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#1L Guide to Buying Cheap Textbooks - Top Law Schools

1L Guide to Buying Cheap Textbooks

Law school is very expensive and many students are on a tight budget. Legal textbooks can eat away at that budget, costing as much as $200 per book. Below is a short guide for 1L's on how to find the best deals on textbooks.

1) Buy used books

There is really no good reason to buy a brand new, shrink-wrapped textbook. Unless your professor requires a textbook that was just published a month ago, you should be able to find a used copy online. Some people argue that they need a new book because they prefer clean pages. However, there are plenty of used books out there that have no markings. Out of the six used textbooks I bought for 1L year, only one of them had highlighting on the pages. When buying online, read the seller descriptions for used books and you will know if the pages are clean. If you stick to used textbooks and aren't too picky, you should never pay more than a maximum of $50-60 per book.

2) Avoid the campus bookstore

The only good reason to buy a textbook at the campus bookstore is if you can't buy it online or if it costs the same online so you save on shipping costs by buying on campus. Campus bookstores are the most expensive place to buy books. Even the used and even rental books one can find there cost significantly more than a used book online. Only buy textbooks at the campus bookstore if you have no other option or it is cost efficient. Reject the urge to just pre-order your books through the campus bookstore and pick them up the day before class.

3) Buy textbooks early

If you have your required book list now there is no reason to wait to buy books. Rising 2L's put their books up for sale online at the end of 1L year. The more of the same book there is online, the more competitive the prices will be. The closer it gets to the first day of school, the less used books there will be for sale online because other 1L's are buying them all. Therefore, you have a better chance of getting a good deal on a textbook if you buy now compared to buying in mid-August. In addition, the closer it is to the first day of school the more you will have to pay in shipping costs. Standard media mail shipping costs $3.99 and takes 5-14 days. If you wait and then have to pay expedited shipping, you waste money.

3) Shop around

Amazon marketplace is a great place to find used textbooks, but it may not always be the best deal. Be sure to look at several different online retailers (see list below).

4) Use coupons

Even if you buy used books online from other students you can still find coupons online to reduce costs. Once you locate the book you want, Google the name of the website plus the word coupon to find discounts (e.g. half.com coupons ). Websites like retailmenot.com have tons of coupons to give you deals like free shipping, 15% off or $3 off if you spend $30. Finding these coupons only takes a few minutes and can save you even more money. Also, if you haven't signed up for Amazon Prime (1 year of free shipping for students) you should do so.

5) Re-sell your used books

Why keep your textbooks after 1L year? Unless you like them as decorations you should sell them back. You should be able to get at least a 50% return, so the price you pay for them now will be half if you factor this in. This will also give you money to buy your books for 2L and 3L year. You can re-sell your books on many of the websites listed below.

6) List of online textbook retailers

Below is a list of online retailers where you can buy textbooks. If anyone knows of a great site that is not on this list, please respond and I will add it: