Text Book Shopping Popular Online

By Lucy Mitchell
Jan 23 2011

Colleges around the US reported this week that textbook shopping has become an online event and their school based stores are taking a big hit.

In the days past, kids would buy all of their books from stores right on campus. Those who were looking for some better deals would buy the used books, while those with limitless income paid for the new books.

But with incomes a bit tighter these days kids are turning to the online venues to find the textbooks that they need for their higher education. Several of the largest online retailers in the book and media industry dedicate large sections to textbooks and the kids are finding that they can get more for their buck.

On average, textbooks that are purchased online save students 75% from the cost of buying them through the college stores. Furthermore, students have a better chance of selling those books for the same or more than they paid when they are done with them through the online venues.

Nonetheless, the stores on campuses around the US say that they have taken a major hit over the past several years. With the number of students using the online venues there are few that will venture into the stores to make their purchases.

The only savior for those stores appears to be the newer books that may not yet appear online. Colleges often change their standard textbooks after just one year of use in many cases, making it harder to find used copies.