In most cases, you can simply enter the title you’re looking for into the search bar. The results will populate with different offers from different sellers. Be sure to shop around, as sellers set their own price. This means prices can differ greatly between sellers. Pay attention to the descriptions as you shop, too. Used books come in all different conditions. Most books will be categorized as “like new,” “very good,” “good,” “fair,” or “poor” condition.
You can also check the website of independent publishers if you’re looking for a specific indie title. Publishers generally have their own online bookstore in addition to distributing to other retailers.
You will still need to complete your transaction on the retailer’s website. The search engine allows you to compare prices, but it does not directly sell or distribute the books.
If your bookstore still has used books available, you can often reserve these online and either have them delivered to you or pick them up from the store yourself.
Many of these sites offer both new and used books. Shopping the used sections may offer you a better deal if you’re looking to save money.
These sites work like any other resale marketplace. All you need to do is input the title you’re looking for into the search bar, then select whatever copy of the book meets your needs. Different books will be in different conditions, so be sure to read the description of any given copy of a book before buying. Resale websites often have many editions of common textbooks. Be careful to select the right version for your class, as older versions may not have the same information or page numbers as newer versions.
For some higher-level and specialized classes, the required books may not be available through these sites. Often, these sites will impose restrictions on things like highlighting and writing in rented books. If you do so, you may have to pay a fee up to the price of the book, itself.
For Andriod users, you can search “ebook reader” in the Google Play store. Select an app that meets your needs, and press the “Install” button to download it and install it on your device. Depending on your device, Google Books may already be installed on your phone or tablet. For OS users, you can search “ebook reader” in the App Store. There are several apps you can choose to download and install, but many Apple products already come preloaded with iBooks.
Some sites, like Scribd and Kindle Unlimited, offer monthly subscription plans instead of paying for each book. On these sites, you can pay a single monthly fee and read as many books as you’d like. The only restriction is what books are available through the site’s library. It is easy to cancel the Kindle Unlimited and Scribd subscriptions if you decide against keeping them.
