Textbooks. HIGH SCHOOL Textbooks.

[jlima]

I have just spent the last two hours surfing the Internet to find the best deals for DS15's textbooks. We have to buy them. If I used his school's preferred vendor, and purchased the "A" quality used book for everything that I could, I would spend $617. I am buying his books from 5 different places (Amazon, AbeBooks, Half.com, Alibris and the preferred vendor), and I'm going to spend about $350.

His school opened their online store yesterday; and said they would put ISBN numbers on their website (they don't require that you use their vendor). And of course, nope, not there, no ISBN numbers anywhere. I emailed the principal; and the bookstore manager responded and said he'd work on it; and a few hours later there was a link to all the ISBN numbers. At least they kept their word, even if I had to light a fire under somebody.

The best deal I am getting is for a human physiology book. New from the preferred vendor is $99, A quality used is $79, B quality used is $69; and I am buying it new for $34 from AbeBooks.

Plus, he needs an TI 84 Plus Silver calculator . . . and I saved the one he had in 8th grade. So don't need to buy that all over again.

My eyes hurt from staring at so many screens. DS15 better appreciate this!!

 

[Kate and Pete]

As a teacher I'm wondering why you have to supply the textbooks for your child. Also, Federal law makes requiring students to pay for textbooks illegal - we used to charge $7 for a vocabulary book that students wrote in - and quickly stopped this practice after I completed my School Law course for my M.ed! Is this a private school?

 

[Aliceacc]

I agree.

I've been teaching high school for 24 years, and I've never heard of a high school student having to supply his or her own textbooks!!!

I'm in a Catholic high school, and our kids get their books from their individual districts.

 

[xCourxCorex]

Ugh, I understand your pain about searching for deals on books! My college hasn't released the list yet, but I am NOT looking forward to it (especially since the Dept of Nursing sent a letter saying that we must buy our books for 1 particular Nursing class from the bookstore )

One thing I've noticed though, is that (for college anyway) it is easier to sell back books from Fall semester because many students will use that edition for a class they are taking spring semester, but teachers usually change which books they will use from spring to fall. This year I'm going to try Chegg to rent some books for Spring semester.
Last semester I lugged my books down to the bookstore to see what they'd give me for them (after I had priced out what several other sites would pay as well as the current selling price on Half) and they only took 3/9 books!

 

[rflorek]

I agree.

I've been teaching high school for 24 years, and I've never heard of a high school student having to supply his or her own textbooks!!!

I'm in a Catholic high school, and our kids get their books from their individual districts.

I went to a private school in NJ and we ALWAYS had to buy our own textbooks (this was over 20 years ago). They were a bargain compared to the cost of my college textbooks, too.

 

[Aliceacc]

Wow! I guess it varies by state.

 

[tink2dw]

You don't need A quality books and will not recover that price when selling them. What you do need is a list of acceptable back issue's of the books from the Teachers. Teachers will know what info they will be teaching. Often the newest book is required when the teacher wrote it.

When I was in college I bought the book for my Stage Up Class as I wanted that to be my line of work and knew the book would be a handy reference book. When my Dd in college, wanted to take Stage Make Up and the book was $150.00, I dug out my old black and white pictured book and the receipt in the book said I had paid $17.90 for it. Dd took it to class as a curiosity, But the teacher told her to please use the book because it was better than color $150. book!!

 

[Green Tea]

My prep school kid has to provide own text books too. We get the IBSN numbers. Found after freshman year that the kids resell at the end of the year for next to nothing. First year we paid a lot from the online book supplier. For next year he came home on the last day this year with everything but one book he needed for next year.

 

[mrsklamc]

Everyone in IN pays a 'textbook rental fee'- costs as much as buying the books but you don't get to keep them. I was flabbergasted when we moved here- thought people were joking.

 

[Cloudless Nights]

I went to a private school in NJ and we ALWAYS had to buy our own textbooks (this was over 20 years ago). They were a bargain compared to the cost of my college textbooks, too.

I went to a private Catholic high school in Massachusetts, and we always had to buy our own textbooks as well. In fact, most of these schools in MA required you to buy the books.

 

[delmar411]

Everyone in IN pays a 'textbook rental fee'- costs as much as buying the books but you don't get to keep them. I was flabbergasted when we moved here- thought people were joking.

