Since I began grad school I’ve always searched high and low for cheaper textbooks. I can not say enough good things about Abe Books. They even answered an e-mail I sent at 9:30pm—so they’ve blown me away in terms of online bookstore customer service. However, it’s been like night and day comparing Abe Books to TextbookX. For those of you looking to save money for college textbooks, this article is for you. I’ve saved more than 50% on most of my textbooks.
This is important to me because (unlike my husband) I’m not getting reimbursed for my grad school education. I found both Abe Books and TextbookX via my employer (they are shopping partners of ours). I often get the soft cover International edition to save the most money. I was informed by the Framingham State College Bookstore to purchase the wrong books for my summer class. I was so excited that I saved a ton of money—but they were all on the wrong books. Abe Books was kind enough to take them back sans shrink wrap—but I paid a 15% restocking fee (which was fair).
I was forced to use TextbookX as Abe Books did not have the correct texts I needed in stock. That was my mistake right there…I should have stuck to the one I was already loyal to. Classmates of mine suggested Half.com (but I figured TextbookX must be excellent as they work with my employer). Boy was I ever wrong. I e-mailed TextbookX because only 2 out of my 3 books arrived on time. I was curious about seller feedback (they have a marketplace much like Amazon.com). The feedback was horrible on the seller I chose. The customers were telling the BBB all about their horror stories.
As for me, my class started weeks ago—and still no book. I e-mailed TextbookX last night and I have yet to hear back. I waited in line at the Post Office for 25 minutes this morning. That in itself is a whole other issue (1 clerk during rush hour to handle the mail for the biggest town in America?) Upon my arrival to the front of the line I realized why I was waiting in line.
My missing book was coming to me from a foreign country (in this case India). Much to my surprise the clerk informed me it was good I signed for the package as they would have sent it back to India if I did not show up. For some reason they were not able to deliver it to my home. I did not pay for international shipping and I’d never received international shipments from Amazon’s Marketplace. This was all new to me! I’m not against outsourcing in any way (unless of course I lose my job to someone in another country) after seeing the 30 Days episode about outsourcing.
So somehow, someone in India is selling books for $5 with cheap shipping and still making money? Wow.
Alas, my 25 minutes will most likely not go to waste. As for TextbookX, now I know why their customers go to the BBB! If any of you have success stories with saving on books I’d love to hear from you! Resources:
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Comments: 4
I have ordered from all three that you have mentioned and prefer TextbookX, where I place more orders than the other two. My suggestion send another e-mail, as they might not have received the message. This does happen.
Good luck with this problem. Any of us can have a book not arrive no matter where we order the book. I ordered a book through half.com that never arrived. I received my money back, but it took awhile to resolve the problem.
I did not know it was a non-US book. If I had known I would not have purchased it. Some authors only ship from the UK etc. but for textbooks no way...
Thanks for stopping by! Glad you've had luck with Abebooks.com and half.com!
I sold a book back at the bookstore that I bought online (heee!) for $40. Essentially I bought the book for not much more than that. I used it for the course and returned it to the store that would have charged more than abebooks.com in the first place. I do keep most of my books though, I think they make me look smarter by having them on my work bookshelf. ;)