As a brief history, I developed iSellMyTextbook after using a textbook exchange site that was available to students at my school only (IBX - Illini Book Exchange). I saved a ton of money on textbooks throughout college and thought it was a great way for students to save money on textbooks.. so I set out to create a site so that students at other schools could have this available to them as well.
However when telling people about iSellMyTextbook I am often asked, “Why should I use it?”, which is understandable, I asked the same thing when I was first introduced to IBX. Let’s face it, everyone always wants to know what’s in it for them. So here are the top 10 reasons that I can think of based on my experiences as well as reasons I’ve heard from other people:
5. Increase the Odds of Selling Your Textbook
Even if there is another textbook exchange site for your school, you only increase your chances of someone finding and buying your textbook by listing it on multiple sites. I encourage users to list their textbooks on other sites as well. The end goal here is to help students buy/sell textbooks at a reasonable price.
4. Going to Class = Cash
Think you can’t sell course notes, lecture notes, labs, etc.? Think again, on ISMT you can! Notes and previous work are like gold in college, especially ones with all the blanks filled in! They are a great reference when you miss class or if you want to know if you’re doing a problem correctly or not. While bookstores won’t buy them from you, there is a very good chance that other students will! List it on ISMT and watch your hard work from the previous year turn into cash!
3. Save a TON of Money on Buying Used Textbooks
It saves you money on buying textbooks. There is no middleman bookstore jacking up the prices on the textbooks to earn a profit. I once spent a total of just $80 on 5 classes worth of textbooks one semester (saved about $250)!
2. Sell Your Used Textbooks for DOUBLE the Amount
You’ll earn more money when you sell your textbook on ISMT as opposed to textbook buyback programs, a lot more money. While you will surely not receive the same amount you bought a new textbook for, you can recouperate a large chunk of it or even all of it if you bought it used. The bookstore offered me a buyback price of $20 for a calculus textbook that I paid them $80 for used. I sold it directly to another student for $60. I made $40 extra bucks and the buyer saved $20.. win-win.
And the number one reason to use iSellMyTextbook:
1. Why the heck not? You’ve got nothing to lose!
The site is so easy to use and absolutely free.. no catch, no strings. You have absolutely nothing to lose, excpet maybe a few minutes per semester, and everything to gain. Five minutes now could earn you an extra $100+. Don’t tell me you can’t use an extra $100!
