National Association of College Stores Offers Money Saving Tips to Students

Selected by instructors, textbooks and course materials provide college students the information and resources they need to do well in class. However, many students come to college unprepared for their expense.

Smart shopping strategies can have a big impact when shopping for textbooks. The National Association of College Stores (NACS) offers the following suggestions:

  1) Buy "used" books whenever possible, which could save you 25% off the
     cost of a new textbook.  College stores strive to provide as many used
     textbooks as possible, but they often sell out quickly.
  2) Know your store's refund policy, especially the deadlines. This way,
     you won't be disappointed if you need to return items to the store if
     you drop a class.
  3) Keep your receipts. Most stores require receipts for returns.
  4) Don't write in your books until you're certain you'll be keeping them.
     Most stores will not offer full credit for books that have been marked.
  5) Be cautious when making course material purchases online. The items you
     need may not arrive on time, causing you to fall behind in your
     studies.  Also, don't forget to calculate shipping expenses into the
     total cost of the textbook.
  6) If you have a choice between buying a textbook by itself, or the same
     text packaged with a study guide or software package, make sure you
     need both parts. While packages can be a great value and maximize
     learning when properly used, they are often non-returnable once opened.
  7) If you have questions, ask!  Your college store professional is the
     course material expert that is dedicated to helping you obtain all of
     the educational tools you need for academic success.

About NACS

Headquartered in Oberlin, Ohio, the National Association of College Stores (NACS) is the professional trade association representing the $11 billion collegiate retailing industry.

Source: National Association of College Stores

Web site: http://www.nacs.org/