cheap international versions of textbooks...

[imported_hscorpio]

I was on half.com looking for a used EE book and saw a lot of new international softcover versions for $40-50. The new hardcover version goes for $120.

The description says its printed in black and white with lighter paper quality.

Has anyone ever bought one of these books for school?

Heres the book in question: Electronic Circuit Analysis and Design

 

[gsaldivar]

I did this for a few Financial Analysis textbooks when I was in college. I received brand-new slightly smaller than original size softcover books shipped to me from Taiwan. They were printed in 2 colors instead of full-color, and missing the CD-ROMs. Other than that, the content was exactly the same.

International versions are simply a way for the publisher to make the books more affordable (and therefore more marketable) to foreign students. I think I saved ~$40-50 on each book - I actually preferred the more compact international versions to the huge-ass hardcover ones everyone else was lugging around campus. 😀

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: gsaldivar
I did this for a few Financial Analysis textbooks when I was in college. I received brand-new slightly smaller than original size softcover books shipped to me from Taiwan. They were printed in 2 colors instead of full-color, and missing the CD-ROMs. Other than that, the content was exactly the same.

International versions are simply a way for the publisher to make the books more affordable (and therefore more marketable) to foreign students. I think I saved ~$40-50 on each book - I actually preferred the more compact international versions to the huge-ass hardcover ones everyone else was lugging around campus. 😀

Agreed. International edition books for the win.😀

 

[imported_hscorpio]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: gsaldivar
I did this for a few Financial Analysis textbooks when I was in college. I received brand-new slightly smaller than original size softcover books shipped to me from Taiwan. They were printed in 2 colors instead of full-color, and missing the CD-ROMs. Other than that, the content was exactly the same.

International versions are simply a way for the publisher to make the books more affordable (and therefore more marketable) to foreign students. I think I saved ~$40-50 on each book - I actually preferred the more compact international versions to the huge-ass hardcover ones everyone else was lugging around campus. 😀

Agreed. International edition books for the win.😀

Thanks for the encouragement 🙂

 

[cquark]

Originally posted by: hscorpio
I was on half.com looking for a used EE book and saw a lot of new international softcover versions for $40-50. The new hardcover version goes for $120.

The description says its printed in black and white with lighter paper quality.

Has anyone ever bought one of these books for school?

Heres the book in question: Electronic Circuit Analysis and Design

If you're paying $40-50 for an international edition, you're getting ripped off. You should only pay $2-10.

Compare:

Introduction to Algorithms, Second Edition by Cormen et all
Regular edition is $80 at Amazon
International edition is $6.55 at
gobookshopping.com

You do have to wait for international shipping from places like that or eswar.com or fabmall.com, but if you have time, there's no reason to pay half.com's $40 markup on a $5 text.

 

[clamum]

I've gotten internation editions and have been satisfied with them. You probably won't be able to sell the book back at the bookstore, but then again you get ripped off there anyway so you're better off saving money by just getting the int'l edition.

 

[MrBond]

You do have to wait for international shipping from places like that or eswar.com or fabmall.com, but if you have time, there's no reason to pay half.com's $40 markup on a $5 text

It's the sellers, not half.com marking them up.

I'm definatly going to have to check out that link - I loaned a couple of my books out and they never came back 🙁 - the loanee claims he doesn't have them. I'd like to get copies of them again, but I don't really want to buy more hardcover copies.

 

[imported_hscorpio]

Originally posted by: cquark

Originally posted by: hscorpio
I was on half.com looking for a used EE book and saw a lot of new international softcover versions for $40-50. The new hardcover version goes for $120.

The description says its printed in black and white with lighter paper quality.

Has anyone ever bought one of these books for school?

Heres the book in question: Electronic Circuit Analysis and Design

If you're paying $40-50 for an international edition, you're getting ripped off. You should only pay $2-10.

Compare:

Introduction to Algorithms, Second Edition by Cormen et all
Regular edition is $80 at Amazon
International edition is $6.55 at
gobookshopping.com

You do have to wait for international shipping from places like that or eswar.com or fabmall.com, but if you have time, there's no reason to pay half.com's $40 markup on a $5 text.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll have to search those links.

 

[imported_hscorpio]

Gobookshopping has that EE book for $11, BUT it's only available in IndiaText. Even if it was available to the US I would have to pay about $22 shipping and I'm sure it would take a long time to get to Cali.

Eswar and fabmall have the book for $8, $11 but I didn't see how much for shipping.

Books sure are cheap in India!

 

[cquark]

The publishers don't want any of the international textbooks sold in the US, so they're all stamped for sale only in India, but people get them anyway and it's cheaper to get them directly than indirectly. The shipping's expensive for one book, but why not buy 2 or 10 and share with your friends?