Here's a reader comment detailing how to save on college textbooks from my post How to Save on College Textbooks:
I've used international editions as well.
They are usually soft cover, black and white versions of the US textbook.
The US version from the University bookstore was ~$150 and used was ~$110. I bought the international version it online with shipping for $44. I will be getting an international edition for the rest of my books.
Wow -- good idea!
If someone has five classes a semester, this tip could easily save them several hundred dollars! Good stuff!
Be careful when doing this: sometimes international editions are very, very different, and when they are different they are going to be different in important ways. The most common reason that an "international edition" differs from a U.S. edition of a textbook is because of permissions territories. Suffice to say, sometimes publishers can reprint articles in one country that they cannot reprint in another. More importantly, international rights are often more expensive, especially for the most important authors in anthologies, &c. That means that when your international edition is different than the U.S. edition, it is going to be different in that it lacks the selections by some of the most important authors. You'll have to photocopy those from the textbook on reserve at the library, or from a friend's copy. International editions are sometimes still a good deal, but keep in mind that they're not always the same, and that some of the price differential will be offset by photocopying costs.
Posted by: English Major | January 02, 2007 at 05:41 PM
I did the same thing in grad school, but better. Grad school gave you the ability to check out a book for several months. I would find the text books in the library and check them out for the semester.
Posted by: Nagel | January 02, 2007 at 08:25 PM
In addition to being different, many international editions are illegal to purchase within the U.S. Many times they can only be legally used with a specific country or region. Definitely check the inside and outside both covers.
By re-importing the books you are essentially circumventing US copyright laws. It'll save you a some real money, but it's also illegal.
Posted by: Kyle | January 03, 2007 at 02:27 AM
Nagel is right. This practice is illegal as per the originating countries as well as US laws. Recently customs officials in India seized a huge shipment of books heading to US. These were local editions of books published in US. Usually local editions are at least 10 times cheaper here in India than US. I recently purchased the local Indian edition of a book for $10. US edition costs $100.
Posted by: Prasanth Prabhu | January 03, 2007 at 04:36 AM
You can also go to websites like bestbookbuys.com which will comparison shop for you at all the online book retailers. I have found that you can get the books for half the price if not more.
Posted by: Makayla | January 03, 2007 at 05:01 PM
I have used one international version... it worked out well. I bought it for $30 from a student that bought several copies. It was half the price that I would have paid for a used copy in the bookstore.
The easiest way I save on text books is to have my sister buy them with her employee discount :)
Posted by: Dus10 | January 03, 2007 at 09:46 PM
The College I went you had a program were you could rent the all your books for the semester the price was built into the cost.
Posted by: Money saver | January 04, 2008 at 04:28 PM