Textbook Rental
Some college students are unaware that textbook rental is an option. Most believe that you have to buy your books outright. Cheap textbooks can be found for purchase, but what do you do with them when the class is over? You have two options, sell the book or keep it as a memoir of your college days. Renting textbooks may be a better option, especially if you already have a career waiting for you as soon as you graduate.
Finding Textbooks to Rent
Most college textbooks can be found with a textbook rental service. Keep in mind that not all services offer shipping. Some require local pickups only, so always read the terms and conditions first. It would not be a good thing to order a book and have to purchase a plane ticket to go get it.
Search for the title within the rental service’s directory. Make sure that the author, content and title are exact. Variations of a textbook will not provide the same information as it would be considered plagiarism.
How the Service Works
With a textbook rental service, you pay a single upfront fee to use the book throughout a semester or entire school year. The fee is based upon the value of the book along with how long the book is needed. The fee must be paid before you can take temporary possession of the book.
Your Responsibilities
You are responsible for maintaining the condition of the book. Some services do permit you to make highlighting marks, but no notes can be written within them. It is suggested that you photocopy the pages that you need to make notes on instead.
Always double check with the service about highlighting in the books. Some are adamantly against any alterations being made to the textbooks period.
Additional Fees
When you return the textbook to the rental service, it is carefully examined. If any part of the book is damaged, you must pay for the damage. If the book is completely destroyed, you must pay to replace it. If the book is not returned on time, there are late fees imposed. Those that choose not to return the books, are billed for the entire value or original purchase price of the book.
These additional fees help to teach students about taking care of their property and having some adult responsibilities. Some students have to be taught a lesson by being charged extra fees for their carelessness in maintaining the book’s condition.
Renting Books versus Purchasing Used
Use a textbook comparison website to research the cost of used books before using a rental service. In some cases, it is cheaper to purchase a used book outright. Keep in mind that the condition of the used book may not be as described when it arrives.
Rental services take the books back when your class is over. You don’t have to pack them up and take them home with you to collect dust on a shelf or sit packed away in a box getting musty. The fees for rental services are usually less than the cost of purchasing a new book.
Is this a Valuable Service?
As long as you have a respect for other people’s property, using a textbook rental service is beneficial. You have a few rules to follow in caring for the book, but, rules are everywhere in life. Those that are renting other people’s property tend to take better care of the items given the fees and consequences of damaging or destroying the property. In the end, this is a valuable service for students struggling financially. This type of service can save students hundreds of dollars per year on books. Consider renting them instead of purchasing outright, you only need the books for a short period of time anyways.
Finding Textbooks to Rent
Most college textbooks can be found with a textbook rental service. Keep in mind that not all services offer shipping. Some require local pickups only, so always read the terms and conditions first. It would not be a good thing to order a book and have to purchase a plane ticket to go get it.
Search for the title within the rental service’s directory. Make sure that the author, content and title are exact. Variations of a textbook will not provide the same information as it would be considered plagiarism.
How the Service Works
With a textbook rental service, you pay a single upfront fee to use the book throughout a semester or entire school year. The fee is based upon the value of the book along with how long the book is needed. The fee must be paid before you can take temporary possession of the book.
Your Responsibilities
You are responsible for maintaining the condition of the book. Some services do permit you to make highlighting marks, but no notes can be written within them. It is suggested that you photocopy the pages that you need to make notes on instead.
Always double check with the service about highlighting in the books. Some are adamantly against any alterations being made to the textbooks period.
Additional Fees
When you return the textbook to the rental service, it is carefully examined. If any part of the book is damaged, you must pay for the damage. If the book is completely destroyed, you must pay to replace it. If the book is not returned on time, there are late fees imposed. Those that choose not to return the books, are billed for the entire value or original purchase price of the book.
These additional fees help to teach students about taking care of their property and having some adult responsibilities. Some students have to be taught a lesson by being charged extra fees for their carelessness in maintaining the book’s condition.
Renting Books versus Purchasing Used
Use a textbook comparison website to research the cost of used books before using a rental service. In some cases, it is cheaper to purchase a used book outright. Keep in mind that the condition of the used book may not be as described when it arrives.
Rental services take the books back when your class is over. You don’t have to pack them up and take them home with you to collect dust on a shelf or sit packed away in a box getting musty. The fees for rental services are usually less than the cost of purchasing a new book.
Is this a Valuable Service?
As long as you have a respect for other people’s property, using a textbook rental service is beneficial. You have a few rules to follow in caring for the book, but, rules are everywhere in life. Those that are renting other people’s property tend to take better care of the items given the fees and consequences of damaging or destroying the property. In the end, this is a valuable service for students struggling financially. This type of service can save students hundreds of dollars per year on books. Consider renting them instead of purchasing outright, you only need the books for a short period of time anyways.