Do you think the cost of college text books is just highway robbery?

1. 71

   KevinC9998posted 11 years ago

   Do you think the cost of college text books is just highway robbery?

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2. 60

   LindaSmith1posted 11 years ago

   Of course it is, always has been.  In many cases, it is the instructors who write the books that are being used as the textbook for their class.  So, for every high priced textbook the student is forced to buy, the instructors earn bucks from them.

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3. 65

   JustMikeposted 11 years ago

   It seems like now due to the high cost students don't buy textbooks they usually rent them. Unless its a course in their major.

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4. 71

   lburmasterposted 11 years ago

   Yes! Four books this semester will cost over $300! Robbing me with eyes open!

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   1. 71

      KevinC9998posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It is insane. My son's first semester in Rutgers he took 5 classes which cost us $900 in text books.  Half of which he nor the professors ever referenced!

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   2. 71

      lburmasterposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Ouch. The worst are the books with the access codes. Because you can only buy them new and at full price. Most of the others I can get a discount on and purchase used.

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5. 61

   Jonathon Kennedyposted 11 years ago

   I suppose I've had really good luck with classes or something, but I've never felt cheated or "robbed" when buying books. Actually, sometimes I feel like I'm getting a huge bargain. One of my books for this semester costed a grand total of twenty-one dollars. I get to have all this information forever...for twenty-one dollars? DEAL!
   
   My most expensive book was $170.95, but it's a really nice book. I love hardback textbooks. They make me feel smart.
   
   But looking at other people's experiences I can see why there might be some resentment toward universities and textbook publishers for their prices, especially considering some professors never use, reference or even look at them.
   
   It's always good to have that knowledge bank around, though. I'm really happy that I bought and kept the ones from previous semesters now, because I often look back through them for all sorts of stuff. Sometimes I just want to fact-check, other times I'm having writers' block and need a springboard idea, and sometimes I'm just bored and want something to read.

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6. 67

   peacockctposted 11 years ago

   YES! LindaSmith1 made a good point about it being the instructors who write the textbooks.  That's common.  What's always been interesting to me is how often they come out with new editions.  So many books don't need to be changed--at least not as often as they are.  Every new edition allows them to maintain the high price or even raise it.

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7. 60

   heatherleexposted 11 years ago

   I do believe that the books required for most classes are very expensive.  The classes already cost enough as it is!
   
   Personally, I purchase my books online because I save so much more money than buying a used book at a school bookstore. 
   
   I prefer using Amazon, where I don't feel ripped off!  I'd recommend Amazon for students who have to purchase their own books without financial assistance.

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8. 67

   miakounaposted 11 years ago

   Yes! College textbooks can be as expensive as the tuition. You would think that a student would get a discount, escpecially if you needed scholarships and grants to even be able to attend college.
   
   When I was in college, I actually had a quarter where my textbooks were more expensive than my tuition! I had chemistry, calculus, microbiology, and a socioogy class. Each class was a few hundred dollars for the textbooks required.
   
   I was not able to afford the textbooks and my rent at the time. So, I had to borrow from my parents.

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9. 74

   Li Galoposted 11 years ago

   Every semester, my son enrolls in the local junior college at half time.  The cost of the books is at least $200 a semester.  There are times, you'll honestly never need the book again.  When he took typing, he used a typing exercise book that cost $150.  I mean, will he ever need THAT book again?  I don't think so.  I have been ripped off and there seems to be nothing I can do about it.

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10. 78

    tipstoretireearlyposted 11 years ago

    Definitely. The worst offenders are the professors who change the required edition each year even though the topics that they are teaching haven't changed.

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