It is now possible to buy most of your college texts on-line,  and usually at considerable savings over what you might  otherwise pay. Many texts can be found on Amazon or  Barnes and Noble on-line sites. These sites are reliable, and  the vendors reputable in case you have a problem. However,  often you can find greater savings if you check out the on- line sites that are dedicated to textbooks. You'll find several  of these below.

Some cautions, though.

Make sure you read the details before purchasing. Are you  purchasing a hard copy or an electronic copy of the text? Do  you actually own the copy, or do you have to return it at the  end of the semester. (In some instances, you can rent the  text just for the semester after which you MUST return it or  be charged.) What are the return policies if something goes  wrong? How quickly will the text be shipped? Are there  additional charges for shipping. Remember if you purchase  on-line you are responsible for the purchase. You instructor  cannot intervene for you.

Some students look for their texts on eBay, but unless you  are careful it may take two or three weeks to get your text.  Private shippers sometimes are not as reliable as larger  vendors are. Also, some students have reported to me that  they bought their books on-line, ended up with the wrong  texts or wrong editions, and then found that it was difficult to  impossible to return them.