searching for a couple books online at places like half.com & the international version of the book is half as much (with every vendor at different sites saying the only differences in the international & us versions being the international version has a different cover)

any of you guys vouch for international versions or should i splurge the extra $40-50?

the books im looking at in particular are isbn - 0534997236 & 0131919636

1/7/2008 6:21:14 PM

They don't hold their resale value and they will tear up after 1 semester of use.

Buying the hard copy gives you more options -- you can resell them yourself and recover enough money to make it comparable to the international one or you can keep them for your library.

1/7/2008 6:35:16 PM

^with the luck ive had selling back books, thats not really a selling point for me (no pun intended)

1/7/2008 6:44:02 PM

I have two really good suggestions for you:

1st- Buy an international edition of the complete book of College Physics the bookstores sell Vol. 1 and 2 separately which are composed of CH. 1-14 and 15-30 respectively. With a price tag upwards of $100 each and the fact that you'll need to buy each one for PY211 and PY212 your getting burned. I purchased my International Edition of College Physics here http://www.textbooksrus.com/search/bookdetail/?isbn=0534997236&kbid=1029&utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_term=0534997236&utm_campaign=WI08gb for $37.00 with free shipping. YES THATS THE ENTIRE BOOK FOR $37.00!!! (VOL's 1 and 2 - PY211 and PY212) I took pictures of it to prove that it doesn't tear up after a semester of use (mine is in like-new shape as I start PY212) and its also the identical stinkin' book page for page because it was printed at the same time in the same factory on the same paper they just slapped a different cover on it.


2nd- For the calculus book do the same thing heres the link http://www.textbooksrus.com/search/bookdetail/default.aspx?isbn=9780131919631 Its only $42.00. I also have this book and I can tell you its the same book, same paper, same everything different cover. And books only tear up if you treat them like crap. I have about 100 paperback texts in my bookcase and none of them are torn up after 5 years of college...


When ordering from textbooksrus.com in the top right hand corner pick "New Copy International Softcover" and add to cart. Don't do marketplace (third-party sellers) or anything silly like that. I dont know how internet savy you are. If you need help PM me.





[Edited on January 7, 2008 at 7:03 PM. Reason : .]

1/7/2008 7:03:03 PM

haha, just ordered from textbooksrus about 5 mins before you posted prior...great minds think alike

1/7/2008 7:07:25 PM

^ Sweet. Grats to you. In case others wander In....


Heres another exciting international edition price $42 for Principles of Biochemistry



$42.00 Free Shipping - Heres the link

http://www.textbooksrus.com/search/bookdetail/default.aspx?isbn=9780131453067

1/7/2008 7:11:14 PM

It's a hell of a lot cheaper to go with the international editions. I've bought quite a few and haven't had any of them wear out more than the traditional hard back. And the way textbook versions are switched on a near semesterly basis, I'd rather pay the cheaper price. The savings is probably equal to the resale of a hard back.

[Edited on January 7, 2008 at 7:13 PM. Reason : ]

1/7/2008 7:11:39 PM

^yeh, ive only been able to sell back 3 books in the past 2 semesters, so not being able to sell the book back doesnt count as much of a drawback to me

1/7/2008 10:17:21 PM