I paid $476.10 for 4 books the book store in school? WHy are the books so expensive?

Question

the books were
Anatomy and Physiology 1 plus lab book
I can learn intermediate algebra book
Oral communications book
Human growth and developement book

Answer 1

They are so expensive because you are paying for the time and energy that the person took to write to book!

Answer 2

Isn't this ridiculous? Thank God I get financial aid. They can make them so expensive because they aren't something that you can just go buy at a regular book store. There are web sites where you can buy your books cheaper and also sell them at a higher price than you can sell them at the college book store. You might want to check that out for next semester. Have a great night and a great school year!

Answer 3

You can usually sell your textbooks when you complete a course. Check & see if your university or students association has a book selling service. Some bookstores might have a buyback guarantee too. If not you can advertise the books online (auction sites, textbook swap sites) or on noticeboards around campus.

I usually make back around 60-80% of what I paid for my books originally, so it lessens that $400 blow!

Also, if you bought them all new this semester, try & get them all second hand next time.

Answer 4

Yeah, I know what you mean...my books came to $376.00, and I bought them all used. I bought a philosophy book, a World Lit-Antiquity to Renaissance book, A microbiology book with a CD-Rom program that goes with it and a book of notes from the instructor, and a U.S. History book. They are expensive because they usually come out with new editions constantly, so..the books are in limited quantity. Also, you are paying for the professors and people with Ph.D's to WRITE the book.

Also, in case you didn't know, you're medical/science oriented books are ALWAYS going to be your most expensive books. I've found this out. Out of all my subjects (and I"m a college junior) my most expensive books were Microbiology (nearly 400.00 by itself, but it comes with a CD-Rom tutorial) my Chemistry (almost 200.00), my General Biology (nearly 175.00 for ONE book) and Anatomy and Physiology. (almost 200.00 for one book) Genetics (although I'm taking it next semester, and have priced them are expensive) and Organic Chem, same thing. So, hopefully if you're in shock NOW, hopefully you're not a science major..lol. Good luck to you.

Also, remember...if you're bookstore does this, you can sell them back at the end of the semester. You won't get as much as you PAID for them, but it helps offset at least SOME of the cost.

Answer 5

Well because they see sucker written across your forhead? Buying used books are definitely ok. Who cares if they are used, its savvy and your money could be used for other things you need as well. Why do people buy hard cover when there are paperbacks? Just because they fit into that category of being better then the johnsons? I think so.

Answer 6

Why not buy them used? You can go to amazon.com or chapters.com. Find your used textbook, but don't buy it from them. Find out who the bookseller is and contact them directly. Most of them have online stores. If you go through amazon or chapters you pay hefty "finder fees". I buy a lot of textbooks used and save quite a bit.

Some universities have used book areas.

Answer 7

A lot of people keep their books. I did when I found out I would only get back 10% for them. I eventually gave them to someone else.

Answer 8

The official answer is that textbooks require a lot of research (which takes both time and money) and are printed in much lower numbers than novels, etc. - supply and demand. The unofficial answer is probably somewhere between that and greed.

Answer 9

Books are expensive if you buy them. Try getting it from the Library or borrow from your seniors. All the best

Answer 10

Text books are so expensive because they are only printed in limited quantity.