The NACS survey found that as students progress throughout their academic careers, they become savvier shoppers and are more likely to comparison shop at multiple sources to find the best deal. Sites like CampusBooks.com, BigWords.com and BookFinder.com, among others, track books for new, used and rental texts.
When you’re comparing prices, make sure you’re looking at exactly what the professor requires, down to the correct edition and supplemental materials.
Don’t count out the campus bookstore, either, Febbo said. They may be competitive with some of the prices you see elsewhere. Many will also price-match competitors, letting you get the best price and the convenience of on-campus pickup.