Textbooks | College Student Discounts

Coupon Codes for eCampus.com

February 19, 2011 By Mister Academic

If you’re a college student who wants to rent textbooks… perhaps you’re considering renting textbooks for the first time… you can save even more if you place your order before March 31, 2011 and rent from eCampus.com …using new coupon code discounts

Enter code CANCUN to receive $5 off orders over $100 at eCampus.com
Enter code DAYTONA to receive $4 off any order over $80 from eCampus.com
Enter code CABO to receive $3 off orders over $60 from eCampus.com

With eCampus.com you have the choice:

Rent textbooks
Buy a new textbook
Buy used textbooks, and
Sell your books back when the semester is over.

For full-time students the cost of books can be as much as $1000 per semester, so book rental can save a lot of money…. and you can have more fun on Spring Break with more cash in your pocket.

Textbook rental is a great option for general-ed classes (when you know you will not need to keep the book to use as a reference in future classes). Renting books also is a great choice for new editions of textbooks, when used copies are expensive, hard to find, or non-existent.

For example, a popular algebra textbook — College Algebra (5th Edition) by Robert F. Blitzer is about $112 at Amazon.com (ISBN: 0321559835):

College Algebra (5th Ed) by Robert Blitzer at Amazon.com

College Algebra (5th Edition, 0321559835) by Robert Blitzer at Amazon.com

The same textbook can be rented for only $32.19 at eCampus.com:

College Algebra (5th Ed) by Robert Blitzer at eCampus.com

College Algebra (5th Edition, 0321559835) by Robert Blitzer at eCampus.com

Visit eCampus, use coupon codes for maximum savings, and have a successful semester — and have a great Spring Break!

Filed Under: Savings, Textbooks Tagged With: college, Coupon, discount, student discount, textbook rental

Textbook Rentals Help Students Save Cash

August 25, 2010 By Mister Academic

One of the biggest trends on campus this year has been the phenomenon of online textbook rental — Saving money by renting textbooks has exploded in popularity, partly because of rising college text book prices. It pays to check out multiple online textbook rental sites because they offer a differing choices, including free shipping and optional textbook insurance.

Two of the more popular articles on this website are related to this issue:

Do textbooks cost too much?

College Students Can Save Money By Renting Textbooks

Textbook rental is a popular way for students to save money

Although the high cost of college textbooks is nothing new, book prices have become a burden to many students— and the cost of books alone can be a significant barrier to students earning a college degree on a limited budget.

According to a research published by State Public Interest Research Groups, students spent an average of $900 per year on textbooks in 2005. In fact, textbook prices increased at four times the rate of inflation since 1994.

Textbook purchases can represent 20% of tuition at a state university and 50% of tuition at a community college.

Despite the downturn in the economy, the upward trend of textbook costs has not abated. Recent statistics from the non-profit College Board indicate that, on average, students at a four-year public colleges spent over $1,200 on textbooks in 2009-10.

While textbook price inflation is perhaps the most significant force behind the emergence of the new textbook marketplace, other factors are significant as well.

Online textbook shopping has provided students with more options than ever before
Students entering college today are adept at the use of social media, to share information with other students in the quest for the best textbook prices
Recent federal legislation provided greater pricing transparency to both faculty adopting textbooks, and students seeking cheap textbooks

The phenomenon of online textbook rental has also been reported prominently in national media.

How to save money by renting textbooks

For maximum savings plan ahead.

Rent early to take advantage of the cheapest (but slowest) shipping options
But don’t rent too early, because longer rentals may lead to higher costs
Compare prices, and don’t forget to include extra costs like shipping
Consider renting from a service like CampusBookRentals.com, which offers optional insurance to protect you in case you or rented textbook is damaged, lost, or stolen.

And don’t overlook the traditional used-book market…

If used books are available to buy, you can (hopefully) sell your book at the end of the semester.

You will help someone else save money, and you’ll recover some of the money you spent. Some online sources — like www.ecampus.com — offer textbook rentals, and also have used textbooks for sale.

