similar homework submission sites cost around $50 for a semester, so ostensibly, the professor was valuing his unfinished textbook and and cards to turn in during class for attendance at around $120.

Then there was one class where the only text went out of print some eight years prior. There were a few classroom copies of it, but the only place to buy it was the university bookstore, where it was sold at an outrageous price due to its rarity. Every year there were fewer and fewer copies available for purchase.

Many textbooks aren’t really required, either. Sometimes the bookstores here will add books as ‘required’ that the professor hasn’t even heard of, or will take books the prof. listed as ‘optional’ and mark them ‘required’ anyway. And, of course, they won’t let you return anything after a week prior to school starting without a note saying you dropped the class, and then only until the end of the first week.

I’ve even seen hardcover textbooks with tear-out assignment sheets, insuring that either the person who buys the book will fail the class, or will be unable to sell it back as used. That way they don’t even have to spin a ‘new edition’ every few years to stave off the used market.

I also used to approach students in the class I was going to take the next semester to ask about they textbook especially if it was a particularly expensive one. Then, I basically had first dibs on them which helps when you go to a very small college with a limited supply.

saladdin

I majored in engineering and have a word of caution about renting books. It is not a good idea to rent books that are specific to your major. I find myself going back to my college textbooks all the time. If I would of rented them back then, I would be buying them now.

The best way to save is just like athena1224 says. See if the professor will use an older version. They are often times MUCH cheaper and always available.

I was an accounting student. Nothing like buying that 2005 IRS Federal Tax book one semester for $100 then knowing you will only be able to sell it for $2 by the time the semester is done because the 2006 book is out.