Manns says there are a few factors students consider when weighing rent vs. buy for course textbooks:
- How soon do I want the book? Do I prefer getting my textbooks well before class starts? Then buying might be the way to go. When student rent course textbooks, they need to return the book before the due date. If they rent too soon the due date will arrive before the semester ends. Hang onto the book and they’ll be charged a late fee. Most of the time, this added cost isn’t much, but it can add up if they’re really late getting the textbook back to the merchant.
• Do I value convenience? If so, then renting is probably the best option. Students don’t have to worry about reselling the course textbook after the class ends–they simply print a shipping label and send it back to the merchant.
• Is the book all I need? Sometimes students need to have supplemental software that comes with the textbook. But most textbook-rental merchants don’t offer the supplemental software when they rent a textbook.
Right now, most students are considering their course textbook buying options. Their fall classes are well underway and they’ll likely be buying textbooks for the spring semester in early January. But Manns says it could be financially prudent to start planning now for how to get the best bargains.
“Many college students are already strapped for cash, counting out coins to pay for a meal or worrying about whether they’ll have enough gas money to get home for a holiday,” he says. “They need to look for ways to save everywhere, and if they can get by without a textbook or at least with a cheaper version, then so much the better.”
Material from a press release was used in this report.
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