This may have been mentioned here previously, but I thought I would pass along this info. I was searching for a good deal on one of my textbooks, but the price for this particular book is anywhere from $75 to $120, depending on where it is purchased. Instead, I found the ISBN for the "international edition" (the ISBN is different for the U.S. version) and purchased the book from Amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom. It's the same textbook, just a different cover, and I got it for $55...and that's after I paid for air mail shipping from the U.K. to the U.S.A.
I have been doing this for the since I started the DBA in accounting with Abebooks and buying the international version, I have bought in the price range of $25 to $55. But some people prefer the hardcover because the can "sell them back". With the saving I am getting I don't have to sell them back anyway.
Abebooks for example, guarantees that it will be the exact same textbook or the will refund your money in 30 days(Good idea to buy the books 30 days before the class begin), about the ISBN you can put in the site and it will matched with the international one. Until this date, all the books has been the same and I never had a problem with returning it and get a refund if the book was not as described(good condition or with no writing). And from time to time they will send you a 10% off coupon.
Just go to Google and type in the name and edition of the book you need and then add "international edition" to your search. For example: "English Composition and You" 2nd edition + international edition Alternatively, you can find the international edition ISBN on a site like Abebooks.com and then do a more extensive Google search to find a cheaper price.
"Outsourcing the Textbook" There was an interesting article in Time magazine recently concerning this very subject. Outsourcing the Textbook: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1838849,00.html
I usually search for ebook first before purchasing textbook. That is another way to save money. Most of the Computer textbook has ebook.
I have bought many IE books from Abebooks. I usually pick out the sellers that specify "exact same as U.S. edition". I have had no problems. Abner
Right now I am in the process of looking for a marketing book, several listings on Abebooks however really looks suspicious. First of all each "seller" has ratings however those ratings are completely inaccessible. You cannot see the number of replies, you cannot see the replies, etc. Several of the sellers have their names appear, however the most intensive google search on their company names turns up zilch. For example one book is for sale at "Sunmark store (Los Angeles)" however they are completely unlisted on the www. Seems like would be a very easy scam. Any comments?
Loan from library Hi, I was able to borrow one of the texts from our local CC for the duration of my husbands course. Our local CC is hooked into our county library system and also is hooked in with Drexel and Wilmington College in the same building so the library selection is great. You can also check with your interlibrary loan system to see if the book is available. Hille
One area of concern with international versions of textbooks - the end of chapter questions and problems can be in a different order. For example, Exercise #3 in the US version can be Exercise #7 in the international version. Also - the textbook content can be the same, but page numbering can be off by several pages. I've had students answer the wrong homework problems as a result of this. Some instuctors might be less understanding than I am.
How many times have you ordered from abebooks and why are you certain they are safe? Apparently by many complaints against them there are numerous problems that are unsolved, abebooks got a lot of 1 and 2 stars on resellerratings.com What I don't like: every single "dealer" has no phone number, no addess shown, and even when you enter their "store" name into google, they never have their own www address. Also I noticed that their email addresses are often yahoo or hotmail. On top of that there are zero feedback responses available so as a customer I don't know if that store which has 5 stars has 70,000 raters or 7. From one of the ratings it said that you actually can't get your money back until you've not only received the book but also the dealer acknowledges you having sent it back. Leaves lots of room for disputes. They have a lifetime rating of 3.5 out of 10 and 3.06 out of 10 for last 6 months. http://www.resellerratings.com/store/ABE_Books
I ordered many books from Abebooks.com when I was in grad school and never had any issues receiving the texts and they were always delivered timely. I am now the teacher and frequently tell my students about this site for purchasing books. Another option that I often used was a local independent collegiate bookstore. They often sell used books much cheaper than they can be bought for at the college bookstore.
Sounds like you have two options: 1. Take the plunge and buy a book from them and prove your concerns, or 2. Buy your book(s) elsewhere. Although I'm a satisfied Abebooks customer I never bother to give feedback - maybe I should start doingthat. I shall certainly continue to buy from Abebooks. By the way I sell items on ebay,use a hotmail address and I do not have a WWW website. I believe a lot of book sellers are individuals or small bookshops.
