Online book rentals save students on school costs

It is no secret that college textbooks are expensive, but one Web site, Chegg, provides students with three options: renting, buying or selling their books back. 

According to the Web site, Chegg offers a 65 percent to 85 percent discount off the book's retail price.

Vanessa Brewster, a senior applied science supervision and management major, said she buys and sells her books online through Web sites such as eBay and Half.com because the UCF Bookstore doesn't "give very much money back."

"I decided to not purchase books from the UCF Bookstore because they are too expensive," Brewster said. "I can find them online for much cheaper, and they haven't bought back my books."

Brewster, who was unaware of Chegg.com and other textbook rental Web sites such as Textbooks.com and CampusBookRentals.com, said she could see the positives to renting textbooks because of their price.

"If you could just rent it for the semester you need it — for a lot of classes like math and English, you're not going to keep those books," Brewster said. "You're never going to look in them again."

Chegg rents textbooks during a semester for 125 days from the original order date and rents textbooks for 60 days during the summer.

Jacob Thompson, textbook manager at CB&S Bookstore, said while there may be advantages to renting online, students have other things to consider when making a decision about their books. 

Thompson said some students are not receiving the book they ordered, and that there is no way to tell unless they actually see it.

"Students are turning back away from online rentals and purchases from not getting the correct book," Thompson said. "Many books sold on these Web sites are custom versions or international editions, which are not legal to sell in the United States."

Thompson said the CB&S Bookstore provides a type of customer service that online rental companies cannot, as well as absolute assurance that students are getting the correct books required for their classes.

Thompson said he deals directly with professors from UCF, obtaining a complete listing of the courses and books required.

"There is the immediate acquisition of the book by getting it in the store," Thompson said.

The CB&S Bookstore offers full returns for up to a week after classes begin, which is also a benefit because students don't have to ship back the book and wait for their credit online, Thompson said. 

Also, books can be ordered from CB&S at Collegebook.com and picked up in the store.

Amanda Pasik, a senior advertising and public relations major, said she mostly uses Amazon.com to purchase her textbooks. 

She said she spent close to $300 on textbooks due to the specific Spanish book required for her course.

Pasik said she would use Chegg to rent textbooks.

"Sometimes you only need a book for a specific test or a short time," Pasik said.

Chegg's buy-back program offers students a cash back guarantee if they choose to sell their book back to the company.

Chegg offers nearly half back of what the book was purchased for and can be paid by check in the mail for cash or credit toward future Chegg purchases or rentals, according to the Web site.

The CB&S Bookstore also offers a guarantee buyback program. They choose between 15 and 20 popular titles of used books and guarantee customers 50 percent back from the cost of the book, if it is returned to CB&S.

Another incentive for students to utilize Chegg.com, aside from the commitment to saving money, is the savings afforded to the environment by renting their textbooks.

Chegg's eco-friendly policy includes recycling and reusing textbooks along with a partnership with American Forests, the nation's oldest nonprofit citizens' conservation organization.

Chegg plants a tree for every book a student rents, buys or sells back to Chegg through the American Forests' Global ReLeaf campaign.

Chegg has funded more than 100 acres of new trees in various locations such as Malawi, Guatemala and Mexico.

"Anytime a student can get involved by purchasing and reselling a book and a tree or multiple trees can be planted and exchanged is a win, win situation for both the student and the environment," said Alaina Bernard from the UCF Environmental Initiative about Chegg's eco-friendly policy.

Lindsey Spencer, a senior communications major, said she had viewed Chegg.com and thought it was cool, but said she was unaware of Chegg's conservation efforts.

"I'm big into going green," Spencer said.

Spencer spent nearly $500 on textbooks last semester and said she is interested in using Chegg's services in the future to help save money on the cost of textbooks.

Sayla Jones, a Chegg representative and a senior at San Jose State University, said that Chegg can offer savings for students on textbooks through discounted prices and renting out textbooks.

"Chegg saves a lot of money," Jones said. "I saved $200 last semester. It really helps."

Jones, who has only been utilizing Chegg.com for a year, said she wished she would have known about it sooner in order to save money.