Renting textbooks becoming a popular option for saving cash
Alicia Pattillo REPORTER
Issue date: 2/9/10 Section: News
The start of a new semester comes with the responsibility of finding and purchasing all necessary texts for a slew of classes. The hit that textbooks can take on a student's wallet can be astronomical, so alternatives are always something students take time to investigate. Textbook rentals, it seems, have become a popular trend with students at Youngstown State University looking to save some cash.
The Washington Post has reported Chegg.com a leader in this new trend in student education. The newspaper said, "Chegg.com considers itself to be the Netflix of textbook rentals," and that the Web site has reportedly rented 2 million books to more than 6,000 schools since their national launch in 2007.
Here's how textbook rental works: Students find a textbook on the Web site, and typically the rental price is half of the retail price. After purchase, the student receives the book in the mail, uses it for the class and then returns the book free of charge by the end of the semester. The Web site offers a full refund within 30 days and guaranteed delivery date and book quality.
To rent an expensive book for cheap seems impossible, but YSU junior Liz Agahi has become a believer quickly.
"It's amazing. When my friend told me about it I didn't believe her," she said. "I rented all my textbooks last fall and this spring."
After paying less than $100 for all her rented books from Chegg.com last fall, Agahi compared book prices to the YSU Bookstore, where her total approximated $300. She said she was at a "loss for words."
"It's robbery what the bookstore is doing. I saved $200," Agahi said.
For senior Sarah Liggi, Chegg.com and other Web sites like BookRenter and CampusBookRentals have saved her money.
"I always have a difficult time when it comes to buying textbooks, but after renting my books, I have saved so much money," Liggi said.
Sophomore Steve Chappmann agrees that textbooks are far too expensive and that renting is the best option.
"Books are so expensive. YSU doesn't always buy my books back, renting is cheap and I don't care about getting the money back," Chappmann said.
Though senior Jasmine Price prefers OhioLINK instead of Chegg.com, she said they both "get the job done."
"At OhioLINK I rent books for free; it's like a worldwide library. It's great, but if OhioLINK does not have it, I use the next best thing: Chegg.com," Price said.
The Washington Post has reported Chegg.com a leader in this new trend in student education. The newspaper said, "Chegg.com considers itself to be the Netflix of textbook rentals," and that the Web site has reportedly rented 2 million books to more than 6,000 schools since their national launch in 2007.
Here's how textbook rental works: Students find a textbook on the Web site, and typically the rental price is half of the retail price. After purchase, the student receives the book in the mail, uses it for the class and then returns the book free of charge by the end of the semester. The Web site offers a full refund within 30 days and guaranteed delivery date and book quality.
To rent an expensive book for cheap seems impossible, but YSU junior Liz Agahi has become a believer quickly.
"It's amazing. When my friend told me about it I didn't believe her," she said. "I rented all my textbooks last fall and this spring."
After paying less than $100 for all her rented books from Chegg.com last fall, Agahi compared book prices to the YSU Bookstore, where her total approximated $300. She said she was at a "loss for words."
"It's robbery what the bookstore is doing. I saved $200," Agahi said.
For senior Sarah Liggi, Chegg.com and other Web sites like BookRenter and CampusBookRentals have saved her money.
"I always have a difficult time when it comes to buying textbooks, but after renting my books, I have saved so much money," Liggi said.
Sophomore Steve Chappmann agrees that textbooks are far too expensive and that renting is the best option.
"Books are so expensive. YSU doesn't always buy my books back, renting is cheap and I don't care about getting the money back," Chappmann said.
Though senior Jasmine Price prefers OhioLINK instead of Chegg.com, she said they both "get the job done."
"At OhioLINK I rent books for free; it's like a worldwide library. It's great, but if OhioLINK does not have it, I use the next best thing: Chegg.com," Price said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Michelle
posted 2/12/10 @ 3:06 AM EST
Renting textbooks are definately becoming more and more popular. I rented my textbooks from Skoobit.com both last semester and this semester and I have saved quite a bit. (Continued…)
Britney Mason
posted 2/14/10 @ 1:41 AM EST
Alicia, thank you so much for including bookrenter.com in your article. Textbook rentals are definitely a terrific option for students, and can really help student to save money on this college necessity. (Continued…)
Post a Comment