It was late August 1995 (totally dating myself here) and I am standing on a long line to purchase textbooks for my very first semester of college. And all over radio stations across the country Alanis Morissette is crooning that, “You Oughta Know”!
Flashback to 1995 with Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill
Totally new experience for me and truly had no clue what I was in for on this!! It was hot, the air conditioning wasn’t working and recall waiting on this extremely long line, all while sweating for over an hour holding some very big, heavy textbooks that were mandatory for the college courses.
Once I got to the cash register to pay, I recollect spending hundreds of dollars on those books that I used for about three short months.
Fast forward to December, at the end of that semester, where I stood on a long just as long as the original to try to sell back these same books receiving not nearly as much as I had originally paid. If I got back $75 it was a lot. And this vicious cycle continued for at least another few more years while I went to college.
It has been awhile for me, but still can picture this time it quite vividly. And back then I would have loved to be able to buy my textbooks in an easier fashion, for a more reasonable amount, as well as sell back and get more money returned to me from my original purchase and investment.
CampusBookRentals for All Your Textbook Needs!!
Well, it is now 2013 and I was recently contacted by CampusBookRentals, which is a textbook rental company for over 5,500 colleges across the country. Not only can you get all your textbooks needs online through this company not having to stand on long lines as I once did, but the process is so very simple.
Some of the actual perks of CampusBookRentals are as follows:
- Save 40-90% off of bookstore prices
- Free shipping both ways
- You can highlight in the textbooks
- Have flexible renting periods
- Also have an excellent support staff and are always only a phone call away.
- One of the originals in the textbook rental company revolution from way back to 2007.
- Can save a lot of money when you rent textbooks. And even if you want to keep your books at the end of the semester, you can just pay them the difference and the books are yours.
- You have 30 days to change your mind and if you do can get a full refund in that time frame.
- They even donate to Operation Smile (heals children’s smiles, who are born with cleft palates) with each textbook rented.
And CampusBookRentals just started a new initiative called RentBack, which now allows students to rent the textbooks they already own to other students. This is absolutely wonderful, because it makes them 2-4 times more money compared to what they’d make through college campus buyback options of selling their books back at the end of the semester.
RentBack is the company’s newest initiative!!
Isn’t that awesome?! I mean seriously no more long lines to get back hardly anything in return. It is a win-win for sure!!
Here are two short videos, which explain this process in more depth:
How does CampusBookRentals work?:
What is RentBack?:
So, if you or someone you know are in need of college books, this truly is a no brainer. Definitely hope, you will try them out, because the company truly is extraordinary, as well as the service they provide being impeccable. And my younger self would have been all over this one. So, Happy Textbook Shopping!!
This is a sponsored post written for CampusBookRentals, which I was compensated for, but the opinions are solely my own.
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Robin Rue says
It's going to be a long time before my kids are in college, but it's good to know that things like this exist.
Janine Huldie says
Same here Robin about my kids, but when was contacted with this information, I truly thought this would help many others out and so wanted to share!! 🙂
erintheirishmama says
I hated paying for books. It's such a scam on campus! Oh and Alanis was my freshman year too… Actually saw here at the university of Delaware my 1st year!!!
Janine Huldie says
I know Erin huge pain in the butt paying for those books. And we must be around the same age then if Alanis was your Freshman year, too. Never did see her in concert. How was she in concert??
The Dose of Reality says
Totally remember the EXACT same thing from college. It was RIDICULOUS how much it cost to buy books we only needed for a few months! What a fantastic program this is…makes so much sense!-The Dose Girls
Janine Huldie says
Glad it just wasn't me Dose Girls and just remember how frustrating and annoying the whole textbook buying and reselling back truly was. And have to tell you this one truly made sense to me and really couldn't help, but want to pass this information on to others so as to possibly help make the process that much easier!!
