I added the last book to the pile, the weight of the text books fully bearing down on my arms. I tried to roughly calculate the cost but I had lost track after the shell shock from the price of the first text book I needed.
I headed to the line to purchase my textbooks. The line snaked around and around, the books weight suddenly seemed to increase. I waited in line, shifting my books from one arm to another. I hoped that my newly obtained debit card had enough money in it to cover my books- and this was just the first semester. I was going to have to do this every semester!
The line slowly moved forward.
There had to be a better way to do this. But back in 1999 when I started college, this was pretty much your only option. Sites like CampusBookRentals didn't exist. If only it did, I could have simply logged onto my computer (which I was probably one of the only 50% that had a personal computer on my floor-man does that make me feel old) gone to campusbookrentals.com and ordered my text books!! But CampusBookRentals began in 2007- I graduated in 2002.
So there I was stuck in line, trying to balance the books without losing total circulation in my arms. Knowing that at the end of the semester I would be joining a line equally as long trying to sell back the books, where if I was lucky I would get 50% of the price I paid back, probably less.
Man, kids have it easy now.
*This post was written in behalf of CampusBookRentals.com. However all opinions and stories expressed are my own and true.
i remember selling my books back when the semester was over
ReplyDeleteBoth schools I had as an undergrad had book rental! It was awesome to know I could get rid of my books at the end of the semester. However, their system of handing them out was always annoying! They have since improved it.
ReplyDeleteWhen I did my graduate degree I had to buy at that university. At first I got them through the school bookstore, but one semester I ordered 3 books ahead, and they only had 1 in when I went to pick them up! After that I started buying used from Amazon. I think I just ended up giving away the ones I didn't need, either that or they are still in my old closet:)
Oh yeah, I can relate! I would spend $400 on books some semesters, and was always so upset about it! Kids sure do have it easy now ;)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, SHELL SHOCKED, about the prices of textbooks!
ReplyDeleteIf attending BYU I recommend all students check out the bookstore down from JDawgs where you can rent textbooks. It was a great way to save on money. Even buying books was cheaper there because the bookstore rips you off like no other.
ReplyDelete50%?! I remember those days. I was danged lucky to get 50% back. Maybe at BYU, but at the U, it was more like 25%.
ReplyDeleteI remember those long lines and heavy, over-priced books. As an athlete, Josh had a "library" filled w/all his textbooks. Nice.
ReplyDeleteLet me tell you, I can imagine walking through my college with all those books! I'm excited out of my mind!
ReplyDeletePrior to hearing about this, I had no idea renting books existed! I was going to settle with used books, which put me still, in the several hundreds for my first semester! Let's just say, the unsure-ness of the debit card balance was definitely in my future!
What a great site :0)
I remember those days too!!!! I used to rush to sell back my books and then I'd fib to my parents that I kept the books or they would've wanted the money back.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you CAN buy them online now! Sheesh - our kids don't have to walk 5 miles to school AND they won't have to stand in line staggering under a mountain of books? What hard things will they endure instead? :)
ReplyDeleteAwww man, this brings back terrible memories!! HaHa! He at least our tuition was cheaper, right?!
ReplyDelete