General advice for buying new/used casebooks Forum

[thenewlawstudent2014]

Here are certain steps that you should do before you go back to school. Now's a good time to buy and save on casebooks since buying online is almost always cheaper, and you may need to allow time for shipping.

First, find out whether the book required is an old edition or a new edition. If the book is an old edition, then, if you are okay with some highlighting, your bookstore might be selling old casebooks at a significant discount. You may have classmates who may be selling it at a discount (ask around!). eBay and Amazon may have old casebooks as well.

If it's an older edition, but if you need cheaper books, then Amazon is probably your best bet--I know that for some books, it's over $100 cheaper than the bookstore. If the book is from Aspen Law (i.e., the cover is red), then going to aspenlaw.com with promotion codes could be cheaper than amazon. I put a list of online merchants (from a previous TLS thread) below.

If it's a new edition, buying straight from the publisher (if possible) will be likely be your cheapest option. Again, as above, buying from aspenlaw.com with a 15% discount promotion code could save a good chunk of change.

For aspenlaw, one code that gives a 15% discount is "1VIRGINIA2". Supplements (e.g., E&Es, Glannon) at a 25% discount can use the code "1VIRGINIA". You can check with your representative. [EDIT: I want to note that your school probably has its own representative, but any code from any school works]

Online Merchants:
http://www.ebay.com
http://www.amazon.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com
http://www.barristerbooks.com
http://www.half.com
--LinkRemoved--
http://www.addall.com
http://www.powells.com/used/law/27
http://www.abebooks.com
http://www.craigslist.org
http://www.alibris.com
http://www.ecampus.com
http://www.bookrenter.com
http://www.cheapesttextbooks.com

[LexLeon]

Thank you for the suggestions, my friend.

[BostonLove]

Here are certain steps that you should do before you go back to school. Now's a good time to buy and save on casebooks since buying online is almost always cheaper, and you may need to allow time for shipping.

First, find out whether the book required is an old edition or a new edition. If the book is an old edition, then, if you are okay with some highlighting, your bookstore might be selling old casebooks at a significant discount. You may have classmates who may be selling it at a discount (ask around!). eBay and Amazon may have old casebooks as well.

If it's an older edition, but if you need cheaper books, then Amazon is probably your best bet--I know that for some books, it's over $100 cheaper than the bookstore. If the book is from Aspen Law (i.e., the cover is red), then going to aspenlaw.com with promotion codes could be cheaper than amazon. I put a list of online merchants (from a previous TLS thread) below.

If it's a new edition, buying straight from the publisher (if possible) will be likely be your cheapest option. Again, as above, buying from aspenlaw.com with a 15% discount promotion code could save a good chunk of change.

For aspenlaw, one code that gives a 15% discount is "1VIRGINIA2". Supplements (e.g., E&Es, Glannon) at a 25% discount can use the code "1VIRGINIA". You can check with your representative. [EDIT: I want to note that your school probably has its own representative, but any code from any school works]

Online Merchants:
http://www.ebay.com
http://www.amazon.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com
http://www.barristerbooks.com
http://www.half.com
--LinkRemoved--
http://www.addall.com
http://www.powells.com/used/law/27
http://www.abebooks.com
http://www.craigslist.org
http://www.alibris.com
http://www.ecampus.com
http://www.bookrenter.com
http://www.cheapesttextbooks.com

Good quick reminder. For the codes, as mentioned, you can use any, but it's pretty easy to figure out your school's (and so have the commission go to your school's rep). It is just 1<<School>> or 1<<School>>2. Similar to Virginia above, for example, Boston College's is 1BC and 1BC2 and Boston University's is 1BU and 1BU2.

Also, renting is often a good option as well, particularly with new textbooks. I think that renting or buying from Aspen with a code is usually best, but I always do some quick online searching.

Finally, I've actually found a few times that the school bookstore price was the same or lower than what I found online - so don't forget to look there as well!

[Nova]

Thanks

[guano]

I suggest googling the ISBN number.
Trust me now, thank me later

[patienunderstanding]

gettextbooks.com

[NotMyRealName09]

People probably differ on this, but for my core classes, I NEVER bought used. Yeah, they were costly, but there was just no way I was going to let some jack-hole idiot pre-highlight my book for me, probably highlighting everything unimportant and worthless (pink for facts! yellow for rules! orange for analysis! I'll ace this test for sure!).

I wanted every pencil mark in the book to be from my hand only, and if you have the means, I highly recommend it.

[arklaw13]

I always buy used if possible. I never notice the markings in them. Even notes don't bother me, especially if the handwriting is illegible, which it usually is.

I guess if it bothered me that much I'd get new books.

Granted, I don't mark up my casebooks. Note taking in the book is a waste of time IMO.

[Easy-E]

May also want to check out bigwords.com. I use it for renting but I think it can be set for buying/selling.

[PepperJack]

I think you should get the cheapest book as long as it's readable. Having notes in the book is generally not counterproductive, and it's not having someone's notes that will make/break anything as much as it's having the mind to focus on the right stuff. I have gotten A's in classes where I never even bought the textbook, and median in classes where I read each word. Save the money for an e&e (also used).

[RedGiant]

I am a huge proponent of skyo.com . Most of the time they send you new books, even if you pay for used or pay to rent used. They're great.

[horriblegb]

My experience was always that if you were patient enough you can get a used book with no or minimal writing. I almost bought exclusively from half.com and amazon. I never had someone lie to me about the condition of the books, and when I resold mine, I was very truthful about the condition. I never saw the point in paying full amount if you just took a little time to research and find a copy that is right for you, as dumb as that sounds