Do you use/buy photocopied textbooks??

[Electricute]

Flame me all you want, but this is my view on photocopied texts.

I am in Eng in uni. So right now everything costs money. i have 6 courses, and each course requires at least 1 text, sometimes 2, and a lab manual. The average price of a ENG text is $175-$200, which is $1200 for 1 semester. $2,400 for the year, on just books...The worst part is that the books can change the next year, so u can't even resell them. so after 4 years of UNI, u could potentially have $9,600 worth of texts in your house.

Who wouldn't cheap out and buy their books for less than $20 each if you had the choice? $240 instead of $2,400 sounds pretty good to me.


Why do you think theres always those photocoping stores close to unis, u think they make money off the 4 page essays u copy?


post your comments, and tell me how much of a slimeball i am.


p.s. what about those courses that require u buy the text, and then never touch it the whole year??

[m85d1]

Who wouldn't cheap out and buy their books for less than $20 each if you had the choice? $240 instead of $2,400 sounds pretty good to me.

True... but it might not be fair to those who bought the new ones. They spend $2400 for the contents in the textbooks, but you get away with $240.

A bit aside, I think the book publishers are bastards. They keep printing the same thing over and over again in slightly different format and charge poor students for ridiculous $. They should go to h***.


Why do you think theres always those photocoping stores close to unis, u think they make money off the 4 page essays u copy?

Well, there are lots of other things one can photocopy, assignments, pass exams ..., or even ass-print :razz: ?


p.s. what about those courses that require u buy the text, and then never touch it the whole year??
Yeah, I've got a lot of those after four years eng courses. >:( maybe I one day I can sell those by lb.

My advice on this? Go with the notes, combine with textbook on reserved (or from friends). I think if you take things seriously, you don't need the textbook on your hands to survive, or even to excel the course.

[goob3r]

I don't know where you get your books from, but my books totalled about $400 a term. The price goes down if I'm getting the book used. I think you're grossly exaggerating to hold up your point.

You can justify what you do however you want, you are still breaking copyrights. I'm not saying I've never done it, but it is, what it is.

[sti571]

I never did it with texts because they're simply too big but I've done it with those so called "course notes" the professors prepare for a course and charge $75 dollars for. Some times they're just collections of journal papers and overheads that some slimeball profs try to sell for pocket money lol.

[atforum]

i always use photocopied books. They are sold at the school store and are written by our school profs :D I guess it falls under hte course notes category

[UrbanPoet]

I never did it with texts because they're simply too big but I've done it with those so called "course notes" the professors prepare for a course and charge $75 dollars for. Some times they're just collections of journal papers and overheads that some slimeball profs try to sell for pocket money lol.

they do gotta pay for the right to copy and distribute those coure kits tho.

[rayesyn]

i buy the books :D

[UrbanPoet]

i buy used books or get em off ABE.com really cheap. Sometimes i buy the previous edition and just compare to a classmates books to see wha tim missing. Usually they are the same and just have a few new theories that might not even be discussed in your class.

You can always sell these books after.

[hondansx]

Problem is that certain courses have open-book tests/exams, e.g. Thermodynamics, Machine Design, etc., since these courses have alot of tables amd figures to refer to. Profs/TAs won't let you bring in photocopied material -- they actually check each student's material during the assessment, and kick you out if you violate the rules ... at Ryerson anyways.

[chriswalsh]

I buy the books. Since I live with 2 guys in the same program, we share texts sometimes.

As mentioned, for classes with open book midterms/exams ya gotta buy the book (no photocopies).

Also, not sure how you spend so much on text books, OP. I have never spent over $800 per semester on books, with 6 courses/term. Try chapters.ca if your bookstore is ripping you off.

[at826]

I buy the books. Since I live with 2 guys in the same program, we share texts sometimes.

Also, not sure how you spend so much on text books, OP. I have never spent over $800 per semester on books, with 6 courses/term. Try chapters.ca if your bookstore is ripping you off.

i agree with chrishwalsh, sharing text is also a great idea, i did that with a roommate who was in the same program.. and i think the most i've ever spent on books (in one term) was $600.. and i'm in science too (text + coursenotes + labmanual + sometimes lab equipment)

anyways, i haven't photocopied any of my textbook just cause it's too much work (i.e. sometimes only certain pages/chapters are assigned). i usually don't buy my books till after classes has started, to see if the text is mandatory and how useful it is; and if it isn't that useful, i might borrow the reserve copy from the library to use during the year. as well, if i really do need to buy the text (and they are using the same copy as last term) i would just go to the usedbook store and look for one in good condition or buy it from a friend who took the course the previous term. and at the end of the term i usually bring all my textbooks to the used bookstore to sell (so i don't have to move them back home) or sell them to friends who are going to take them next term (of course, if the same text is assigned).. this way i use the money i got back from selling books to buy books for the following term..