I had the same reaction when we moved here. I thought they were kidding!

I am really fearful of what the bill will be when all 4 are in school.

 

[sk!mom]

I have just spent the last two hours surfing the Internet to find the best deals for DH15's textbooks.

Plus, he needs an TI 84 Plus Silver calculator . . . and I saved the one he had in 8th grade. So don't need to buy that all over again.

My eyes hurt from staring at so many screens. DH15 better appreciate this!!

Cradle robber Together since 8th grade even- shocking

Sorry- kidding- and I don't have any help to offer either. I'm also in a state where we don't buy our own textbooks.

 

[jlima]

As a teacher I'm wondering why you have to supply the textbooks for your child. Also, Federal law makes requiring students to pay for textbooks illegal - we used to charge $7 for a vocabulary book that students wrote in - and quickly stopped this practice after I completed my School Law course for my M.ed! Is this a private school?

Yes, private school.

 

[jlima]

Together since 8th grade even

OMG, that calculator was $98 on sale at Office Depot; full price was maybe $150? REALLY glad I don't have to go there again.

 

[Green Tea]

Everyone in IN pays a 'textbook rental fee'- costs as much as buying the books but you don't get to keep them. I was flabbergasted when we moved here- thought people were joking.

That used to be the case in VA. Then someone protested to the education dept. that school was not, in fact, free then violating federal law. The charge disappeared long ago.

 

[SnowWhite2]

We are very lucky that the school gives everyone a textbook for home and then they have one set that is kept in the class that is used in school. The kids only have to lug the books back and forth to school on the day they get them and the day they bring them back to turn in at the end of the year.

We do have to pay for workbooks that they write in and also for Time Kids magazine.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

I've got two in two different private high schools this year. Ds's school (he's a rising jr) gives ISBN numbers for all the books. Dd's school (rising freshman) does not. They use the SAME PROVIDER with the same online format, etc-------with that one teeny difference. For three of dd's classes, only used books are listed. I'm going to call the school today to find out the reason why-----are the books so old that they are no longer in print? If so, I'll be ticked because one is Honors Bio! And to spend $70 on a used book that may not be able to be resold.....well, that frosts my cookies!

We had a really bad experience with ds's freshman Geometry textbook. It was literally falling apart. We cannot chose the "quality" of the used textbooks, so I prefer to go through another source with different levels of used (ie acceptable, good, very good, like new, etc).

Price comparisions for ds (AP Calc AB, AP USHistory, AP Physics C, AP English Lang, Latin 3, jr theology):

all new textbooks $700ish
used textbooks plus new workbooks (certain classes) through the school's bookstore $420
high quality used textbooks plus new workbooks through online resellers $165 incl all shipping

 

[powellrj]

Everyone in IN pays a 'textbook rental fee'- costs as much as buying the books but you don't get to keep them. I was flabbergasted when we moved here- thought people were joking.

I really get annoyed when I pay the rental fee and not everyone gets a text book or they have to leave it at school so the next periods class can use the book. They don't even get their own text book! I got DDs letter last week and as of now the fees are $100, but it also said "subject to change" at the bottom of the letter. Next year she will be in high school and thats when they really sock it to you with book fees. They will be over $300!

OP, I was reading on the Kindle thread the other day that many text books are now being released on Kindle. You have to buy one, but the cost of the books is cheaper so it may be cheaper to go that way if they are all offered on Kindle.

DSs college books aren't this year, but I hope all of them will be next year.

 

[mom2aredhead]

I've had good experience with textbooks dot com, but for college books. Do not know if they have the HS ones. They have guaranteed buyback prices for a lot of them.

 

[delmar411]

I really get annoyed when I pay the rental fee and not everyone gets a text book or they have to leave it at school so the next periods class can use the book. They don't even get their own text book! I got DDs letter last week and as of now the fees are $100, but it also said "subject to change" at the bottom of the letter. Next year she will be in high school and thats when they really sock it to you with book fees. They will be over $300!

OP, I was reading on the Kindle thread the other day that many text books are now being released on Kindle. You have to buy one, but the cost of the books is cheaper so it may be cheaper to go that way if they are all offered on Kindle.

DSs college books aren't this year, but I hope all of them will be next year.

I didnt' know that about the Kindle! I'll have to check it out as DH needs college books as well.