Best Places to Buy Textbooks
By Miranda Campbell
Current students and bookstore officials encourage freshmen to consider their options when purchasing textbooks this fall. Ranging from Chegg.com to e-books, the University Bookstore to the Campus Bookstore on Dickson, freshmen will have many options as they search for the most cost effective and convenient ways to obtain their books.
For students wanting to buy textbooks in person and not worry about shipping, options include the University Bookstore and the Campus Bookstore on Dickson.
“We have the largest selection of used books in the area, which saves 25 to 30 percent over buying a new textbook,” said Tara Hoffman, manager at the Campus Bookstore on Dickson. “Students can print off their schedule when they arrive and we do the rest of the work, saving them the time and hassle of pulling their own textbooks from all over the store.”
The University Bookstore also offers a similar program, allowing students to reserve their books and pick them up when they arrive on campus, said Ali Sadeghi-Jourabchi, manager at the University Bookstore.
“We encourage freshmen to reserve their books,” Sadeghi-Jourabchi said. “As they arrive at the university, those books are waiting for them and if they have dropped or added any classes we address that then.”
Because the University Bookstore is the official UA bookstore, they are required to provide any textbook or course materials required by university classes.
“We cannot tell students that we don’t have that book,” Sadeghi-Jourabchi said. “Our textbooks are 7 percent cheaper than the national average and that’s by choice. Our goal is to save our students time and money.”
Many current students suggest online textbook outlets like Chegg.com, Halfprice.com and Amazon.com as an alternative to bookstores in Fayetteville.
“I use Amazon.com because I can get my textbooks cheaper there and they have free shipping,” said Mary Meigs, sophomore. “I also try to talk to students who have already taken the class and I usually wait until the first day of classes to order.”
Other students also suggest waiting until classes start to buy their textbooks.
“Wait for two to three weeks into classes to see if you actually need the textbooks for homework assignments or something specific,” said Leslie Nola, junior. “If not, don’t waste your money.”
Another alternative to conventional textbooks are e-books, which can be purchased and downloaded via many vendors, including Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, iTunes and even the University Bookstore.
Although the majority of students still use print books, some students prefer e-books, which can be read on laptops, tablets, e-readers and phones.
“It’s less time consuming to buy e-books rather than go out to a bookstore,” said Joyce Noftsger, freshmen. “It’s cheaper and I can read them on my Kindle which weighs less than carrying around books.”
“I’m in favor of e-books but not every textbook is available in digital format,” Sadeghi-Jourabchi said. “It is still a developing industry and the digital format has some limitations that are not available to every student.”
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James Krewson
