Textbook websites offer cheaper prices

Jan. 19, 2010 ­— Instead of waiting in lines at T.I.S College Bookstore at the beginning of each semester, freshman Meredith Grubbs chooses to buy her books online.

“I Google the ISB number, then buy the cheapest book,” she said. “I can compare them on the computer instead of going to different stores.”

If she knows someone looking to buy a book she no longer needs, Grubbs said she can get more money by selling to another student instead of selling back to a store.

Textyard.com, a website created by two IU students two years ago, offers students an easier way to buy and sell textbooks directly to each other, said junior Ben Greenberg, co-founder of Textyard. The site, which allows students to search for textbooks by class number, has recently expanded outside of Indiana to universities in Illinois and other surrounding states, he said.

“Our plan is to be in most states around the country by next fall,” Greenberg said. “Right now, we’re expanding to all schools with more than 20,000 people that attend them.”

When students use the site to search for books, Greenberg said they can also see Amazon prices.

“Students save money either way,” he said.

While the site currently only offers books to buy, Greenberg said it might look into adding rentals in the future.

Freshman Tasha Dykes said she used the IU Bookstore to purchase her textbooks this semester, but next semester will be different. After hearing a friend tell her about Chegg.com, she said she has decided to try renting her books.

“I’m not going to keep the books,” she said. “I’m not going to read them later. I know if I sell them back to the bookstore, I don’t get much money back.”

Jeff Cohen, CEO of campusbooks.com, said they launched textbookrenter.com, a rental price comparison site, in November 2009.

The site brings five rental Web sites to one location, he said, and helps students understand the policy of each company.

“We felt students needed a place to understand the options available,” he said. “You can compare prices and conditions and can see what other people say about the companies as well.”

Renting textbooks allows students to take the discount up-front, Cohen said.
However, it is not for everyone. Students who write in or highlight in their textbooks might prefer to buy them, he said, as well as students who need the books for a subsequent semester.

“I think we help explain the rental market,” Cohen said. “We help students decide to rent or buy. A rental company is trying to sell you their book. We provide an objective view.”

Though there are many options online to rent or buy textbooks, freshman Amal Akbik said she finds using the bookstore easier.

“I look them up online first,” she said. “If I can actually see the book, I know I’m getting the right one.”