CampusBooks.com
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Short description|Free online textbook price comparison shopping service}}
{{Orphan|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox website
| name = CampusBooks.com
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| type = Comparison shopping website
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| founded = 1998
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| country_of_origin = United States
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| founder = Alex Neal
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| industry = Internet, E-commerce, Comparison Shopping
| products = Textbooks, used textbooks
| services = Online shopping
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| url = {{URL|https://www.campusbooks.com/}}
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| commercial = Yes
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| launch_date = 1998
| current_status = Active
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| programming_language = PHP
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CampusBooks.com is a free online textbook price comparison shopping service.Gregory Bresiger,{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2015/09/05/heres-the-reason-why-your-college-textbooks-are-so-expensive/|title=Here's the reason why your college textbooks are so expensive|publisher=nypost.com |date=September 15, 2015 |accessdate=May 15, 2023}} The website sources information from multiple online booksellers and provides students with a selection of offers for buying, renting, and selling textbooks online.Abigail Johnson Hess,{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/20/4-tricks-for-saving-money-on-textbooks.html|title=4 tricks for saving money on college textbooks|publisher=cnbc.com |date=August 20, 2018 |accessdate=May 15, 2023}}
History
CampusBooks.com was founded by Alex Neal in 1998 during the height of the dot com boom. The company started as an online textbook reseller.Rimma Kats,{{cite web|url=https://www.retaildive.com/ex/mobilecommercedaily/campusbooks-mobile-app-helps-students-price-compare|title=CampusBooks mobile app helps students price compare|publisher=retaildive.com |date= |accessdate=May 15, 2023}} In 2000, it changed its business model and became a textbook comparison shopping site. CampusBooks served over 1.5 million book price comparisons to students in 2007. In 2011, the website was viewed by over 3 million students.Steve Rosen,{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/success/sns-201908011732--tms--kidmoneyctnsr-a20190802-20190802-story.html|title=College textbook prices going down
|publisher=chicagotribune.com |date=August 2, 2019 |accessdate=May 15, 2023}}
In 2015, CampusBooks released Buy vs. Rent price prediction tool, which provided students with recommendations on whether to buy or rent a book based on the current price and future estimated value.Chris Taylor,{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-money-textbooks/moneysaving-101-four-ways-to-cut-college-textbook-costs-idUSKCN1VB11F|title=Moneysaving 101: Four ways to cut college textbook costs|publisher=reuters.com|date=January 25, 2019|accessdate=May 15, 2023}}
In 2023, the website contained information on more than 8 million new and used textbooks from thousands of sellers and multiple bookstores in 3 countries.{{cite web|url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/college-textbook-prices-decreased-for-the-first-time-in-years-reports-campusbooks-1027427460|title=College Textbook Prices Decreased For The First Time In Years Reports CampusBooks|publisher=businessinsider.com |date=August 2, 2018 |accessdate=May 15, 2023}}
Overview
CampusBooks obtains textbook pricing data from multiple sources and makes it searchable by ISBN, author, title.Denny Carter,{{cite web|url=https://www.ecampusnews.com/it-leadership/2014/08/08/etextbooks-higher-365/|title=eTextbooks are as polarizing as ever in higher ed|publisher=ecampusnews.com |date=August 8, 2014 |accessdate=May 15, 2023}} Once a search is performed, CampusBooks shows the list of textbooks according to the search parameters.
CampusBooks displays the buying, renting, and selling price information from third-party vendors as is, without modifying it.{{cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2015/07/one_college_expense_declines_-_the_cost_of_course_materials_survey_shows.html|title=One college expense declines – the cost of course materials, survey shows|publisher=cleveland.com |date=July 22, 2015 |accessdate=May 15, 2023}}Jennifer Bragg,{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2010/08/30/pf/saving/budget_textbooks/?skyline=true&s=i|title=Textbooks on a budget|publisher=money.cnn.com |date=August 10, 2010 |accessdate=May 15, 2023}} Upon selecting offers, customers are redirected to third-party websites and complete the orders there. CampusBooks is not involved in the order processing and completion processes.
CampusBooks provides a free Buy vs. Rent price prediction tool.Leila Meyer,{{cite web|url=https://campustechnology.com/articles/2016/08/24/report-students-shun-new-textbooks-to-reduce-education-expenses.aspx|title=Students Shun New Textbooks to Reduce Education Expenses|publisher=campustechnology.com|date=August 24, 2016|accessdate=May 15, 2023}} The tool employs a proprietary algorithm, which takes into account the depreciation of the book in question and estimates its buyback value in 6 months. Based on the estimation, the website displays its recommendation for either buying or renting the book.Teresa Mears,{{cite web|url=https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2014/08/01/10-strategies-for-saving-on-college-textbooks?src=usn_fb|title=10 Tips to Help You Turn the Page on High Textbook Costs|publisher=money.usnews.com |date=August 1, 2014 |accessdate=May 15, 2023}}
Business model
CampusBooks.com is an Amazon associate and takes part in affiliate programs of other bookstores, from which it receives commissions for qualifying purchases. In addition, the website partners with online booksellers and buyback vendors, and displays their offers based on PPC revenue model.Jennifer Bates,{{cite web|url=https://www.bu.edu/articles/2016/college-textbooks-101|title=Textbooks 101: A Guide for Undergrads|publisher=bu.edu|date=September 6, 2016|accessdate=May 15, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://dailycampus.com/2019/01/25/2019-1-25-the-textbook-challenge-how-students-find-affordable-books-for-classes/|title=The Textbook Challenge: How students find affordable books for classes|publisher=dailycampus.com|date=January 25, 2019|accessdate=May 15, 2023}}
See also
References
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External links
- [https://www.campusbooks.com/ Official website]
Category:Book selling websites