Rant about college textbooks (legal scam)

[mattadams]

Textbooks are always rediculously expensive, especially if you buy them at the book store but occasionally you can find used ones, etc. as long as you know what book you are looking for, its the right edition, etc.
So last semester I took a Business Statistics course. I absolutely hated it but it was one that was necessary for my degree (even though I'm a ways off) so whatever. Went in to buy the book... freakin $190 for this textbook! None used of course. Looked online and the only ones I could find were not much cheaper, or they were international version (which is supposedly about the same except a few review questions are different but our instructor said we could NOT use that version specifically - probably because hes in on the scam) and the few used books I found that matched, the people had already sold so I had to buy it. figured whatever, I'll sell it back after the semester and it won't be so bad.
So end of semester comes around, got an A in the class (how I have no idea but I did) and I mosy back in to the bookstore to sell them back... they no longer buy back textbooks, but they have a wholesaler that comes in on certain dates to buy used books... so I wait a few weeks then go in and try to sell it back... oh, they have no interest in it anymore because I had the 13th edition and apparently this summer semester is the last time the 13th edition will be used because the 14th edition is coming out. Now, the 13th edition came out in 2007 so I figured I was at least somewhat safe, usually an edition lasts 3-4 years for most books, then they change some of the words, put the chapters in a different order, change the graphic on the front and call it a new version to ensure that students can't get a deal on used books or sell their old books anymore. So what I have now is an essentially useless $180 book that nobody wants because it isn't the most current version. Tried listing it on craigslist and ebay and so far no takers.
it's all a gigantic scam.

[Speedwagon]

I always use Half.com now to my books.. WAY cheaper.

[mattadams]

yeah I had looked on there and couldn't find much that were cheaper except for previous editions... everyone still wanted like $125+ and shipping for the book.

[RayLCC]

I'll give you five bucks for it. :) LoL!
Seriously that sucks. I've always thought it would be cool to start a textbook library. You pay a fee and have a quiet place to study and do work with up to date textbooks and other types of study related media. The textbooks stay in the building but you can make copies if you like and in the end it would be cheaper than buying the books. Yeah, I know, theres student libraries, but this would be more textbook oriented.
Probably wouldn't work, but its an idea.

[mattadams]

it'd work until they come out with new editions of all your books nad your old books are worthless because theres a picture of a duck on the front instead of a chicken and shit like that.

[RayLCC]

Good point. Although I would think if the revisions were small, they could be noted in the book... Ok, bad idea. just paste a duck on the front of you're book and offer it on ebay or CL as a prop for kids that are trying to convince their parents they are still in school.
You could even turn it into 50% off books if you find the right person:
"I'll take a class and pay for the book. Then you tell your parents the book for the next semester is retail price. I give you the book after the class and we split the money you're parents gave you and you get a book thats current and well used and noted to pretend to study on. Class notes, papers and report cards are extra."
Its a win-win! :)

[Walking Eagle]

How many times do we have to hear about you textbooks? There are threads that go back as for as 2005. http://www.rmftc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=778&highlight=textbooks :flipoff2:

[mattadams]

As long as the scam continues to operate, you'll keep hearing my bitching!
OH! I forgot half the reason for my bitching!
The bookstore no longer buys back books... what this means is, they rarely if ever offer used books for sale. I do not know where the books go that the "wholesaler" is buying but of the last few classes I've taken, there have been no used books available. this means they can continue to charge $180 for a book without having to buy it back and worry that some new student might only pay $120 instead of the $180 since the book has been run through the spokes and looks like crap.
SCAM SCAM SCAM!!

[Gunner]

When I was at CSU I would pay anywhere from $300-$700 a semester for books, when I would sell back I'd be damned lucky to get HALF that back. Eventually I stopped buying the books altogether, I still got good grades (history major).

[84broncoII]

