Buying Books With Credit Cards?

Question

One of the books for the fall semster cost 91.75 at my schools bookstore. Looking on Amazon .com I see some used one shipping at less that 10 plus 4 dollars shipping. It is a better idea to buy from there right here is the link?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0073228745/ref=dp_olp_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1218404719&sr=8-1

Which is the better seller to choose from?

I'm going to buy it with a credit card

Answer 1

If the book is really that expensive in your book store, you will want to make extra-sure that the book online is the same as the book in the store.  To do that, check to make sure that the ISBN numbers match (you can find this number in the first couple of pages of every book).  

Some teachers will let you use older editions of a book, but it is better to ask first so you don't spend the money on a book that you can't use for class.

Answer 2

I'd go with the second seller, at 97 percent rating, Better World Books for $5.22 + $3.99 s/h.  I don't buy anything from a seller who has a rating less than 97, especially if I need the book / item soon.

Buying used is almost ALWAYS better than buying.  

Regarding editions:  Even when the edition is older, most of the time, 1. Professors don't mind.  2. There's little to no difference between editions.  Book authors and publishers are notorious for changing just the cover and re-issuing a new edition to try and negate the used book market and rake in more money.  If you think about it, if you buy the used book and save $80 here.  That means you'd have to buy 8 worthless books to counterbalance the savings you'd get.  Better let to someone else be the sucker and buy the thing new.

I like to use CampusBooks.com to check prices and it looks like the Amazon.com Marketplace is your best bet here, in terms of price and rating of seller offering.  I've actually bought directly from Better World Books before, and the transaction went great.

Sometimes shipping can take longer than expected with used sellers, and communication can be spotty, which is a little unnerving, but frankly, it's worth the $80.

Answer 3

I always use Amazon and have occasionally brought from the "used" section. It's fine, I would go with the used copy.

Answer 4

Is the 9th edition of this book the edition the professor is using for the class? Or, do you need the 10th edition?

Be absolutely sure before you buy the book in your link that it is exactly the edition for your class, or you will find out that you just purchased the wrong book!

Here's the link for the newer edition, and it is much more expensive!

http://www.amazon.com/Children-John-W-Sa...

If a prof is using the same title over and over each year, they will usually require the latest edition for the class.

Answer 5

Buy the cheap one from Amazon. No question. I have bought tons of things from Amazon, both new and used, and never been displeased with it.