# College students..i got a question! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 18, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-students-i-got-a-question/196069 "2003-08-18T23:11:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stccrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Stccrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stccrd)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-students-i-got-a-question/196069/1 "2003-08-18T23:11:19Z")
Where is the best place to buy textbooks online? ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-students-i-got-a-question/196069/2 "2003-08-18T23:13:59Z")
Dunno about the best, but I’ve heard good things about [half.com](http://half.com) . ---
**Author:** ![Magickly\_Delicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magickly\_Delicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magickly_Delicious)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-students-i-got-a-question/196069/3 "2003-08-19T00:10:24Z")
I have used [half.com](http://half.com) once before, and I was very pleased. [Bigwords.com](http://Bigwords.com) is also sort of useful, because it lets you compare prices among a few vendors. I’ve also used the old standbys [bn.com](http://bn.com) and Amazon, which can be cheaper if you’re willing to buy your textbook one edition ago. ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-students-i-got-a-question/196069/4 "2003-08-19T00:12:31Z")
I’ve had good luck using [half.com](http://half.com), with one exception - I ordered a full textbook from some guy and received only an answer booklet. He denied it, but I believe I could have gotten a full refund from [half.com](http://half.com) had I acted sooner and not been so lazy. Moral: Don’t be lazy. ---
**Author:** ![beegirl13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@beegirl13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beegirl13)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-students-i-got-a-question/196069/5 "2003-08-19T04:14:01Z")
Buy from [half.com](http://half.com), preferably the books that I’ve been trying to sell for the past 8 months! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-students-i-got-a-question/196069/6 "2003-08-19T04:27:27Z")
Y’know, I never bought any used books online. Some things just strike me as bad voodoo. I still don’t trust the wireless internet I’m using right this moment. _stares suspiciously at the antenna sticking out of his computer_ ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-students-i-got-a-question/196069/7 "2003-08-19T06:41:16Z")
I’ve had good experiences with [half.com](http://half.com) myself. The one thing I’d take note of is if you know you need a book during the first week or two of class, be cautious when it comes to shipping. Most people are good about shipping things with all due speed and most things arrive quickly, but it can take up to a month to arrive if you use media mail. (I ordered five texts off [half.com](http://half.com) – I believe four arrived within 10 days, but the fifth took over three weeks. This was also in the time before sellers could provide alternate shipping options, if I remember correctly.) At any rate, good luck with college!