New Textbooks VS Second-Hand Textbooks: Are the Latest Editions Worth Buying?

If you are a student or the parent/guardian of one you will know the pain of having to shell out for the mountain of textbooks required for the course. Faced with the prospect of paying hundreds for the latest edition of textbooks, you might have considered saving yourself a few pennies and buying older editions. Why not? It sounds like a great idea, to save money for the same results, but before you buy the older editions, think about whether saving that little bit of extra cash is worth missing out on the benefits of the newest edition.

In this article, we break down the pros and cons of buying the most up-to-date editions of textbooks and the benefits of investing in older editions.

In the UK, the average university student will be looking at spending anywhere between £180 - £500 per year on new textbooks, which we are sure you’ll agree is a lot, especially for students who don’t have a full-time job.

So, let’s explore whether or not the new editions are worth the money.

Pros and Cons of Buying the Latest Edition Textbooks

Buying the latest edition of textbooks can be a smart move but it may have its drawbacks. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons to help you decide:

Pros:

• Updated to fit curriculum: It’s common practice for universities to review and update their courses to reflect global trends and stay on top of the latest research, which means that there is the possibility that some information in older textbooks, even copies from the last year’s edition, may become redundant or incorrect. You stand the best chance of having all of the most up-to-date and relevant information with the latest edition of textbooks.
• Errors: Every field of study from Computer Science to English Language encounters errors and mistakes, and when those mistakes are corrected, they can lead to inconsistencies in the learning materials, so having the newest copy will ensure that all the information you have is correct.
• Bonus Material: With more and more people buying their textbooks second-hand, publishers are always looking for new ways to make their textbooks more appealing. One way they do this is by adding bonus content. This bonus content often comes in the form of additional information, case studies, and extra graphics. Where this bonus content is often useful, it's not always essential.
• Good Condition: Buying a textbook brand new almost guarantees that it is going to be in good condition, whereas if you buy second-hand copies of older editions, you run the risk of ending up with a book that is annotated or even damaged.

Cons:

• Expensive: The latest editions of textbooks are going to be the most expensive copies available, sometimes costing upwards of £100 per book depending on the subject matter.
• Minimal Changes: There are usually very few changes in new editions so you will be paying top dollar for minor details. However, it’s important to note that this is not always the case so it’s worth checking to see what has changed since the last edition as there could be significant changes in the learning materials.
• Limited Used Copies: If you want to save yourself a few quid by buying a second-hand copy of the new edition then you may be hard-pressed to find a copy, after all, most textbooks become outdated before they have time to enter the second-hand market.
• Rapid Depreciation: It’s common for the value of a new textbook to depreciate quickly, so if you are planning on buying your books brand new to sell them in a few months then you might be disappointed.

Pros and Cons of Buying Old Editions of Textbooks

Buying previous editions of textbooks can be a smart move however there could be some issues that arise if you do. Here are some of the pros and cons to help you make your decision.

Pros:

• Cheaper option: Due to the rapidity of new editions being released, old editions cost significantly less than new releases, so you can save yourself some valuable funds, which as any student will know, can go a long way towards feeding you for a week.
• Easier to Find: older editions should be relatively easy to find second-hand thanks to last year's students passing on their old ones.
• Ideal for Self-Study: If you are focusing on self-study then old editions of textbooks are ideal because you don’t need to worry about studying within the confines of a course.
• Better Resale Value: Old editions are far better at retaining their value than new editions, so unless something drastically changes in the field of study old editions of textbooks should maintain their value.

Cons:

• May Not Align with Course: Throughout your university or college course, professors may assign reading based on the latest edition, however, if you have an old edition, page numbers may not match up or the content could be different.
• Missing Content: Old textbooks may be missing content exclusive to the newest editions.
• Outdated Look: Older editions may have old/outdated images, graphs, and infographics, which could affect the relevance of the information given.
• Condition: Old editions are more likely to show signs of wear and tear than newer editions, and if you are purchasing second-hand, your book could contain annotations from the last owner.

How to Decide Which Edition to Buy

So, how do you know which edition to buy? There are several factors to consider when making this decision and you must choose wisely. Here are some things to consider that will help you make the right decision:

• Check with your professor or course provider: A great way to figure out which textbook edition you need is by speaking directly to the professor running the course. This way, they can tell you whether getting the newest edition is vital to the course or not.
• Compare the editions: Take a look at each edition and see for yourself. Compare each edition to see which you think is going to suit you the best.
• Check reviews: Remember you aren’t the only one with this problem, so why not see what other people have to say? Check out the reviews for the books you are looking for and see if they will be able to suit your needs.
• Consider your budget: Creating a list of all the textbooks, stationery, and other essentials will help you choose between the more expensive new edition or the cheaper previous edition.
• Look for digital versions: Digital textbooks could hold the solution to all of your problems. Consider a digital version of your textbooks, they can solve two problems: first, digital books tend to be much cheaper than physical copies, and secondly, if they are accessible via the internet they are most likely updated automatically so you will have access to the newest editions as and when they are released.
• Rent a textbook: It's worth considering renting the textbooks you need. To rent a textbook you will need to go online. Here are a few sites that offer textbook lending services: Google Play Store, Amazon, Chegg.
• Borrow from a friend: There is also the option of borrowing the books you need. If you know someone who has finished with their textbooks, why not try to save yourself some money and borrow their old textbooks?

What should you do with your old Textbooks?

Before you make your final decision, it’s worth thinking about what you can do with your textbooks once you have finished with them. You have few options to choose from

• Sell your used textbooks: Selling your used textbooks is a great way to make some extra money back at the end of term and make sure that your books don’t end up going to waste. It's also a lot easier than you might think, using the WeBuyBooks app you can get an offer on your books in seconds.
• Keep them for future reference: Your old textbooks make for a great reference point in case you need a quick refresher in the future. The only trouble with keeping your textbooks is the fact that you have to find the space to store them.
• Donate them: If you’re not sure what to do with your mountain of old textbooks, you can always donate them. Charity shops are always looking for donations to help stock their shelves. Alternatively, universities sometimes run schemes that let students donate their old textbooks so the next generation of students can access them.

So, that brings our guide to an end, we hope that this article has been able to help you make the right decision. To finish off, let's take a quick look at the key takeaways: New editions of a textbook are going to be expensive but you are more or less assured to have all of the correct information to help you ace your course. Old editions of textbooks are going to be a lot cheaper to get a hold of and the information contained within them is probably going to be very similar, if not the same as the new edition. Buying an old edition could risk causing some errors or confusion if too many changes have been made in the newer editions.

If you think we have missed anything in this article or you've had any experience with buying the wrong textbook, we would love to hear from you. Head over to our Instagram page to tag us or drop us a message and let us know.

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