Best College Textbook Stores in Wisconsin

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Where Can I Find the Best College Textbook Stores in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, you can stay home with a mug of Door County coffee and order textbooks online from campus stores when the roads glaze over. With the UW System's 13 universities spread across 26 campuses, you'll get plenty of bookstore sites that ship right to your door. You can filter by course and section, then pick rentals, used copies, or access codes without hunting aisles. When January wind cuts across the isthmus, you'll be glad the cart does the walking.

It feels good when you know you're grabbing the right book for your classes. At UW-Madison's University Book Store - founded in 1894 and run as a not-for-profit - you can match ISBNs to your sections and check rental versus buy prices in a couple clicks. You can have orders shipped or set pickup for when you're already near State Street after class. If you're trying to trim costs, you'll spot used and eText options right alongside new.

Odds are, you might also browse Milwaukee offerings when a professor switches editions midweek. At UWM's Panther Shop, you can pull up course materials online and lock in rentals or used copies before stock dips. Across Wisconsin, you'll tap into a network of 16 technical colleges, and you can browse course-by-course lists from the bookstores right from your laptop. You'll avoid guessing at bundles and just zero in on the exact access code your syllabus calls for.

Meanwhile, you can line up options out of Eau Claire in a single session - rentals for short courses, used for core classes, eTexts when you'd rather travel light. Wisconsin stores typically show real ISBNs, which helps you double-check editions and compare return windows before you click buy. If you need to stretch funds, you'll stack savings with loyalty discounts or buyback credits that show up at checkout. When lake-effect snow drifts in, you'll already have the box on the porch.

There are many factors to consider when comparing online retailers for college textbooks. Here are the top ones on our list:

• Cost. Why spend more than necessary on your textbooks? When two books are identical and only the price differs, it's a no-brainer: go with the less expensive option. However, some online retailers have bulk discounts or rewards programs, making it a little trickier to decide which copy to purchase - and be aware of any "service fees" or "digital access fees" added at checkout at some vendors. Keep in mind the condition of the book you're buying as well, if you want to try to resell it to recoup some of your book budget.
• Selection. Many online retailers we reviewed only sell textbooks and thus have a larger selection. If you want one-stop shopping, you'll have to choose one of those options. To save some money, you may be willing to look at multiple retailers, and that's a valid choice as well, especially when free shipping is offered.
• Shipping. When you're spending this kind of money, you want to cut costs where you can. Some retailers offer free shipping options with minimum purchases while others have a per-item add-on charge. Make sure you know what you're paying regarding shipping when you compare textbook prices. Speed of shipping can also come into play if you're shopping close to the first day of class.
• Return policy. Buying the wrong edition, dropping a class, or having the instructor change course materials on the first day of class - all of these can be costly mistakes if you buy from a retailer without a return policy you feel comfortable with. Some charge restock fees while others are more lenient. Similarly, the return window that retailers offer will vary.
• Access codes and bonus materials. If you need a textbook with an online access code, a DVD, or other learning materials, you may need to focus on purchasing a new copy. Most rentals and used books do not include these features.

To help save you time and money, we at Top Consumer Reviews have sifted through the most popular online textbook retailers. Check out our top choices, order your class materials, and get back to the business of learning.