For further reading, check out:

“The Real Cost of College Textbooks” from The New York Times,
“Should You Rent Your Textbooks?” from SmartMoney.com
The campaign to Make Textbooks Affordable from the Student PIRGs.

Feel free to share your comments and thoughts below, and don’t forget to check out our other posts related to textbooks.

Filed Under: Textbooks Tagged With: college, savings, textbook rental

eCampus.com Coupon: Special Discount Code Saves 5%

August 25, 2010 By Mister Academic

For limited time, students can save 5% off textbook rentals at eCampus.com

If you’re a college student, you are probably aware of two recent trends regarding the price of your education:

The cost of college textbooks has increased dramatically in the past two years, and
Students are going online to save money by renting textbooks …rather than paying full price at the campus bookstore

If you haven’t rented your textbooks before, this semester is a great time to get started with an extra discount.

Until September 15, 2010:
Click Here and enter code CRAMSESSION to receive 5% off rentals from eCampus.com

eCampus.com strives to be the “easiest, fastest, cheapest way for college students to rent or buy their textbooks online.”

Rent Your Textbooks and Save A Bundle

eCampus.com offers no-hassle shipping to receive and return your books. Students get free shipping on orders over $59 (be sure to choose standard shipping; see site for details). When the semester is over, returning your textbooks is easy with a FREE UPS return shipping label and packing slip. Simply pack your books and drop off at any UPS location.

What if your class gets canceled? No worries… eCampus.com offers a 15-day return privilege.

eCampus.com has an established track record, a huge inventory of popular textbooks, and their web site is both VeriSign Secured and certified “Hacker Safe.” Customer service is available online, by e-mail, or toll-free call.

To get started, visit eCampus.com — or see our detailed post on How To Rent Textbooks at eCampus.com.

Have you rented textbooks in the past? Share your comments below!

Image credit: “Money” by AMagill on flickr

Filed Under: Textbooks Tagged With: Coupon, Discount Code

How To Rent Textbooks at CampusBookRentals.com

August 4, 2010 By Mister Academic

Faced with textbook sticker shock, students often ask: Where can I buy cheap textbooks?

But rather than buying books they need for only one semester, many students have discovered they can rent college textbooks and save money compared to buying new textbooks, or even used textbooks.

We’re taking a look some ways to save money on college textbooks. In this article we will be looking at CampusBookRentals.com.

CampusBookRentals.com is a pioneer in textbook rental. College students across the nation have rented textbooks from them and are saving hundreds of dollars every semester. In fact, students at your school are probably already customers of CampusBookRentals.com.

CampusBookRentals.com began renting textbooks nationally in 2007, as one of the inventors of college textbook rental on the Internet. The site has been featured in local and national press coverage, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

As students realized they could save hundreds of dollars every semester by renting textbooks, CampusBookRentals.com grew in popularity.

Today, CampusBookRentals.com claims the title of “the most trusted online source for renting textbooks” and offers:

Live Customer Support.
Free two-way shipping on every book.
30-day return-for-refund privilege
“The most flexible rental periods, period.”

Their website is very clean, navigable, and user friendly. Although textbook rental is the primary mission of CampusBookRentals.com, the site also offers textbook buyback (with payments by check, PayPal, or Amazon Gift Card)

We are an affiliate of CampusBookRentals.com

Renting textbooks is easy. Here’s how:

Search for your textbook using Title, Author, Keyword or ISBN number in the search field.
The best way to find the exact book you need is to search with the ISBN number; this is a 10 or 13 digit number on the back of your book near the barcode. Using the ISBN number provided by your professor is the best way to find the exact edition of the book you need.
Choose your textbook rental period according to how long you will need the book: Semester (130 days), Quarter (85 days), or Summer (55 days).
Choose your shipping options. If you plan ahead you can save money free standard shipping, which takes 7-14 business days for delivery.
Return your textbooks. A prepaid return shipping envelope is included with your order. Simply place your books inside, and drop it off at the nearest post office.

Although renting your textbooks is less expensive than purchasing new textbooks, please be aware that supplemental materials (like student access codes, CD ROMs) may not be included with rented textbooks. This is true of all vendors. Check with your professor before you rent; supplemental materials are not required by every instructor.

