When are textbooks the cheapest? When are they the most expensive?

Question

When do textbooks go up and down in price/demand? I'd like to figure out when the best time to buy my books or sell my books is.

Thanks! :)

I was thinking that prices probably go down at the end of a semester when everyone is trying to sell their books and they go up towards the beginning of the semester when everyone is trying to buy their books. Does that sound right?

Answer 1

the absolute best time to sell is right after the holidays for spring and right after the summer for fall. in the middle of the semester, the demand goes down because whoever needs the book probably already has it. the best time to buy would obviously be as early (or as late) as possible to avoid the peak buying period but sometimes you only get your textbook listings a few weeks before the semester starts.

Answer 2

Textbooks are the cheapest when you're selling them back to the bookstore, they are most expensive when school first starts.

It's best to look for books on exchange sites, ebay, and used book stores. You can also partner up with a classmate and just buy one book that you both use. Don't buy your books until your teacher requires you to use it. A lot of professors put 'required' books on the list that you will never use in class or for any assignments- that happened to me and I was mad that I purchased them in good faith.

Answer 3

for buying books, try half.com OR amazon under their used section. I believe half also buys books back, but I'd try at your bookstore first at the end of the semester, then sell the rest that they won't buy back on a website.

Also consider selling your books at the beginning of the semester through flyers posted around campus. Typically students who are in a hurry to buy books, but need to save money will contact you. Good luck!

Answer 4

They are not really cheaper at one time or more expensive at another. You should shop around. I know here in Florida, the school book store is usually more expensive and the book store off campus is cheaper. If you do not have an off campus bookstore, Amazon is the next best option..look at the used/new section on the books page.

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

here in charleston the only time the prices change is when they are used or the class that uses them has moved on to a newer version

Answer 6

If you sell them on eBay or Amazon.com, you'll probably get more money for them than if you sell them back to your bookstore. Conversely, if you buy them on Amazon or eBay, you will save lots of money too.