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CLEVELAND - Going back to college doesn't have to break the bank. The days of paying hundreds of dollars for college textbooks are over.
College students are always looking to save, and this year they'll love the new federal laws that help them save even more.
Students will soon fill college campuses, but every year fewer buyers fill the bookstore.
"I'd say at least 20 percent of the students on this campus are getting their books from other sources," Cleveland State University Bookstore Director Keith McCann explained.
Adam Gercak remembers when the bookstore was the only option. He's headed back to class after 10 years away, and he's noticed a difference.
"It's a little more user friendly," Gercak said.
New federal laws require schools to disclose the unique identifier or ISBN number after you register for classes. We found those ISBN's are still not available for every student, even though classes start in just a few weeks.
"Either they haven't decided on which books they're still developing for the course. They need to identify the correct materials," McCann explained. "In the case of Cleveland State they might use a lot of adjunct faculty that might not have been hired and they still have the freedom to select their books."
Price comparison sites
Gercak punches in the ISBN into Google or specific websites he likes. Instantly, he finds prices.
Gercak's International Business book sells at the bookstore for $166.65. Amazon sells it for $119.54 new. That was Gercak's choice until 5 On Your Side showed him other ways to save.
In a matter of seconds, we saved Gercak more than $90 just by using two comparison shopping sites.
$26.99 immediately caught Gercak's eye, but he quickly learned you have to read the fine print. The detailed listing shows a different ISBN and the seller is in India.
A few clicks more, and 5 On Your Side found a listing for $28.59 -- and that's with shipping. It's a California company advertising a brand new copy of the book Gercak needs.
The only catch this time is that it's an International version but there's really not much of a difference except for price.
"A book can be exactly the same except for how the cover is," McCann said. "They don't want those books coming back to the US but the internet has certainly broken down that barrier."
McCann said a $100 U.S. book will sell internationally for just $10. Now, the virtual world is allowing U.S. consumer to take advantage of those savings.
While McCann is now competing with these online stores, he said your university bookstore offers you something the online store can't.
"We're going to always make sure we have the right materials that the faculty asked for," McCann said.
Plus, McCann promotes the store's refund and exchange policy in case you change classes.
Make sure you read the fine print of the refund and exchange policy for any company you choose. Also, check the reputation of the company you are doing business with to make sure it's reliable. The last thing you want is to order a book and have a problem with it and not be able to get the right book before your class starts.
Also, pay by credit card if you are buying online rather than debit card. That gives you an extra layer of protection if there is a mistake. Most credit card companies will dispute your charge if you pay for a product or service you don't get, as long as you report it within a certain timeframe.
Price Comparison sites: CampusBooks , BIGWORDS , BestBookBuys , Textbooks , or Half
Buying Online: Amazon , eCampus , TextBookRentals
Make sure you check the return policies with all these companies. We recently had a viewer contact 5 On Your Side to let us know a book ordered didn't arrive on time. They were having trouble disputing the charge because it went through a third party on Half.com. That's why it's safest to pay with a credit card. It adds an extra layer of protection.
Also, if you're buying online you might be able to save even more with promotional codes. Search the company and "promotional codes" or "coupons" in a search engine to see if any apply. Sometimes, these codes come with restrictions.
Renting books
Renting is another popular choice. At Cleveland State University, you'll pay 57 percent less than the new price tag.
McCann said other colleges offer a 50 percent savings. Deciding if it's right for you depends on your budget and the class.
"You might find the book is useful for your reference library or maybe helpful for you in future classes and you won't have it that way," McCann explained.
Deciding whether to rent or buy used is a toss-up. While used books cost more up front, you could spend less than renting if you get a high buy back price. The problem is, you can't control the re-sale price. It depends on if the course is taught the next semester and how many students enroll.
McCann said most students think they get less money for the books they sell then they actually do. He said that's because you remember the book you didn't get much
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