Why do textbooks cost so much?

Answer 1

Because a lot of valuable info goes into making them and because they can get away with charging that much. You HAVE to buy them no matter how much they cost if you want to do well in your classes... so they charge a lot because they can!

Then they "update" the book and come out with a new edition so you can't buy them used!! Genius!

Answer 2

Textbooks cost so much for all those reason.
Plus: The cost of the research and writing the authors do.
The cost of the printing and editing the publishers must do before they can sell the book.
The cost of the advertising to the schools and professors to get them to use the books.
The cost of the checking the research to make sure the information is as accurate as possible.
The testing done to make sure some books are at the right level, appropriate for all students studying in that local area - mainly in elementary or high school.
Trying to make sure the book comes out from the printers on time so they will be ready when they are needed.

Also, the costs of color printing, graphics, tests, creating the index and table of contents, and trying to get the book to have the latest information on the subject, and taking out outdated or information proven to be wrong or too controversial.

Answer 3

because it takes YEARS to be expert enough to write a textbook and those people don't come cheaply. In addition, for science-type textbooks, you typically need at least 25 authors...that's a lot of expertise...you don't write a book until you have a graduate degree and YEARS of experience. I just wrote one single chapter in a textbook and it took a boatload of my time and it was just 1 chapter and I spent 10 years in college and have been researching microbiology for 13 years! damn right my time is expensive...
so, that's why textbooks are so expensive

Answer 4

The rule of Supply versus Demand. When a university, college, or other school chooses a particular textbook as it's resource, the demand goes up due to a 'captive audience'. When demand increases over the rate of supply, prices inevitably increase as well.

Answer 5

So many textbooks get ruined through the years, so they have to update them, and print new ones out all the time. Plus you need your textbooks to learn, so of course "THEY" need to charge a arm and a leg for them.

Answer 6

SCAM!!!!!!

Hey buddy guess what?

Not only do they cost an arm and a leg but they are often made with cheap glue so that they fall apart after a few years. Also the publishers 'update' them every few years with unnecessary changes so that they can sell a new batch and discourage the sale of used copies. This mostly applies to college texbooks but is true to a lesser extent at the level of primary education.

Answer 7

Since being right about nearly anything these days is nearly impossible, it costs a bundle get a whole book right. Hence all the dollars you pay for your school books.

Answer 8

Limited but inelastic demand coupled with a monopolistic market.

If you don't understand this, I have a good economics book that I am willing to sell to you.

Answer 9

Because its a good way for the companys to scam schools. They (schools) know they have to buy a large quantity of books, so they (companys) overcharge.

Either that or the teachers just like it when kids loose books so they owe the teacher $50

Answer 10

I am not really sure, but there are ways to find less expensive books. Start with amazon.com and ebay. You can also check at a used bookstore on campus.