New?Used?
Rented?
Online?
Bookmart?
We answer all your textbook queries. For an incoming 1L, the process of buying textbooks seems like it will be straightforward at first. They give you a specific date and time to come to the UW Bookmart and purchase all of your books new at full price. However, the UW Bookmart is not your only option for most purchases, and may not be the best option for all of your books. Therefore SEE has put together some information that we think may be helpful for you to consider as you think about purchasing books for the upcoming semester.
How do I know which books to buy?
Login to your Student Center from the my.wisc.edu website. Under Course Enrollment, click on Term Information, and Textbooks. Not all of your professors will post books here. Some will email you instead. At some point, the UW Bookmart will post a list of the Fall 2010 required texts online. Make sure you know which edition you need. Sometimes it is crucial to have the most recent edition. In other cases, you can get away with buying older editions and saving money, since the newer editions basically fixed some typos. (ex. this has been the case in the past with the Substantive Crim & Crim Pro textbooks) Also, there are some books (like the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure) that you can get for free from LexisNexis, and you can save money by not purchasing them. Ask your professors and small group leaders and for guidance on these issues.
Should I buy or rent?
Renting texts is a newer option. Although local used booksellers like the Textbook Exchange on State Street claim to offer this as an option, they don't have law books on hand, so don't waste your time. Westlaw recently announced that they will be renting books. Pros: earn westlaw points, mark up the book as much as you'd like, no shipping costs, pay less than full price, option to purchase it if you keep it for 7 months. Cons: Rental costs and there's no money made back by reselling the book later.
Where should I buy from?
The law school is going to direct you to the bookmart, which sells brand new texts only. Some learners prefer books with no writing or highlighing in them, and new books are most appealing to those students. Keep in mind that you may be able to find used books with no writing or highlighting in them. (Also, if you're concerned about resale value of your books, think carefully about whether you want to highlight in them or not before the semester begins.) Your professor may also require you to purchase a supplement that is only available through the bookstore. Keep in mind also that the bookmart only accepts check or cash, NO Credit or Debit cards. For more information, visit the UW Bookmart's website.
One alternative is to buy from fellow students. Your small group section leaders (current 2Ls and 3Ls) are a good source of used books. SBA may be selling used books during orientation (they did last year), so keep your eyes peeled at the locker rental table in the atrium. Additionally, there is an online textbook exchange on Facebook where UW Law students offer to sell their books to one another.
Another alternative is to buy online. The following is an inexhaustive list of sites to try:
Anecdotally, I know one student who saved over $100 on the lawbooksforless site, and one student who paid about $300-$400 for about $700 of books on sites like Amazon. And don't forget Ebay! This in no way means SEE endorses one site over another. But buying used saves money.
What kind of discounts are available?
Students can join certain organizations to get discounts on books. For example, PAD members get a 10% discount at BarristerBooks.com. Joining the ABA will also get you discounts on certain books. Some students who participated in a law preview class may have a textbook discount as a result of taking the class. Find out about what discounts you can get before you buy.
COMMON 1L MISTAKE TO AVOID: Going to the wrong bookstore.
The University Bookstore, on Library Mall, where undergraduates buy their textbooks, is NOT where the UW Bookmart is located. You need to be in the law school building at the designated time for book buying. Every year someone goes to the University Bookstore by mistake, and the employees there aren't always good about politely redirecting you. Pass this article on to your fellow 1Ls to make sure their book buying process goes smoothly!
If there is info we have left out, please comment or email us and let us know!
Update: Amazon is offering free shipping for students.
(Thanks to Bonnie Shucha from the law library for sharing)
Update: Also see this article on Kiplinger for more ideas on cutting the cost of buying books.
Posted by Janet Mitchell with help from Anamarie Jezo.
