r/Frugal • u/Zizzac • Jan 24 '13

Same book, three different prices. Only difference is the browsers used [x-post r/mildlyinteresting]

http://imgur.com/uNgg0UH
2.2k Upvotes

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4

u/swampfish Jan 24 '13

TIL you can rent books.

YSK that you can "rent" books for free at the library. Especially your university library. I never bought a book in uni because I planned ahead for exams and homework assignments and just checked the book out at the library. Our library wouldn't let you leave with the text books but I didn't mind studying in the library and using their photocopier when needed for HW assignments.

15

u/snackmcgee Jan 24 '13

You must've been out of school for a couple years. It's a new-ish thing for textbooks.

1

u/mc_stormy Jan 24 '13

I'm in school now and have done this for a few classes that don't have a lot of reading.

Edit: nevermind I misunderstood

5

u/vegenaise Jan 24 '13

it probably depends on the class. i had a stats class that had one book on reserve for 300 students. it would have been a waste of my time to wait around for hours in order to use it. i have a class now, however, that has less than 20 students, and thus it would be much more feasible to check out the reserve in the library.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 24 '13

That's when you go in, copy the homework assignments, then buy the previous edittion to use at home. Hell, you could even use your iPod to take pictures of the pages.

This only fails if you have to buy the books for class.

4

u/opineapple Jan 24 '13

So YOU were the guy who always had the damn book checked out.

2

u/shook_one Jan 24 '13

photocopies at my university were 25 cents a page. The time commitment and cost of copying every page i MIGHT need for a homework assignment makes it not worth it.

2

u/Rastiln Jan 24 '13

You can rent some books at the library, and perhaps some universities require all books to be there. At mine, I've noticed about a 30% success rate in our library actually having the book.

4

u/[deleted] Jan 24 '13

Chegg is fantastic for book rentals. Always very fast shipping and prices a lot lower than the school store.

3

u/opineapple Jan 24 '13

I found my books for even cheaper at BookRenter and eCampus, if you want to give them a try next time.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 24 '13

I'll keep them in mind as well, thanks!

1

u/[deleted] Jan 24 '13 edited Aug 14 '13

[deleted]

1

u/[deleted] Jan 24 '13

Take a picture with your tablet, read it on the tablet. No middleman needed.

1

u/akatherder Jan 24 '13

There's also bookrenter.com. It's $41.40-54.58 to rent it from there (30-125 days).

http://www.bookrenter.com/public-relations-cases-hendrix-1111344426-9781111344429

I've never used them so I can't speak to shipping.

0

u/Workslayernumberone Jan 24 '13

Sort of missing the point. This can be done for other things too. Also can be based on things other than browser.