Web site offers textbooks for rent
Dayna Sudheimer
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: News
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New Web sites such as chegg.com allow students to rent all the books they need for the semester without the long lines and hassles of a bookstore.
This site allows for students to save up to 80 percent on their textbook bill. There is also a no selling back process that may leave students upset with the little amount of money they receive back for their books. Chegg.com offers quick delivery and is an easy-to-use site.
"Chegg, the premier online textbook rental company, was inspired by the founders' frustration with the policies and procedures of their own university's bookstore," said Chegg account executive, James Lisk. "Not only were long lines and expensive books the norm, but at the end of the semester when they went to sell their used books, they were paid a small portion of the cover price.
"They started this company so college students can avoid overpriced books stores by renting their textbook. Chegg offers textbook rentals at a fraction of the purchase price."
Once an order is placed, it takes one to two business days to process and between two to six business days for delivery. Students pay shipping on delivery. There is a prepaid shipping label available on the Web site to send books back at the end of the semester.
Students who like to keep their textbooks for future reference now have the option of purchasing their rented books at the end of the semester.
"Any student across the country may find the books they are looking for by searching the ISBN number, author, title or keyword. The results returned include rental price and detailed information," Lisk said. "If a student, by chance, isn't able to find the book they need, he or she can request it through Chegg's Web site and Chegg will find it for them."
Senior finance major Hayley Skaff thinks new and used books in bookstores are very expensive for college students.
"It is crazy for professors to expect students to afford new edition books," Skaff said. "I would definitely rent books instead of buy them."
This environmentally conscious site is dedicated to cutting down on consumerism and moving toward a more sustainable culture by planting a tree for every textbook rented.
With more than 2.5 million books available for rent within just a few clicks, Chegg allows students to rent as many books as they would like. Chegg is even "dropped class friendly." Students may return books within 30 days for a full refund. Additionally, Chegg does allow limited highlighting in their rentals, but no writing.
Cliff Ewert, vice president of Public and Campus Relations for Follett, was not aware of any online book rentals.
"While online textbook rentals may reduce sales, I see no long term effect," Ewert said.