This is the BIGWORDS cached version of this article. The original page can be found here.

The Drury Mirror Extras: Student Resources | Scholarships | Movies | Travel | GradZone


Drury University's Student Newspaper	Current Issue:

Download the
Frontpage!

Collegiate Presswire

Drury University

Springfield News-Leader

KYTV 3 Springfield, MO

College Publisher

Home > Features

Getting the most bang for your buck

Students have several options when it comes to selling text books

By Kent Otto

Published: Monday, December 12, 2005

Media Credit: Sarah Montgomery

The Drury Bookstore shelves are nearly empty in anticipation of buyback week. This will occur the week of finals, outside of the bookstore in the FSC Downunder.

It's finals week, you've been up for 63 hours straight and you just consumed your eighteenth Mountain Dew-Red Bull-Coffee concoction you recently invented.

Let's face it; you're exhausted, tired, and your stomach can barely stand the sight of that pesky organic chemistry book.

Before you throw a semester-end party that includes the burning of all your textbooks in a huge bonfire, you may consider grabbing some extra holiday cash by selling your books back before you leave for break.

You have a number of options when it comes to selling back your books, whether it's here on campus, in town, or online.

On Campus

The Drury Bookstore holds book buybacks during finals week each year. The buying will take place outside the bookstore in the FSC Downunder from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. December 12-14, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on December 15, and 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the 16th.

Valerie Rains, the associate director of the Drury Bookstore, said students could expect to receive about half of the book's retail price back if the book is planning to be used in the spring semester.

If you're book edition has been discontinued and it isn't being used in the spring, you may consider other avenues for selling back your books.

Around Town

There are several independent textbook stores who serve the Missouri State, Drury, and OTC crowds. Both stores offer similar or better buyback amounts but typically carry a smaller selection of books for Drury students.

Textbucks has three locations: 607 East Madison, 852 South National and 614 North National (next to Too Hotties). Their expanded hours for the buyback season are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday this week. Call 866-TEXT or visit www.textbucksbookstore.com for more information.

The Student Book Exchange is located at 633 South Kimbrough and will be open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday. Call 866-6880 or visit www.studentbookexch.com.

Online

Just about anything can be found on the Internet these days, and new and used textbooks are no exception; usually at dramatically lower prices. Some of the most popular sites for selling and buying textbooks are www.amazon.com and www.bigwords.com.

The Amazon Marketplace allows you to list textbooks you'd like to sell at a given price. If someone were to purchase your book, Amazon takes care of everything. You mail the book and Amazon will deposit the money right into your checking account.

Bigwords.com is a search engine that returns the best deals from several book selling and buying websites. The website claims to save customers an average of $71 on books. The site also searches the best prices for new and used DVDs, music, games, and supplies.
Moving on...

After you've cashed in your used books and headed home for break, the last thing on your mind may be next semester's classes. However, you'll often find better prices on books if you start early.

The Drury bookstore begins stocking books for next semester immediately after buybacks and most books arrive by mid December. Although Drury chooses to not make a comprehensive book lists public, students can usually obtain such information by a simple visit to the bookstore or by e-mailing the professor.

National College Advertising and Marketing
Privacy Policy Article Syndication College Scholarships