Textbook prices have always been a big issue when starting a new school semester. With today’s technology, SMU students can search new and used book prices on Web sites and in bookstores.

Last year, the SMU bookstore experienced a decline in sales due to the increase of online buyers. But, Mike Adams, the special events coordinator at the SMU bookstore, said this year’s sales are back up. He believes that the increase is due in part to the accessibility of the bookstore.

Although price shopping is a valuable way to save money, students may find it easier to buy the correct edition and have the reassurance of having their supplies ready for the first day of class. Many times, students are stranded, waiting sometimes up to 13 weeks for an online order to come in.

Adams said the 85 percent return policy the bookstore keeps should be incentive enough for students to buy from the school. They also have the choice between new and used books, he said.

“We have a larger number of used books, and we try to keep them as clean as possible,” Adams said.

With many up-and-coming Web sites offering cheaper prices, students are finding ways to save money in exchange for their patience. Macroeconomics by Robert J. Barro is $30 less at www.ecampus.com than at the bookstore. Calculus: Early Transcendentals by James Stewart can be up to 30 percent less at www.amazon.com than in the bookstore.

But this is not always the case.

Serway and Beichner’s book Physics for Scientists and Engineers is only $2 more at the bookstore than at any of the given textbook Web sites. Students have been researching Web sites such as www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and www.ecampus.com.

Junior Phil Carlson said he saved $250 in buying his books online. With a minor in history, Carlson found himself having to buy 31 books this semester, with 13 for a Roman history course alone. With a budget in mind, he set to work researching each text at the bookstore and comparing the prices with books he found on Amazon.com. He found that 26 of his 31 books cost less elsewhere.

Finding cheaper textbooks online may be due to a couple of causes. For one, the books may be priced cheaper and compensated with a higher shipping rate. Secondly, independent sellers can go through Web sites such as Amazon.com and sell their own materials without having to go through the company itself.

Despite the cost incentive, students may not have the time or the patience to purchase their books online. Uzo Awa, a first-year, tried to buy her textbooks online this semester.

“There are security issues online,” Awa said. “The bookstore offers accessibility and convenience.”

First-year Meredith Rescoe agreed.

“Teachers assign stuff immediately,” Rescoe said. “At the bookstore, the books you need are right there and you don’t have to wait.”