college textbook and **INTERNATIONAL EDITION**

Anonymous
what is the main difference between college textbook and a college textbook that says **INTERNATIONAL EDITION**? ODU WEBSITE HAS THOSE BOOKS FOR 100.00 **INTERNATIONAL EDITION** its about 30.00
Anonymous
Book maybe written in Chinese. If you can read Chinese, it maybe a bargain.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Book maybe written in Chinese. If you can read Chinese, it maybe a bargain.


Thanks, I don't think my son is taking a Chinese class next semester, so I guess I will buy the real book
Anonymous
Thanks, goodness. Much cheaper than DC private school texts.
Anonymous
I bought one from Singapore. Much cheaper and only cover was different. If on ebay, ask the seller to show certain chapters.
Known way to save on books.
Anonymous
So are these pirated editions or do textbook publisher just price-gouge in the US?
Anonymous
My DD is entering her 3rd year and she says she always waits until the first class to actually purchase the text books for many of her classes. For reasons I cannot figure out professors sometimes add books to their list for class that they never plan to use. They often let the kids know the first class which ones they will definitely need or which ones will only be used a little bit and can be found in the library. She then searches for the best price between the bookstore or online. She also rents most of her books that she knows she will not be using for another class.

She always handles this all by herself so I don't know all the details, but I do know that she found herself with the wrong book once when she got it online. It was identified as the correct one, but what came was wrong. She had to get another book and it was a big waste of money. I would be weary and careful of getting a book you're not sure is the correct one. More hassle than it's worth...
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:My DD is entering her 3rd year and she says she always waits until the first class to actually purchase the text books for many of her classes. For reasons I cannot figure out professors sometimes add books to their list for class that they never plan to use. They often let the kids know the first class which ones they will definitely need or which ones will only be used a little bit and can be found in the library. She then searches for the best price between the bookstore or online. She also rents most of her books that she knows she will not be using for another class.

She always handles this all by herself so I don't know all the details, but I do know that she found herself with the wrong book once when she got it online. It was identified as the correct one, but what came was wrong. She had to get another book and it was a big waste of money. I would be weary and careful of getting a book you're not sure is the correct one. More hassle than it's worth...


first day of class, you will find out exactly what you need. sometimes you don't need everything listed.
Anonymous
College professor here. For classes that require a textbook, I tell students that they can get an older edition of the book, which saves them a lot of money. For example, if the book is currently in the 6th edition, I tell them that the 5th is also fine. Often, there are very few changes. Seems like there is a new edition every three or four years or so. They can order them online used and sometimes new.

Agree that it is best for students to wait until the first day of class to see what they really need to buy.
Anonymous
I saved a TON of money on books while getting my grad degree using the international editions through half.com (dating myself with that one). They only difference I know of is that they are softcover. I never had any issues with quality or differences in material.

Many of my classmates were pissed when they ended semesters with shrink-wrapped books they could get a fraction of money for at the bookstore. Buy the int'l version - it is legal to do in the US.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I saved a TON of money on books while getting my grad degree using the international editions through half.com (dating myself with that one). They only difference I know of is that they are softcover. I never had any issues with quality or differences in material.

Many of my classmates were pissed when they ended semesters with shrink-wrapped books they could get a fraction of money for at the bookstore. Buy the int'l version - it is legal to do in the US.

My nephew was using half.com for texbooks 2-3 years ago so I don't think it's as dated as you think.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:So are these pirated editions or do textbook publisher just price-gouge in the US?


ding ding ding.

I bought a lot of international edition versions of textbooks in college. Not once did I notice a difference between mine and the US version.

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:So are these pirated editions or do textbook publisher just price-gouge in the US?


Price gouge. Its the same as any grey-market good.
Import the cheaper version and sell it (as the local version is marked up).
For normal grey market goods (i.e. cameras, pianos, etc) a big concern is you don't have any warranty.

I think that matters so much with the book.
Anonymous
I assume the intl version isn't full of climate denying crap that us states mandate.
Anonymous
It's illegal
post reply Forum Index » College and University Discussion
Message Quick Reply
Go to: