For the German classes at school you have to buy a the textbook package which comes with a workbook you write in and a CD with software on it. And there is a new edition every year so you have to buy a new one and it is $180. But at least you get to use it for a whole year so that package lasts through German 101 and 102. And also it comes shrinkwrapped and once you open it you can not return it for any reason (so says the sticker). But this year I am in German 203-204 so I need the next level of textbook/software but at the bookstore some of packages were misplaced so I got the wrong level and didn’t notice until I had already taken it home and opened the plastic. So now I gotta go buy another one at the right level and wasted my $180. please give me attention and comfort me in this topic in my time of crisis ):
Should I tell mom or try to hide it and hope she doesn’t notice? All the textbook costs get added to the tuition and she has already looked at it once with the textbooks I already bought so maybe I can slip one by her.
This is the biggest error I have ever made and I feel awful
Even though it says no returns -ASK. Don’t demand but go in right away, explain your mistake and ask if there is anything they can do. Even if the answer is no you can tell your mother you tried everyone to fix it, and they might just be able to help.
On the bright side, at least you aren’t trapped in a mine.
(Seriously, though, if the store won’t take it back, I agree that you should be able to sell them to someone else for something near the original price.)
I would try to sell it to another student. Talk to the instructor of the class for the wrong book. He/she should be able to direct you to someone who needs it.
Re: tell your mom … I like for my college-age kids to tell me about serious things, but if you can sell the book you might only be out $25 or so. If you can’t sell it you probably should tell her.
Put it on Facebook, Craigslist, hell, put a post-it note near the stack of the German book you got in the actual bookstore saying it’s opened but you’re not taking it, wanna have it for $160?
-lindsaybluth, who sold 4 of the 7 of her last college textbooks today on Amazon.
I worked at a university bookstore all of last year and in certain cases we could do an exchange on an item like this. The wrap wasn’t that much of a big deal, we had a shrinkwrap machine out the back to fix broken plastic. If none of the books/software is damaged, you might have a chance.
I mean, at least try. Maybe they do exchanges on broken-seal packs but not refunds, so you can get the book you need.
If you absolutely cannot work something out at the bookstore, shave $20-30 off the price and stick notes up everywhere you can offering to sell it, I’m sure you’ll get someone to buy it and you won’t lose as much money. Don’t put notes in the bookstore though, I don’t think they’re going to appreciate that.
Edit: if the books were in the wrong place (i.e. it was clearly marked that this was the spot for your books and the wrong ones were sitting there) you can argue it was the bookstore’s fault. Whatever you do don’t just go in and be like “I BOUGHT THE WRONG BOOK LOL CAN I HAVE A NEW ONE” because before you know it you’ll be sitting outside with no refund or exchange. University bookstores have to deal with idiots every day who try to cheat them so be serious and make sure they know this is a genuine mistake.
Oh yeah, stick a notice on the student messageboard in the faculty, or in the student rag, or chuck an advertisement on Ebay as suggested. Some poor bugger will be grateful to get a discount on the texts, and your biggest mistake ever will pall into relative insignificance.
You are not returning it. You are exchanging it for the correct one. Any chance you could pin the error on the store? It’s new, unused and has full value. I think their disclaimer is not meant for these conditions. I assume you did not open and play the CD as well and just the outer packaging is disturbed.
I went to the bookstore and they took it back. I still had the plastic on it it was just unwrapped once and torn. Also they asked me if I had ever used the CD, and I haven’t so they took it back. And the level 203 book is cheaper so that is $13 added to my student account. And also I am taking a Drama class, for to complete an Art class requirement, but I am not a Drama major. And I looked at the booklist online, and it said you needed to buy the Drama Student Undergrad manual, so I did. But then when I got to class, the professor said he isn’t gonna require it and you only need it if you are a drama major. So I returned that too.
So in total I had $36.09 added to my student account. alles klar
Look, man, you’re doing this all wrong. For books, you need to follow THE PLAN.
Go to the class. First question after “Any questions?” is “Do we need the book?” Second question is “Does it have to be this edition?” Be prepared to disbelieve them.
Check the library. You’d be surprised what they have. If it’s, like, Plato or something, you can read that from any classics book. Doesn’t have to be the one prescribed by the class.
Hit up Amazon, Craiglist, and eBay.
See if anyone has a free copy, like the professor or the former class.
+1 on Chessic. I had a professor who so despised new editions in science classes that he would say “turn to page 99 new, 96 last” and that was to mean new = this year’s edition last = last year’s edition.
