kansasskydiver 0 #1 August 25, 2003 So college has startd up, tuition has increased, and I'm required to buy 5 books about 120 each, pretty damn close to $600 bucks. WTF is the deal with the whole "let's rip off the poor college students" I bought the books I needed for this week, just got on half.com (thank goodness for this site) and got my books for $229. Then when I get my books in, I'm going to return the ones I had to buy to the book store. Geez, never thought college could get any more expensive. There are 2 book stores in town, both owned by the same guy, so he just jacks up the prices. So if you're a college student, go to Half.com I highly recommend it! Blue skies Chris<--- See look, pink dolphins DO exist! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 August 25, 2003 Books are a kick in the balls! I thought I had it bad when I was an engineer, but I've spent nearly $300 for a single class's books in upper-level history...--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kansasskydiver 0 #3 August 25, 2003 Geeeeeez... Ok I'll quit my bitching now<--- See look, pink dolphins DO exist! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #4 August 25, 2003 No way, bro, bitch away! I was just commenting that I really know what you're talking about. The worst part is having a book that they won't buy back, a book that you paid $80 or more for that they won't buy back. That was money down the drain...yeah, you passed the course, but still.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jayruss 0 #5 August 25, 2003 Quote Geez, never thought college could get any more expensive. There are 2 book stores in town, both owned by the same guy, so he just jacks up the prices. Chris HA, never though college could get more expensive, try grad school. Here's what I do. Order the book from Amazon.com take good care of it then return it. Their return policy is so great that they will take them back and even pay for return postage. I just got so sick and tired of paying $120 for a used book to have them offer my a buck to buy it back at the end of the year, or maybe $5. I now have a bookcase full of doorstops cause it was cheaper to keep them. __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #6 August 25, 2003 Get your ass in gear and get yourself a scholarship that covers books. She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kansasskydiver 0 #7 August 25, 2003 how long after you buy them do you ahve to return them?<--- See look, pink dolphins DO exist! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alanab 0 #8 August 25, 2003 usually a couple of weeks.. they are supposed to tell you when you check out, or it'll say on the receipt or a flyer they gave you in the bag. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fast 0 #9 August 25, 2003 College books are such a freaking ripoff. I dont think I have spent less than 500 any of the years except last (i skipped 2 books) /sigh~D Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me. Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jayruss 0 #10 August 25, 2003 Quotehow long after you buy them do you ahve to return them? 3 months, so sometimes you have to do a mid-semester swap the key is to order them from Amazon.com the college bookstores only let you return them within a week. __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skytash 0 #11 August 25, 2003 I have found the 2nd hand books through Amazon.co.uk were just as good as the new ones, some even better as the important stuff was already underlined in pencil Still have loads of doorstops as I haven't got 'round to re-selling them yet... Another thing I find annoying is when they come out in new editions each year and you can't sell them on to people doing the same course the following year as the new edition is out and they are worried they will miss something if they have 2nd rather than 3rd editions tashDon't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is a special occasion. Avril Sloe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blahr 0 #12 August 25, 2003 You could always skip college like I did. But then of course it took me till I was 38 to get a decent salary and even then I was very lucky and even then its only because I know UNIX rules and Microsoft sucks ass Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,027 #13 August 25, 2003 QuoteSo college has startd up, tuition has increased, and I'm required to buy 5 books about 120 each, pretty damn close to $600 bucks. WTF is the deal with the whole "let's rip off the poor college students" I bought the books I needed for this week, just got on half.com (thank goodness for this site) and got my books for $229. Then when I get my books in, I'm going to return the ones I had to buy to the book store. Geez, never thought college could get any more expensive. There are 2 book stores in town, both owned by the same guy, so he just jacks up the prices. So if you're a college student, go to Half.com I highly recommend it! Blue skies Chris I'm a professor and I agree with you. I have pretty much made a text book optional in one of my classes and have specified no text at all in another. In the class where I consider a text useful (lots of quantum mechanics and stuff) I chose the cheapest text I could find. Funny thing is, the same books are usually lots cheaper in Britain or Australia.