Are you trying to decide between renting textbooks or purchasing your textbooks and selling them back when you are finished with them? The reality is that there are pros and cons associated with purchasing books as well as with renting them. Therefore, in order to decide which option is best for you, it is a good idea for you to explore the pros and cons that each option has to offer.
One of the biggest cons to purchasing college textbooks is the cost. In fact, when you rent textbooks you can save as much as 50 to 85 percent off of the list price of a new book. While your savings will not be quite as substantial when comparing renting textbooks to purchasing using textbooks, you will still save money when you choose to rent.
When you purchase a textbook, you can recoup some of the expense by selling the book back to the campus bookstore or my selling your book directly to another student. When you rent your textbook, on the other hand, you simply put the book in a box that has been provided by the rental company and you mail it back. While renting your book will prevent you from getting money back at the end of the semester, the overall cost of renting your book is generally cheaper than purchasing a book. Furthermore, you don't have to worry about the hassles of selling your book when you choose to rent.
When you purchase a new textbook, you are guaranteed the book will be in perfect condition. When you purchase a used textbook, the book may be in great condition or it may contain a great deal of highlighting and writing. If you go to the bookstore, you can flip through the used textbooks in order to make sure you purchase one that is in good condition, but this can be a time consuming and even frustrating process. When you rent your textbook, on the other hand, you can be certain the book will be in either new or like new condition. If it is not, most companies will allow you to exchange the book for one that is in better condition at no extra charge.
When you purchase a textbook, you can highlight and write inside it as much as you like. If you hope to sell the book, however, all of the highlighting and writing can reduce what you can expect to receive when you sell the book. When you rent a textbook, on the other hand, you won't be able to write in the book at all. Furthermore, the amount of highlighting you can do in a rented textbook is limited. Therefore, if you want to be able to write and highlight freely, purchasing your textbook may be the better option for you.