The Costs and Benefits of Textbook Rental from Chegg

When I saw the promotion for a textbook rental company called Chegg at www.chegg.com/BigSavers/ , I couldn't help but be intrigued. After sending two young adults through college, the costs for the textbooks alone was simply staggering. So I couldn't help checking out this textbook rental service and discover how much could be saved - compared to buying books outright. Would it make sense?

As a former textbook seller, I already knew the pitfalls of selling textbooks. Often, within a mere semester or two, particular editions were considered obsolete and students were required to obtain the latest edition of a textbook. I won't go into detail about how I feel about that, especially since "new" editions may vary little from the older ones.

OK, I will say that I think it can be a game of smoke and mirrors in some cases, forcing students to pay high prices for textbooks that differ little from older ones. To save money, students need to research options, compare sites and prices and then make the best choice.

What I do know, based on personal experience, is that there are often shortages of certain books at "crunch time" before a semester starts and students are forced to pay high prices or go without a book. They panic, spend outrageous sums of money on books and go deeper into debt.

That is when a textbook rental service like Chegg could be a lifesaver. Here's the scoop on textbook rental from Chegg.com:

Textbook rental: Customer Service at Chegg

I'm starting here because a pet peeve of mine is to use an online business only to have great difficulty reaching an actual person at the business when I have concerns or questions. I called customer service at Chegg and immediately reached a representative who could answer my questions. Along the way, I learned some interesting details.

For instance, I was surprised to discover that some highlighting in rental textbooks is fine. The company reps ask only that students use "common sense" and detailed notes, written in pen, are not allowed. Occasional highlighting is fine.

For those who are eco-conscious, you might be interested in knowing that every time a customer rents a book through Chegg, they plant a tree. So not ony are books being used - and sometimes reused - but trees are being planted for every rental. I think that is very cool!

Textbook rental: How much does it cost compared to buying a book outright?

If you are doing a straight comparison on the price of buying a book versus renting it, Chegg comes out ahead most of the time. Consider the fact that some college bookstores have been investigated for artificially raising prices on textbooks and you could save even more if you were renting versus buying from those bookstores.

Average savings are 40% of list price. In many cases, students can save even more.

When should students consider renting textbooks versus buying them?

Please note that this answer does not come from Chegg.com but is my own personal take. If a student is using a book that is likely to be read only once and for a specific class - and then never opened again- it might make sense to rent that book instead. Also, if new and revised editions of textbooks come out nearly every semester, consider the fact that the $200 textbook is going to depreciate in value almost as soon as you buy it. Ouch!

On the other hand, a book that normally costs $180 or $200 to buy could cost as little as 62.00 to rent. Not bargain basement prices but still a savings. I don't know about student budgets but I know some that could use that extra $100 or more in savings.

How much does it cost to join and use Chegg?

There are no monthly or subscription fees. You pay only for the textbooks you rent, period.

When should students consider buying books rather than textbook rental?

Again, only a personal take here. If you love every literature book you read and plan on revisiting them ( I felt that way about my Jane Austen novels in college) then consider buying the book rather than renting it. If you feel compelled to write notes in the margins of your books and can't live with only some limited highlighting (remember, highlighting is allowed, up to a point, if you rent books from Chegg) then you might consider buying the book. If you want to have your famous professor sign your book in hopes of having it soar in value later....buy the book.

If you can find a better deal from a former student, older brother who just took the class or at other sites like Amazon or Half.com or even Ebay, then you should certainly look at those options. However, Chegg has a proven track record, so consider that as well. I have bought books from individuals online, with mixed results. Some are great, some not so great. Textbook rental eliminates plenty of headaches and provides a basically straightforward transaction.

How long can students keep books?

For a semester: 125 days from the date of rental
For a quarter - 85 days from the original rental date.

However, there is also the option of a rental extension for a small percentage of the original rental fee.

How much am I charged to have books shipped to me?

That depends on whether you choose Priority or Standard shipping. Based on my experience as a bookseller, I can say that the Priority and Standard fees charged by Chegg are very reasonable, especially considering the weight of textbooks!

How long does it take to get rented textbooks?

It generally takes at least 2 days for the books to get mailed. Then you wait about 3 days for Priority mail and a bit longer for Standard delivery. If you can order ahead of time...way ahead of time...you'll easily get your books on time.

How many textbook rentals are available?
Millions. I did a comparison of the books my son is using this semester. Every single one was available at Chegg and I winced when I realized how much we could have saved on statistics, biology and English books. Ouch again.

How do I return textbooks I rented?

You download a prepaid return label , pack the books in the same condition you received them and that is that. For those who fear this part of the process, I can say that it takes your choice of bubble wrap or wadded up newspaper to pad the books, some packing tape and a box. Stick on the label firmly and hand your box to your postal employee or take to the post office or site recommended by Chegg. It isn't hard to return books. Really.

These are the basics. You can find out more at the site.

Here's my advice:

1. Do your research.

Plan your courses, get a list of the books needed and try to find the most cost-effective ways to get the book. Make sure you get the right edition. Other sites include Ebay, Amazon, Half. com and many textbook sites. Even so, I discovered that textbook rentals were sometimes the best - and most cost-effective option. Not in every case, but in plenty. Also compare the amount you'd get if you resold a book back to the bookstore. Often the amount you'll get isn't worth buying the book and then reselling it. You may save more with textbook rental

2. Consider your specific needs, wants, quirks and habits.
Will you care if you return that statistics book? Will you ever look at it again? If not, consider rental. If you are likely to form an emotional attachment to certain books, keep that in mind. Also, if you want to write notes in your books, tend to doodle in the margins or write first or second drafts of love poems or short stories in those books.... buy them.

3. Don't ignore the convenience factor of textbook rental

If you like to snoop out bargains and don't mind finding the best deal on each book, one at a time, from various dealers, fine. On the other hand, consider the time and energy saved by renting all your books from one company and having them arrive on your doorstep. No standing in line or hoping that a dealer forgets to send a specific book. Having dealt with my share of panicky students trying to find a copy of a required book after a shipment didn't arrive, I'd say the " reassurance factor" is important.