Sara says
Yes I had the same college experience! I paid whatever I had to in the school bookstore. It was a total rip off!!! Love the concept of Campus Book Rental
Janine Huldie says
It was a total rip off for sure Sara and so sorry you too had this happen to you. And hope this will help others not have to go through this.
mrs_karenC says
I HATED THIS in college…HATED buying books and then hardly reading them and wasting money.
I am saving this link for when nephews and son is in college. Though by then, everything may be on a ipads.
Janine Huldie says
Karen, it may very well be, but at least for now, this can help out while it can totally still. Just was so happy to see that something like this did exist 🙂
Bill says
I wish this place was around in 1966. The money I would have saved….sheez! How cool that they have a business like this.
Have a great day, Janine!
Janine Huldie says
I completely agree Bill and am so with you on all the money I could have saved. Hope you too are having a wonderful day!! 🙂
Janine Huldie says
I will be honest and I kept a few myself Kelly, but did sell the majority back for peanuts. But totally loved how you said all the intimate moments with those books!! Oh some great memories indeed!! 🙂
Kristi Rieger Campbe says
Wow, what a brilliant idea! I, too, remember standing in line hoping for some money back from those super-expensive text books. Although I do still have a couple which is just dumb because I'm sure the knowledge available in them has been updated like a billion times since the early 90's!
Janine Huldie says
Like I said to Kelly, I too have a few of my own from back then, too. But you are right that some of the material is probably outdated!! Wow, that statement alone made me feel old, lol!! But I do very much agree that this is truly a fantastic idea!! 🙂
Ruchira says
I remember reading about this deal when working on my hub for college deals. This sure is a win win situation.
Voted for you, Janine 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Oh I do remember that article you wrote and this definitely fits in nicely with that theme. And thanks as always, Ruchira!! 🙂
Cyndi says
Oh, could it be true!? I'm going to be able to comment!? YIPPEE! That alone makes my day, LOL. I wish we could have had this back in our college days; I started college two years after you did, haha. And that STILL is my favorite CD, by the way. I still listen to it. Haha. Morissette will always be etched into my memory as the song of my most impressionable years. 😀
Janine Huldie says
This just made my day that not only could you comment Cyndi, because I love you and just so happy you can actually be apart of the discussion, but just so value your friendship and opinion. And I too still love that CD and will never forget that song as long as I live. Definitely looks like great minds do think alike!! 🙂
Dani Ryan says
You brought me back to the first week of college with this post! And why didn't they have this service back then?!?!?!
Janine Huldie says
I don't know and truly wish they did, too. And it does sounds like we went to college right around the same time, too Dani!! 🙂
Lanaya @ Raising Rea says
Bahahaha … that cd is epic awesomeness. I think my best friend and I must have played it over and over again {and sorry about this … but in high school!}
I wish they had been more vigilant – even when I was in college about campus book rentals. They are EXPENSIVE to buy!! What's that all about anyway?? Geez!
¤´¨)
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(¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo http://www.raising-reagan.com
Janine Huldie says
Well, at least you didn't say elementary school, lol!! But it was a great song and seemed to span down too. And I know, Lanaya it was just so ridiculously expensive. This really is such a great alternative!! 🙂 xoxo!!
Emily Cappo says
This is great info to know, especially since my oldest will be going to college in 3 short years…yikes, how did that happen?? Times sure have changed since I went to college in, um, let's just say a while back. I do remember those textbook lines and spending sooo much money on the books. I wonder if some colleges put the text books online now too…anyway, I'll definitely remember this service for my son!
Janine Huldie says
When I was writing this I was trying to think of all I knew who had kids closing in on college age and I thought your oldest was close Emily, but wasn't sure how close. I hope you can use this for him at that point and I was also wondering how much might by online at this point, too.
Melissa S. says
Oh man, how many times did I pay $100+ for a college text only to get $20 in a buyback at end of term?? great idea!
Janine Huldie says
Same here Melissa and that is why I had to share this one!! 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Thanks again for hosting and do totally helps your son out!! 🙂