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eFollett Review

Monday, February 10th

2025 College Textbook Store Reviews

eFollett Review 2 Star Rating

eFollett

2 Star Rating
  • Offers textbooks (new and used), digital learning materials, college apparel, and school supplies
  • Curates book listings based on specific institution's courses
  • Consistent pricing with physical campus stores
  • Offers shipping options and free delivery to some campus stores
  • Allows highlighting and note-taking in rented textbooks

eFollett, often simply referred to as Follett, is a company that provides educational products, services, and technology solutions to educational institutions ranging from K-12 schools to colleges and universities. The company operates a vast number of physical and online campus stores across the U.S. These stores offer textbooks (both new and used), digital learning materials, college apparel, school supplies, and more. Over the years, Follett has expanded its offerings to include digital solutions and technology platforms designed to facilitate learning, library management, and course material accessibility.

School-specific redirects

eFollett is distinct from many other used textbook services in that it serves as a gateway to individual college and university bookstore sites rather than offering a centralized online shopping experience. When you visit eFollett, you're prompted to select your specific institution. (They partner with 1,000+ universities, but if you attend a community college or otherwise small school, this number might not include you.) Once you do, you're redirected to your own school's bookstore site, ensuring that you're viewing materials tailored to your school's courses and curricula. On their website, they state, "Bottom line: we guarantee that you have the right course materials.”

Limited browsing

Unlike other services where you can freely browse textbooks, eFollett's structure means you're primarily viewing books that are relevant to your specific institution's courses. This can be both an advantage, as it curates your choices, and a limitation, as it doesn't allow for broader exploration. However, it did make it nearly impossible to compare their prices to similar websites, whether for rentals or purchasing used textbooks.

Consistent book listings

The advantage of their system is that you're more likely to find books that are specifically required by your professors, reducing the risk of purchasing incorrect editions or titles. This is easily done with Follett's tagging system. Because they communicate directly with your university, they are able to mark your textbooks as required, recommended, or suggested based on your instructor's preferences. Their Customer Support Center page promises finding what you need will be easy, thanks to their inventory being browsable by course.

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Price consistency with campus store

The prices on eFollett-powered sites tend to mirror those of the physical campus store. While there might be occasional online discounts, don't expect the deep discounts sometimes found on other online used textbook platforms.

Pick up your books from your campus store

eFollett offers a range of shipping options for students. Standard shipping typically arrives in 4-7 days, the "Faster” option in 3-4 days, and the "Fastest” in 2-3 days. For those looking to save on shipping costs, there's a "Store Pickup” option which allows for free delivery to some campus stores. Regarding costs, standard shipping is priced up to $6.99, the "Faster” option up to $13.99, and "Fastest” up to $19.99.

Highlighting in rented textbooks is allowed

Renting textbooks through eFollett is a cost-effective option for students, often costing less than half the price of buying new textbooks. The process is simple: students choose their course, select rental items, and finalize the rental by providing collateral, usually a credit card. While you can highlight and take notes in the rented textbooks, excessive markings may result in fees. You can return rentals either in-store or via shipping, but the shipping cost is your responsibility. If you miss the return deadline, you will be charged additional fees, and if you return the book too late, you will be charged the full price of the book. You can convert rentals to purchases or return them if you drop the course within the return period set by your university.

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Terrible customer service

Although eFollett has an "A+” grade from the Better Business Bureau, they don't have many positive reviews elsewhere. We found dozens of reports of packages that arrived with missing books, textbooks that hadn't been wrapped in plastic and were ruined by rain, and even orders that were "shipped” but never arrived. Many of these customers say they never received replies to emails or phone calls asking to be refunded the hundreds of dollars they had spent on their course materials. Those who were able to make contact with customer service characterize them as rude and unhelpful.

Access Program seems like a scam

If you're a college student, you may already be familiar with Follett through their Access Program, which touts benefits like "exclusive, lower than market prices”. Students don't get an initial choice to subscribe but are automatically charged, with the option to opt out available only later. A Reddit user shared their experience with this program, noting that their school automatically enrolled them, catching them off-guard. They wrote, "I just got an email saying that a charge had been added to my balance because one of my classes uses this program. My bill doesn't even specify which class or textbook the charge pertains to, yet I've been charged $110." The user warned about the potential pitfall of forgetting to opt out amidst the hustle of a new semester, emphasizing that the promise of savings on used textbooks becomes irrelevant if you're faced with a $110 charge for a service you didn't actively choose. We felt this information was relevant because it highlights eFollett's disregard for student welfare, demonstrating a readiness to capitalize on an already financially vulnerable population.