Four Reasons to Shop CampusBookRentals.com

Be sure to compare the services provided by competing college textbook rental companies. As a well established player in this field, CampusBookRentals.com offers some additional services and features to help students shop with peace of mind:

30 day refund period: Any book returned within 30 days of the order date will receive a 100% refund. (See site for complete details)
Extended textbook rental: To keep your book a bit longer, adding additional time to your rental is easy, just log into the website and choose a 15 or 30 day extensions.
Insure-a-Book Program: Select the insurance option during the checkout process, and your book is insured against theft, loss, and damage. For a low price, this option can reduce the stress sometimes associated with textbook rentals. Worry about your classes, not your books. (See site for complete details.)
Re-Rental: Need to retake a class? re-rent the same book for discount. You can re-rent your book for 30% off the original rental price.

CampusBookRentals.com is a leader in full-service college textbook rental, and should definitely be investigated by students seeking to save money.

Please check out our other articles on Textbooks — and if you have experience renting textbooks, or buying (or selling) used textbooks, please share your experiences with other students by posting a comment below.

Related Article: How To Rent Textbooks at eCampus.com

Filed Under: Textbooks Tagged With: discount, rental, students

How To Rent Textbooks at eCampus.com

August 3, 2010 By Mister Academic

The high cost of college textbooks can be a barrier to students seeking a college education.

Students often ask Where can I buy used textbooks online? …or Where can I rent textbooks online?

Today, students aren’t limited to the prices and options available in their campus bookstore — shopping online makes it easier than ever for students to compare textbook prices and get the best deal.

We’re taking a look some ways to save money on college textbooks. In this article we will be looking at eCampus.com

One leading site that offers many choices to budget-minded students is eCampus.com — a Web site that is easy to use, and claims to offer “the largest in-stock selection of new and used textbooks available online.”

Your Choice: Buy your textbooks or Rent your textbooks

We are an affiliate of eCampus.com

Students at eCampus.com have numerous choices: buy new textbooks, buy used textbooks, or (in some cases) buy digital textbooks …or students can choose the increasingly popular option of textbook rental.

At eCampus.com you get free USPS shipping on orders over $59. Payments can be made with PayPal or Bill Me Later, as well as Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Discover.

Renting your textbook is simple. Here’s how:

Find your book using the site’s search tool
Choose the length of your semester or term: 130 days, 90 days, or 60 days
Add the book to your shopping cart, and
Check out. You can select from a variety of shipping methods: US Postal Service (3-7 business days), UPS (1-5 business days), or expedited shipping (1 or 2 business days)

At the end of the semester, simply go online for a printable UPS FREE return shipping label and packing slip, pack the books, then drop them off at any UPS location.

Before choosing the rental option, you should be aware that textbook rentals may not include supplements such as CD ROMs, Study Guides, Access Codes, etc. As experienced students know, frequently these ancillary materials are not required for a class; however, it may be advisable to consult your professor before committing to a used or rented textbook.

Sell used textbooks and get cash for college

At the end of the semester, students can go to eCampus.com to sell their use textbooks: eCampus.com will purchase select titles for cash or credit; alternatively, eCampus.com provides an online student-to-student marketplace to list used textbooks for sale.

Students selling old textbooks can even get a 20% in-store credit bonus to help them buy or rent the books they need for the next semester. When selling textbooks, students can choose to receive either in-store credit, direct deposit or a check.

eCampus.com has a lot of options for students looking for cheap textbooks. If you are a student seeking to get the best value for your money, then online used textbooks or textbook rental can save you a lot of money.

Tip to save money: eCampus.com offers free shipping on orders $59 and above. They also have a big selection of DVDs and Blu-Ray discs and other non-textbook merchandise — so if you don’t quite qualify for free shipping, be sure to check out their other merchandise or anything you might need.

Visit eCampus.com today …and be sure to check out other information we have about Textbooks. Also, if you have experience with eCampus.com or other textbook sources, please help other students by sharing your comments below.