As the end of semester draws near and the promise of another one looms in the near future, students wonder how to save the most money on costly textbooks.

Bigwords.com is a price comparison Web site that will search its databases for the cheapest way to get "the right copy of the right book" when you enter the title, author or International Standard Book Number of the book you are looking for.

"We only work with [online] companies that have a proven record of excellent customer service, high inventory on their books ... and a proven track record of delivering the right book in a timely manner," said Jeff Sherwood, Chief Executive Officer of Bigwords.com.

Rather than search for one book at a time, Bigwords.com offers something called "multi-item price optimization." The Web site will run every combination of the books you enter, calculating whatever promotions might be available in their different stores, Sherwood said.

Sherwood said they stay on top of all the new trends for how to get the cheapest textbooks.

"With new, used, rentals, international editions, previous editions, there are a lot of things that college students need to understand in order to get a good deal on textbooks, and lot of ways to save money," he said.

In addition to helping you find the cheapest way to buy your books, Bigwords.com will search all the stores that are buying your book.

Jill Robertson, a student from Houston majoring in recreation management and youth leadership, said she sells her textbooks back to the BYU Bookstore.

"I haven't done enough other looking to realize if I could get more money," she said.

The Bookstore will be buying back textbooks December 13-20. The Bookstore offers 50 percent of the new book price for textbooks, and 60 percent for VIPs. Whether or not the Bookstore will buy back your book varies depending on its condition and demand for that particular textbook.

Students may also use the Book Exchange, an online source for finding other BYU students who want to buy or sell textbooks, or donate their books to Rotaract, a Marriott-school sponsored club and extension of the International Rotary Club. Rotaract will then ship the textbooks to North Korea in an effort to help them emerge from their struggling economic situation.

"By donating your books, you will enact more positive change than just selling them back," said Stacey Mork, a sophomore and member of Rotaract.

Boomerang Books, located at 820 N. and 700 E., is one bookstore in the area that buys, sells, rents and trades textbooks. For students who are unable to sell a book back to the BYU Bookstore, Boomerang Books buys textbooks year-round.



Copyright Brigham Young University 9 Dec 2008