Going through the back to school checklist, one item troubles the heads of many college students: textbooks. The price of textbooks has skyrocketed in recent years with students spending an estimated $700 to $1,100 annually on their books.
From 1986 to 2004 the Government Accountability Office reported that textbook prices increased 186 percent. In 2008 the market for new books was estimated at $3.6 billion. Daunting numbers to students. Thus the internet movement has gradually infiltrated campuses across the nation, including Marist College, offering students options that won’t break their bank accounts.
This internet-savvy generation is turning to the Web to seek alternatives to their campus bookstore for the best deals on books. Chegg.com in particular has become an increasingly popular choice when purchasing books with their offer of renting books as an alternative to buying. Chegg is now ranked number one in textbook rentals.
“I don’t want to keep my books at the end of the semester, this is the smartest and most inexpensive way to do it,” says Anthony Perna a junior at Marist College.
This notion Perna shares is the very premise entrepreneurs Osman and Aayush founded the company on in 2007 with their signature slogan, “don’t buy it.”
The website functions through three simple steps: rent your books from Chegg, they then ship your books, then at the end of the semester you return your books for free to Chegg by printing the mailing label and placing it on the original book box.
“I compare prices of a couple different websites, the bookstore, and then Chegg before I make my decision. The bookstore is a rip-off, you do not need to pay that much,” says Logan O’Neill a junior at Marist College.”
Chegg also incorporates a service to the world by planting a tree in Africa, India, or South America, for every book you rent. The website allows you to choose where your tree will be planted. The innovative site also displays a constantly updating ticker of the amount of money the company has currently saved students. At this moment the sum totals $44,620,533.40.
Chegg.com also highlights their 30-day “Any Reason” Guarantee, which assures renters a full refund for all orders returned within 30 days if you are not satisfied in any way with your order, the quality of the book, if it is shipped later than the delivery date stated, or even if it turns out you do not need to the book after all.
There are however some students who do not find Chegg useful.
“I need my books next semester, and possibly even years from now to refresh my skills,” says Kristen Kapral a junior accounting major at Marist. ”I spent about $800 on my books this semester but I had to because I need to keep them.”
In instances like Kapral’s, Chegg’s renting deal cannot help. Though, for most college students struggling to afford school, books, and living expenses, the online alternative gives a little hope to their piggy banks.
