Collegiate CAGs: Buying from Amazon Marketplace?

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So I'm enrolled in college for the first time since 1990. Yay?

I'm taking all my courses online/CD-Rom style so I can plan it around my work, family, etc. And being a cheap-assed gamer, you can naturally infer that I'm a cheap-assed student, too.

I am buying from Amazon for a couple of my books (as the price is cheap enough to warrant it), but I noticed one book on Marketplace, with several copies for less than $1! (Plus $4 shipping)

Are these good things, overall? I've always been a bit hesitant to buy used product online if I couldn't SEE the physical product... though I have absolutely no problem with games and DVDs, books make me a bit skittish. I think I'm a bit crazy in my old age.

Anyway, ultimate questions: Is there an overall positive experience shopping through Amazon's marketplace? Any specific things I should avoid?

Mods: If this is not the appropriate forum, please move accordingly with my apologies.
 
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I have done the vast majority of my used book purchasing through eBay, Half.com, and from students on campus who just finished the course I will be taking. I have been more than pleased through all of these avenues.

That being said, I have used Amazon marketplace occasionally... just make sure to use their 5 star ranking system as you would eBay's feedback system. Amazon also has their A to Z Guarantee, which essentially protects you, the buyer, from any problems.

I also sell all of my books online (through half.com ~insanely high commissions, but huge marketplace), and my buyers have all been pleased. It's not as painful of a transaction as you may think. Buy one book, see how it goes, and then buy more if the end product is acceptable to you.
 
[quote name='Msut77']I usually have good experiences.

Make sure you are buying the correct editions![/quote]

Msut77, I don't think that that statement can be emphasized enough. Just because a seller lists his or her copy under the "5th edition" listing, that doesn't mean it is the 5th edition. Often, sellers will say in the description "4th edition, similar to 5th!" or "international edition, near identical text to U.S. version". Be very, very careful with this. I have had many classmates who have purchased international editions to find out that homework problems are different, or who purchase the old edition because it is cheaper only to find out that it is missing several key chapters.
 
I've had great experiences with all online used bookstores I've shopped at, including Amazon Marketplace and Half.com.

Here's my favorite site for finding used textbooks, http://www.addall.com/

Just put in the ISBN number and it compares practically every site that sells used books to find the lowest prices.
 
i've bought several college textbooks from amazon resellers, and the majority of my experiences have been positive. the only negatives have been the occasional book marked as "like-new", and then when i get it it has stickers on the outside and highlighting on the pages. but like i said, most of my experiences have been fine. my advice is to be sure to check the ISBN number, check seller feedback, and ask the seller questions if necessary. you should be fine, though.
 
As for you question about if the $1 books are legit, I bought a $125 Operations Management book on Amazon Marketplace for $25 after shipping. I also purchased a $100 Economics book on half.com for $2 + $5 shipping. The really good deals are somewhat rare, but it definitely beats the alternative of paying full price at a university bookstore.
 
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