Highlighting in Textbooks?

Question

Hi,

Does the value of the book go down if we mark or highlight something in it? I am talking about college textbooks.

I would really appreciate an answer cause my book are more than $100 EACH!

Thank You

Answer 1

When I was in college, the bookstores had a preset value for each book regardless of its condition. There were exceptions though. If you returned it completely destroyed, they would reject it. Sometimes you would get more if you brought it back with the supplemental stuff like CDs and study guides that may have came with it new. If it was still in the original shrinkwrap, you stood a chance of getting a bit more (of course, you would get all sorts of jokes thrown your direction about how hard you hit the books that sememster).

As for me, I hated to get a used book that someone had used a highlighter on. Most people highlight pretty much the entire book. Every single page and almost every single sentence. It was annoying.

So in answer to your question, I can see that highlighting could affect the resale value of your books in some bookstores. However, I do not think it is a standard rule across all bookstores across the country. You would do better to ask the people at the bookstore about their policies.

Answer 2

Yes AND no! At your campus bookstore, it shouldn't matter. A used book is a used book! However, if you're going to sell them on-line, or to an on-line store that buys used books, it does matter, because the value of the book is based on its condition. If you don't want to mark up the book, try using colored paper clips and sticky-notes to mark a page. Then, you can find these really little stick-note-tabs that can mark paragraphs or sentences! Good luck!

Answer 3

Any damage that you do to a book will depreciate its value. This includes folding the pages, using highlighter, or writing crib-notes in the margins.

If these are books that you plan to re-sell at some later date, then I suggest using post-its to keep track of some important details.

If you plan to keep the books, then you can feel free to highlight them if you think it will help you locate or emphasize important points at some later date.

Answer 4

I am pretty sure that used you get the same amount for a used book rergardless of highlighting. They do look at the binding so take care of the books in that way.

Answer 5

bookstores will typicaly buy back books with moderate highlighting, if you sell it 'peer to peer' on a marketplace site like eBay or Amazon you will have to disclose the condition of the book, so that will effect resale price. it is generally expected that used books will have highlighting in them, so you shoule be allright + if it helps you learn the material then it will be worth it.

You may want to check out a site called Textbook411.com , they will save you a ton when you need to buy books and they also buy back books (with highlighting) direct for cash!! good luck

Answer 6

According to most sites, highlighting and underlining can decrease the resale value of a book by half.

Answer 7

I guess you can go to your campus bookstore and look at the used book prices and survey them to see if lots of highlighting affects the value of them.

Answer 8

your texts become virtually worthless the minute you take possession of them, even if you never opened it...damage to texts such as highlighting, underlining and dog earring pages bring the value down even more...schools constantly change editions to avoid having to buy and sell used texts...your best bet is to sell it on your own to someone taking the class next semester that way you can set the price...or trade for books that you may need...

Answer 9

highlight away. you bearly get money back when you resell.