I have to say, if you go to UMass Dartmouth and buy your books at the store on-campus, you are a sucker.
Majority of the time, I buy my books before class on abebooks.com, but when it comes to the classes where it's a "do I really need to waste $100+ on a book i won't crack open once?" situation, I wait 'til the first class. So was the case with my English book, which is a massive ~2.5" book. It's normally an $80 book new, and I bought it here brand new for $53 (right now on Amazon used copies are going $59 before shipping!), plus they have the option to rent (not with this particular book), which basically you pay full price and then get half back when you return it at the end of the semester, which works out in your favor more often than not (especially when it's a book with a new edition soon to be printed, those clever publishers).
Also thought it was really nice of them to pass out bottles of water and bags of chips since there was a pretty long line the other day. I suggest pre-ordering your book before since it will save you a half hour wait in line (plus I think you get a discount). Great stuff! read more