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #14 August 25, 2003 QuoteI'm a professor and I agree with you. I have pretty much made a text book optional in one of my classes and have specified no text at all in another. In the class where I consider a text useful (lots of quantum mechanics and stuff) I chose the cheapest text I could find. Right on, I do the same thing with the classes I teach. I know that the students are paying enough for the class, I don't expect them to put out more money for a book.May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kansasskydiver 0 #15 August 25, 2003 Kallend, I'm glad to hear a professor's opinion on the subject. A lot of times, the profs get money for using the bookes, atleast I know how that get's handled here. So it sucks when the profs are selling off books new for $200 and getting 10% of the sales. It's just a big buracracy, but oh well. have to get that little peice of paper to keep daddy happy and get a good job down the line huh<--- See look, pink dolphins DO exist! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ScubaSteve 0 #16 August 25, 2003 I check my books out from the library. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kansasskydiver 0 #17 August 25, 2003 When I was in Brasil teaching English, I made copies of all the important text that I needed my students to read. The actual books they learned out of were provided by the school. I think college books should be like in k-12, provided by the school for use.<--- See look, pink dolphins DO exist! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #18 August 25, 2003 QuoteI think college books should be like in k-12, provided by the school for use. I'm guessing you don't have children in a public school system right now. They are charged a book fee at most public schools, not to mention locker rental, and other stuff the administrators can come up with. It cost an average of $200 to enroll one child in a public school. I have to ask, where does my homeowner's tax money go? Oh don't get me started on how we can cut the amount of money that is wasted in the public schools.May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kansasskydiver 0 #19 August 25, 2003 No i don't have any children, sorry I brought up a sensitive issue, but i would much rather pay 200 a semeseter and have my books provided. Also, keep in mind we pay over $1000 per semester to "register" in classes plust campus priv fees, technology fees, parking etc<--- See look, pink dolphins DO exist! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Push 0 #20 August 25, 2003 Math and CS courses are terrible with this. Especially math. They make us buy books for $150 US ($200 CDN or so) that they never even use in class! Or worse, they only use them for homework problems. Just write down the friggin problem on that damn page you're giving me with my homework! I'm not buying any books this year. If I really find that I need one, I'll go get it. Did this last semester and it worked out great. More money = more jumps = happier Push = better marks. Nuff said. -- Toggle Whippin' Yahoo Skydiving is easy. All you have to do is relax while plummetting at 120 mph from 10,000' with nothing but some nylon and webbing to save you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aero04 0 #21 August 25, 2003 Yup, my ass is still bleeding from all the times I've been f%#*ed buying books. Buy a $120 book, and get $30 at the end of the semester. Then the bookstore turns around and sells that book for $80. Fortunately, for the last few semesters the profs told us to buy the class notes instead of the books. They usually run $20-$30. These notes are usually better than the book anyway. Books have always been a rip off, and it always will. Just like the cost of a semester at college. Administrators jack you with all those dumbass fees that add an extra $600 to your tuition. Oh hell with it, I'm getting pissed just thinking about it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ginandjuice 0 #22 August 25, 2003 Today I walked through our schools bookstore to tally up about how much im gonna spend and im looking towards a possible $400 to $500. Thats not counting the books that I have to buy outside of class for my literature class. I wish I didnt have to buy the books, they are such a rip-off. GINNYThe words I have to say, May well be simple but they're true, Until you give your love, There's nothing more that we can do-David Bowie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,027 #23 August 25, 2003 QuoteKallend, I'm glad to hear a professor's opinion on the subject. A lot of times, the profs get money for using the bookes, atleast I know how that get's handled here. So it sucks when the profs are selling off books new for $200 and getting 10% of the sales. It's just a big buracracy, but oh well. have to get that little peice of paper to keep daddy happy and get a good job down the line huh Hmmm - no-one ever offered me a deal like that! Which school is this?... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MyOwnWay 0 #24 August 25, 2003 i got really lucky this semester. i get use the second half of a book i used last semester for german 2. also someone got smart and made copies of the chapters you'll only need for calc 1 instead of buying the book which is for calc 1-3. so that cost me only $30 instead of $150!! yeah, but i am still very poor and can barely afford to breathe! college is raping me!_________________________________________ all good things are wild and free - Henry David Thoreau Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #25 August 25, 2003 QuoteQuoteKallend, I'm glad to hear a professor's opinion on the subject. A lot of times, the profs get money for using the bookes, atleast I know how that get's handled here. So it sucks when the profs are selling off books new for $200 and getting 10% of the sales. It's just a big buracracy, but oh well. have to get that little peice of paper to keep daddy happy and get a good job down the line huh Hmmm - no-one ever offered me a deal like that! Which school is this? No one's offered me that deal either, or else I'd have my students getting books. Afterall, teachers don't get paid enoughMay your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
