It's bad enough that college classes are astronomically expensive, so the last thing we want to do is add on the cost of textbooks to that mounting heap of green.
Since most of us will probably never use our giant, hardcover "Sociology of the Family" textbook after the course is over, it's best to find a cheaper alternative for buying books rather than purchasing them at the campus bookstore.
However, don't turn your back on your school just yet.
Google Chrome has launched a new app - powered by Texts.com - called "Occupy the Bookstore," which is designed to locate the most affordable textbook prices while searching straight from your school's website. Websites must be supported by BNCollege, Bkstr.com or Neebo.
The app works to give students the best bang for their buck, and will also provide options for places that offer textbook rentals, should you see no purpose in owning a particular reference book.
"Occupy the Bookstore" shows the original price, shipping price and total price, according to USA Today.
Some students, such as sophomore David Gomez who is studying electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, avoid buying textbooks altogether due to the high price tags.
With the use of the app, Gomez said he would "consider buying textbooks because it's easier and would help him perform better in class."
The app proves to be a quicker alternative than shopping from other websites, and students are able to distinguish immediately between competitive prices in order to avoid paying too much.
However, some students have picked out a few flaws.
Brady Kelsey, an 18-year-old University of Florida freshman, works at her campus bookstore and says that one major downfall of the app is that it does not exist on social media and she does not utilize her school's website often. This could push young users away from the service. Kelsey also noted that the app doesn't include financial aid deferment.
"I work at the bookstore because I don't have a lot of money," she told USA Today. "I think if our bookstore has higher prices than the competitors, it'll force the bookstore to lower its prices which would help me save with my employee discount."
The company receives commission whenever a student purchases a book through the app, Kens 5 reported.
When you're done with certain courses that don't pertain directly to your major, and you want to ditch your books as soon as possible, "Occupy the Bookstore" allows you to sell them for no additional fee, once you have created an account.