[mingming]

I'm a mix of photocoped, Ebay, or buying international editions... mainly from TW.

I spend about 1/5 of what I will have to buying from bookstores. Sometimes, if I know what chapters are required, I just go photocopy that chapter.

The prof once saw us with the international edition, he was also the author, kept saying how we are using illegal copies. :cheesygri

[MrDisco]

naw you're not a slimeball. when i took calculus i bought the book brand new (and the study guides) only to find that they changed the revision the following year which made mine useless (i.e. couldn't sell it back). We all know calculus is a cutting edge field with remarkable new advances and concepts being introduced each year :rolleyes:

After that I only bought used and if used wasn't available photocopied the text.

screw you profs!

[alv077]

Photocopy? Thats REALLY lots of work...

[Electricute]

Photocopy? Thats REALLY lots of work...

The photocopy store sells th popular ENG books already photocopied, so its just go in pay $15-20 and have a $200 text for the rest of the term


I don't know where you get your books from, but my books totalled about $400 a term. The price goes down if I'm getting the book used. I think you're grossly exaggerating to hold up your point.

You can justify what you do however you want, you are still breaking copyrights. I'm not saying I've never done it, but it is, what it is.


What prog are u in? have u seen the ENG books at the bookstore. $200 is not an exageration.

[chriswalsh]

What prog are u in? have u seen the ENG books at the bookstore. $200 is not an exageration.

What is your discipline? I've still never paid over $180 for a book.... Also, what year are you in?

[sannin]

What is your discipline? I've still never paid over $180 for a book.... Also, what year are you in?

I agree in terms of the general price of the ENGINEERING books. Those things are bloody expensive, I remember buying a calc book for like 185+tax. And that was the last time I bought a book. :twisted:

He's probably either an elec. or comp eng.

[P90Puma]

The photocopy store sells th popular ENG books already photocopied, so its just go in pay $15-20 and have a $200 text for the rest of the term

WTF?

Only in GTA.

[civ@uw]

$175-$200 is the average price of your textbooks??!?!??!

[Ch28]

WTF?

Only in GTA.

I wish our stores did that here

[Tharyn]

I'm in Engineering, and frankly have never even paid more than $175 for a single textbook, and that's BRAND NEW from our bookstore! $175+ is by no means an average price for an Engineering text, especially at Waterloo.

You clearly aren't a smart shopper, and you are GROSSLY exaggerating the prices you pay to make a point.

I can easily pull off buying textbooks for a term for only $100-$300, and that comes from upper year students, used textbooks, etc...

Regardless, photocopying a textbook is absurd, it's just a matter of being a smart shopper!

[shawn99]

I take pictures of the pages with a digital camera. I built a mechanism to keep camera in place. Takes about an hour.

[munch]

although there's no doubt that the price of books for a year alone can get very pricey, $175 avg for an engineering book seems abit extreme...but then again i'm in the life sciences so i wouldn't really know.

all i can say is that i know in first year i spent maybe around $700 on brand new books because i didn't know any better. i've learnt that you're better off buying online, sharing with a friend, looking for used books, old editions, anything to save you some money! as for the photocopying, i've photocopied a few pages from a book for an english class, but basically if it's a textbook that is essential for the course or will come in handy to me in the future then i would buy it...if it's just one chapter, i'd probably photocopy it

[poorwingman]

i won't admit to partaking in it but photocopying books or taking pictures of books/converting to pdf/printing pdf doesn't surprise me.

i think i'd see it a lot less if profs actually picked useful books more often

[koft]

I don't know where you get your books from, but my books totalled about $400 a term. The price goes down if I'm getting the book used. I think you're grossly exaggerating to hold up your point.

You can justify what you do however you want, you are still breaking copyrights. I'm not saying I've never done it, but it is, what it is.

You are not entirely right on the copy right issue.. every University students actually paid a fee (supplemental fee) can-copy. Technically you can't copy the whole text book, however, you are allow to borrow the library text to photocopy chapters. As long as, if you don't use it to sell it to other... Or you reference it proper on your paper / publication on the source of your information, it is actually not illegal.