The whole world is a scam Doctors prescribe the most expensive pills they can find and then wont let You get the generic ones ...Lawers over bill you thier time send it to thier probies that double that just because they can .the ice cream man charges You double if You take a bite before asking the price :shakehandsnah:.no-one offers up front pricing anymore lease payments are ten times the normal payments for a car and Your not even buying the darn thing Taxi cab drivers always take the longest route .Macdonalds adds a play station for the kids so they can charge 5 bucks for a 70cent bigmac .Ace hardware charges 70 cents apiece for a bolt or screw when the whole box of 100 can be bought for 3.00 .Do grocerystores still charge extra for grocerybags ? GRRRRR! and everytime You want to take a vacation the price of gasoline doubles .Paint stores rip costomers for 50 bucks for a gallon of crappy paint that doesnt last a year and then blame the government for removing the vocs that help the paint dry .and dont get me started on the darned parking NAZI's:pullhair: seems that Aurora made a new law for trailers they can be ticketed and towed if they sit in one place more than 24 hours what a rip off .same goes for cars that sit in the same spot for more than a coupla days anywhere on city streets .cant work on Your car outside ,cant have any wierd lawn ornaments cant store anything outside your home everything has to be inside stashed away out of site ,Cant go running naked through the streets what is this world comming to?WAIT!!... strike that last one ??:scratch:and what is up with pay toilets :confused: seven eleven charges 5.00 for a1.50 qt of oil and 4.00 fora 1.00 gallon of windshield washer The only station that'll patch a tire now days is never open and the stations that are open only have crappy tires for 55 bucks each the only place open to sell propain when You need it charges 5 bucks a gallon and You have to buy the newest latest type of tank cause they wont fill Your old one cause its outdated and then the darned thing wont screw into Your grill without a new adapter same thing goes for Your RV .Next thing is personal monitors that track every bodily function and coment and movement and charge acordingly for farts driving parks obsentities water usage breathing sweatting crying running walking writing clipped toenails lost hair and skin folicles .everyyear the car manufactures have to make a new car with parts that dont interchange with the old parts and the old parts become collector parts and have fancy vintage names that obviously cost more every old 5.00 part that has been laying around for 50 yrs is obviously worth 50.00 not 5.00 :eek:
I recently noticed that everystoplight that has a camera mysteriously has a short yellow and stops every car that comes by doesnt even matter if theres another car within four miles it detects You all alone and stops you at the last possible second and has a short yellow speedtrap????or what ?And what is with clicket or ticket ? we have Ugos driving the same streets as a semi and motorcycles riding around with no helmets but if You get cought without a seatbelt its an extra ticket what ever happened to live and let live ?

[foxfire]

ummmm wow

[Speedwagon]

As long as the scam continues to operate, you'll keep hearing my bitching!
OH! I forgot half the reason for my bitching!
The bookstore no longer buys back books... what this means is, they rarely if ever offer used books for sale. I do not know where the books go that the "wholesaler" is buying but of the last few classes I've taken, there have been no used books available. this means they can continue to charge $180 for a book without having to buy it back and worry that some new student might only pay $120 instead of the $180 since the book has been run through the spokes and looks like crap.
SCAM SCAM SCAM!!

So put it up on half.com and sell it there. Sounds like not much competition for ya, from what you said about trying to buy it in the first place.

[Speedwagon]

I recently noticed that everystoplight that has a camera mysteriously has a short yellow and stops every car that comes by doesnt even matter if theres another car within four miles it detects You all alone and stops you at the last possible second and has a short yellow speedtrap????or what ?And what is with clicket or ticket ? we have Ugos driving the same streets as a semi and motorcycles riding around with no helmets but if You get cought without a seatbelt its an extra ticket what ever happened to live and let live ?

There was a study done in Maryland by a news station(this was a few years ago, maybe 2004/2005), that found this to be TRUE out there. When they installed some of the red light cameras, they actually SHORTENED the yellow time, to induce more red light violations. After the story came out, the yellow light time was changed back.

[mattadams]

So put it up on half.com and sell it there. Sounds like not much competition for ya, from what you said about trying to buy it in the first place.
Problem is, last semestser it was new and in demand... this semester its old and nobody wants it. I did put it up on ebay, and it actually has at least one bid, so thats good. Will get some cash for it... but I listed it with all the proceeds going to MaxFund so they'll get the money not me. But it's all good.

[Speedwagon]

Problem is, last semestser it was new and in demand... this semester its old and nobody wants it. I did put it up on ebay, and it actually has at least one bid, so thats good. Will get some cash for it... but I listed it with all the proceeds going to MaxFund so they'll get the money not me. But it's all good.

Just because your school replaced it, doesn't mean all schools did.

[RayLCC]

Rant, RANT, b!t(h, WHINE! Man, am I glad I don't rant about stuff on the internet like all of you people. :D
LoL!

[Glass]

Wow, it costs alot to become smart... Maybe one day a museum will need t he 13th edition of your business statistics book and you will sell it to them at auction and make millions!!!

If that doesnt happen, you could always use it as kindling when winter comes around again.

[mattadams]

Well I may have defeated the system for this semester at least. Taking a Business Communications class (you know, to learn me to right write) and the bookstore wanted $165 for the book... found some online in the $80 range... found one on craigslist from someone who took teh class last semester for $50... pick it up tonight! :)

[Walking Eagle]

I hope it's the spanish version.