Look elsewhere

eFollett isn't the same kind of service as the others in our review because it seems mostly to be an extension of a campus bookstore (and indeed it partners with them). It's hard to say whether their promises of savings are accurate due to their course-specific browsing settings, but that becomes moot when you look at their terrible track record for customer satisfaction. Sure, you might find a rental for a few bucks cheaper than on a competitor site, but those savings go down the drain if they lose your order, blame it on you, and refuse to refund you. We don't recommend you use eFollett if your school gives you other options; look at the higher-ranking college textbook platforms on our list instead.

Where Can You Find the Cheapest College Textbooks?

Picture this: Emma is a sophomore majoring in Economics. A new semester is approaching, and she's been handed her list of required readings. Instead of braving the long lines at the campus bookstore and potentially paying high prices, she turns to online college textbook stores.

In a matter of minutes, she's located every textbook she needs, some at heavily discounted prices or even available for rent. Not only does she save money, but she also saves time, making her semester preparations smooth and hassle-free. Right on, Emma!

The Best College Textbook Stores Compare College Textbook Stores Compare College Textbook Store Reviews What are the best College Textbook Stores Best College Textbook Store Reviews

College Textbook Store FAQ

You'll probably find a mixture of both. At some schools, you can choose whichever format you prefer (and, according to The New York Times, 50% of students prefer a print textbook!).
You won't be surprised to hear that books can be free, like certain open source online textbooks, but some can cost as much as $1,000 or more! The College Board recommends that students plan on setting aside $1,200 each year for textbooks and course materials.
Your campus bookstore will likely be selling the textbooks at full retail value, or maybe even with a bit of a markup. And, even if they offer used books, you'll be competing with everyone else at your school to get a copy. Shopping online lets you get the exact same books for the best available price.
Absolutely. Most online textbook stores make it easy to determine the condition of any title you need, and you can even get them in new or like-new condition - at a fraction of the price you'd pay for a brand-new text at your college bookstore.
That depends on the textbook store you use and how quickly you need the book. Many providers offer free shipping for economy shipping, with options to upgrade if you want to get it faster.
Yes! Both print and digital textbooks can be rented through many textbook stores. Be sure to read the terms and conditions before choosing the rental option: you'll want to know if you're allowed to mark up the book or save any of your digital notes, when your rental period will end, and any instructions you'll need to follow to return the textbook when the class finishes.
Most textbook stores know that students may buy a textbook they wind up not needing: classes get cancelled or dropped, the wrong edition is ordered, and so on. You typically have a risk-free return period of anywhere from 14-21 days from the purchase date, so you'll need to time your purchase carefully (ordering enough in advance that the title is available, but not so far ahead that you can't return it once the class starts).
Without a doubt. Some textbook stores have been in business for a decade or more, with excellent customer ratings and a strong reputation with the Better Business Bureau. Buying your textbooks online can save you a significant amount of money and hassle!
Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above...

Online college textbook stores have revolutionized the way students acquire their academic resources. These platforms offer a convenient, often cheaper, alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar stores. With just a few clicks, students can purchase new or used books, rent textbooks, or even access digital versions.

How much could you save? In some cases, students might spend over $1,000 per semester on required course materials, especially if they are studying in fields that require expensive textbooks or access codes for online resources. It's obvious that every penny counts, so why not take advantage of every possible way to get your textbooks for less money? You could cut that $1,000 in half (or even more) by skipping the school bookstore and opting to source your books online.

When choosing a college textbook retailer, it's important to consider several factors to be sure you get the best deal and the resources you need. Here are some factors to keep in mind:

  • Cost. How much does the textbook cost on this site compared to others? Look for competitive prices. Are there any special deals or discounts? It's always a win to save some money.
  • Selection. Does the website have the textbooks you need? Check if they offer both e-books and physical copies. It's best to have choices to fit your study style.
  • Shipping and return policy. Can they get your textbook to you before classes start? Consider shipping costs and speed. If the textbook isn't what you meant to order, is returning it easy? A good return policy can save you from headaches later on.
  • Access codes. Do you need an online code for your course? Some books come with codes for online materials. If buying used or renting, is the code still valid? Make sure you're getting everything you need.

Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the best online stores to buy college textbooks, both secondhand and new. We hope these reviews help you get the books you need for school quickly and without spending too much.

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