As the initial class-shopping period comes to an end, it’s time to bite the bullet and hand over hundreds of dollars for books. To customize your shopping experience, The Daily Campus has compiled options for the social shopper, the busy shopper and the bargain shopper. Check out and compare the book providers The DC has listed below.
For the social shopper –
If you’re the type who considers shopping a social affair, than these are the stores for you. Expect to bump into friends as you make your way through the aisles.
SMU Bookstore: Barnes & Noble
Price: $$
Pros: Other than major credit cards, cash and checks, it accepts Pony Express and Direct Charge. (Direct Charge sends the bill home to mom and dad.)
Cons: There are not many used textbooks, and the used book prices are higher than Varsity Bookstore. There are also so many non-school related purchases cluttering the aisle to the textbook section of the store that you could end up spending money on things you hadn’t planned to and don’t really need.
Return policy: Full refund for undergraduate textbooks until Jan. 24. After that date, you can receive a full refund (up to 30 days from the first day of classes) with an add/drop class slip.
Varsity Bookstore
Price: $$
Pros: If you’re looking to save money, it has more used books than new books, and its used book prices are less expensive than the SMU Bookstore.
Cons: You can’t send home the bill to your parents or use your Pony Express. The shelf labels aren’t user friendly, so, more than likely, you will have to ask for help.
Return Policy: Full refund for undergraduate textbooks until Jan. 24. After that date, you can receive a full refund (up to 30 days from the first day of classes) with an add/drop class slip.
For the too-busy-to-shop shopper
Whether you are taking more than the traditional 15 hours, working a part-time job, raising a family or all the above, shopping for books online can save you a lot time. Heck, you may even save a little money.
Disclaimer: Make sure you know either the name and author of the book you’re searching for or, better yet, the ISBN code, which is an identification number located on the backs of all books. Without this specific information, you could end up wasting a lot of time searching for the right book.
Barnes & Noble.com
Price: $$
Pros: New and used textbook prices are usually a few dollars cheaper than the SMU Bookstore/Barnes & Noble (without shipping). If you’re a member, you save 10 percent off the B&N price every day (savings doesn’t apply at the SMU Bookstore). If you chose the right books and spend more than $25, you may qualify for free shipping. The online store is open 24 hours.
Cons: The books take a few days or longer to arrive, depending on when you catch the deliveryman.
Return Policy: You can return online purchases at the SMU Bookstore with an online printout receipt. For new books, you can return purchases through the mail if you have the order receipt and the books are in their original condition. B&N will provide a full refund for 30 days. For used books, you must ship the order, as you received it, to the authorized seller(s). The seller processes your order through B&N with the same refund mentioned above.
www.barnesandnoble.com
Amazon.com
Price: $ – $$
Pros: Amazon has many more price options than B&N.com. You can read a description of the seller’s reputation and the quality of the book, in addition to rating the seller after you’ve received your order. Prices can start as low as $10 for a book priced at nearly $100 if you were to buy it new.Cons: Since you’re buying from multiple sellers, your books may not arrive all at once.
Return Policy: For new and unopened Amazon items, the online store gives full refunds before 30 days. After 30 days, Amazon reimburses a partial amount, which can vary. For used items or items bought through a seller listed on Amazon, the return policies vary.
www.amazon.com
For the bargain shopper –
It’s a gamble, but could turn out to be quite the bargain.
SMU Libraries
Price: FREE for all SMU students.
Pros: You can renew a library book up top five times, if no one requests it while you have it checked out. The libraries buy books that sometimes turn out to be textbooks or supplemental textbooks. Some of the materials are on electronic reserve, which are available to all SMU students through the Web.
Cons: Faculty members, who realize a supplemental textbook for their class is available at the library, will often reserve it. When a book is on reserve, it has checkout restrictions.
Library fines can be another downfall.
Return Policies: If a book is not returned on time, you can face library fines. After 30 days, a post will be placed on your library account if you have not returned your books. After approximately 37 days, from date of posting to the library account, the computer system automatically transfers it over to Enrollment Services, which places a miscellaneous charge on your account set by the library, depending on the type of fine you have.
www.smu.edu/libraries
Half Price Books
Price: $
Pros: It sells new and used books, and everything is half off or less than the current retail or the market value. The stores generally have about 60 percent used and 40 percent new books in stock. If you call in, someone will check to see if the book is in stock. You can even order it over the phone and they’ll send it to you.
Cons: It does not order textbooks from publishers, so you are relying on the buy-back portion of the store. If you need novels for class, this place is your best bet.
Return Policies: Within seven days you can bring something back with a receipt and get full price reimbursement. After the seventh day, you can receive full store credit for 23 more days (30-day policy).
www.halfpricebooks.com
Jessica Savage compiled the information above.
