Textbook purchases: Check on more than one marketplace before you buy

[Lanny]

Last night, I needed to buy the 10th grade English textbook for DD.  The supply is decreasing and the prices are increasing and she will need the book soon. Almost all of the books I buy are on Amazon, but I wanted to pay with my Paypal Balance and Amazon doesn't accept PayPal.  A childhood friend has purchased several books on AbeBooks, but they don't accept PayPal.  Then, I remembered Alibris.  They accept PayPal.  Before I placed the order, I checked on RetailMeNot and they had a Discount Code for 15% off. The textbook was $30 plus shipping, so we saved $4.50 with the Discount Code.

 

NOTE: I have seen, looking at the same textbook, from the same Seller, on Amazon, and on AbeBooks, sometimes it is a little more or a little less on AbeBooks. For this textbook, one Seller had it on AbeBooks for approximately $20 more than they listed it for on Amazon.  

[Um_2_4]

If you have the ISBN, I use www.bookfinder.com to compare prices including shipping for most books before I order.

[gardenmom5]

dd really liked fetchbook.info.   it's a bookseller conglomeration site that will price up to 145 different sites.   you put in your isbn #

Edited August 2, 2016 by gardenmom5

[Lanny]

If you have the ISBN, I use www.bookfinder.com to compare prices including shipping for most books before I order.

 

The ISBN number is crucial.  One should never search for or purchase textbooks, without using the ISBN number.

[gardenmom5]

The ISBN number is crucial.  One should never search for or purchase textbooks, without using the ISBN number.

 

especially for a class - textbooks get replaced frequently with only minor differences, but those differences can be a big deal in a class if the instructor gives such directions as "do pages 85- 86".

 

we have a friend who is a prof, and has written a textbook.   his publisher *requires* he update it every two years. 

[Lanny]

I think last night was the first time I was able to use a Discount Code for a textbook purchase. Normally, on Amazon, I never think about that possibility, and if I did, I would need to sort through a lot of Amazon coupon offers.  But, I did check, on RetailMeNot, for Discount Codes for AbeBooks and for Alibris. The 15% discount on Alibris expired today, and now they are offering a 10% discount.  I will try to remember, for future purchases, to check out the Discount Codes that might be applicable. The $4.50 we saved can be spent on something else.  

[Lanny]

Follow on: I ordered the textbook last Monday night, on Alibris, from AlphaBookWorks in the Atlanta area. This morning (Saturday) it is out for delivery in Miami FL. They sent it via USPS Media Mail.  I don't understand why they sent it from Atlanta to Memphis (I know the Geography of that part of the USA and have been in those cities), but it seems to have moved in a very timely manner:

 

 

Out for Delivery MIAMI, FL 33122 August 6, 2016 7:36 am Sorting Complete MIAMI, FL 33122 August 6, 2016 7:26 am Arrived at Post Office MIAMI, FL 33155 August 6, 2016 7:15 am Departed USPS Destination Facility JACKSONVILLE, FL 32099 August 4, 2016 4:20 pm Arrived at USPS Destination Facility JACKSONVILLE, FL 32099 August 4, 2016 4:08 pm Arrived at USPS Origin Facility MEMPHIS, TN 38136 August 3, 2016 10:34 am Accepted at USPS Origin Facility ALPHARETTA, GA 30005 August 3, 2016 9:19 am Pre-Shipment Info Sent to USPS   August 2, 2016