Top 5 Places to Buy Textbooks at Ohio State
1. SBX on High Street
If you want to buy your textbooks in person, SBX is the best place I’ve found so far. They organize their stock by course subject, then by the actual course number. I found my Spanish textbook here for $173 (priced $211 at Barnes and Noble).
2. ISBNS.net
This website allows you to compare the prices of over 200 online stores. Just type your book’s isbn number into the search bar, and the website will return any copies being sold or rented, their prices (actual price and shipping), and their current conditions (whether they’re new or “like new”). Visit the website here.
3. The Library
The library usually carries copies of your textbooks–just beware of your classmates having the same idea that you do. One student said that she likes to check out two copies of everything that she borrows. This helps to prevent another student from taking your book from you halfway through the semester.
4. The Textbook Exchange Facebook Page
Ohio State students gather on a Facebook page at the beginning of each semester and sell books to one another. This is a great option if you are good at negotiating. It’s great to be able to help other students out and sometimes you can find a great deal from a student who is desperate to get rid of his or her textbook. Either visit the Facebook page here or search Facebook for the group titled “Textbook Exchange.”
5. Barnes and Noble
If worse comes to worst, you can always count on Barnes and Noble having the exact edition that you need. Although they are sometimes more expensive, there are no worries about having the wrong textbook.