But I do amire ppl that spend hours standing at the photocopier copying a text... man that takes dedication... If you consider a 600 pages text costs about 80 - 90 + tax... you are copying at around $0.05 per page => $30 + couple hours... hmm you might end up only saving about 20 - 30 max.

From my experience.. I only borrow books from the library to see if I really need it or is it a good reference.. If I do.. I will buy it, if the prof only needs like 1 chapter, i will photocopy 1 chapter.

[tigger03]

it depends ...

there was this criminology book that cost $100, but was $10 to photocopy! Otherwise, I buy the regular books .. used, if I can. I don't mind buying photocopied books ... school rips us off, anyway ... I'll save my money any way that I can! :twisted:

[SilverSamurai12]

Photocopy no, but I did scan my finance book back in college. Had it all on my laptop so I pulled up the pages as they were needed.

I buy most of my books used. I rarely buy the new ones.
175 for an ENG book? I can believe it. My Spanish one was $120 (damn new versions!) :twisted:

[gq_fuzion]

alot of times, if you go to the photocopying stores near campus, they've already pre-photocopied the book...

so you dun gotta find a copy of the book yourself, and they just stick the piles of papers known as the textbook in the auto feeder... and out comes a textbook

i never do this... i always buy the books

[Tharyn]

You are not entirely right on the copy right issue.. every University students actually paid a fee (supplemental fee) can-copy. Technically you can't copy the whole text book, however, you are allow to borrow the library text to photocopy chapters. As long as, if you don't use it to sell it to other... Or you reference it proper on your paper / publication on the source of your information, it is actually not illegal.

But I do amire ppl that spend hours standing at the photocopier copying a text... man that takes dedication... If you consider a 600 pages text costs about 80 - 90 + tax... you are copying at around $0.05 per page => $30 + couple hours... hmm you might end up only saving about 20 - 30 max.

From my experience.. I only borrow books from the library to see if I really need it or is it a good reference.. If I do.. I will buy it, if the prof only needs like 1 chapter, i will photocopy 1 chapter.

According to the CanCopy (now Access Copyright), a student is only entitled to photocopy a maximum of 10% of any published work. After which point you're breaking copyright laws.

More info: http://www.accesscopyright.ca/licenses.asp?a=77

[cheukiecfu]

can anyone suggest good photocopy stores around?

[gq_fuzion]

can anyone suggest good photocopy stores around?

which school?

[rfdrfd]

I'm not advocating to break the law, but seriously, after going thru U of T, I spent sooo much money on textbooks, it ain't even funny. Its down right unfair. Some medical books cost $200 each, and how many students are there? Don't tell me it takes 2 million dollars to make a book. Its pure profit for them.

Seriously, why doesn't someone start a group, and SCAN, yes, SCAN new textbooks?

Everyone chips in for the money, rip out each page of a new textbook, use those high speed photocopiers that scans (yes, some ppl at work have those Xerox machines that scan things into PDF as fast as a photocopier).

Then, everyone gets the PDF file. Yes its probably gonna be a big file, but heck, we all look at YouTube anyways and rip 2hr movies.

Then, better yet, you can keep selling that PDF to other students.

[Electricute]

Seriously, why doesn't someone start a group, and SCAN, yes, SCAN new textbooks?

Everyone chips in for the money, rip out each page of a new textbook, use those high speed photocopiers that scans (yes, some ppl at work have those Xerox machines that scan things into PDF as fast as a photocopier).

Then, everyone gets the PDF file. Yes its probably gonna be a big file, but heck, we all look at YouTube anyways and rip 2hr movies.

Then, better yet, you can keep selling that PDF to other students.

believe me i've already thought of this, but u can really only sell it once. who is gonna pay u money for a .pdf if his buddy alreayd has a copy

[Electricute]

funny story:

we were ina course where the prof, suggested that we buy the book that he wrote. It was about 100 pages, and cost $120...so most of use all had a copy of the book. My stupid buddies come to class, sit in the front row and start reading the text that our prof wrote...the photocopied version...

prof goes um is that my book? u know thats illegal, i should call some1. but in the end all he said was to put the book away and he never wanted to see it again..


but really making a 100 page book, then requireing ur students to buy it for $120??

[PrimoTurbo]

I didn’t have too many books last year so I bough everything brand new, but still it was nearly $250 for 3 courses which is alright I guess. Course kit’s are the worst cause they change them every year and just change 1 or 2 articles and make people buy one for 50+. They are just poor photocopies also, for $40, $50.

[TheGoods07]

For anyone that goes to Ryerson University, does the photocopy place near Dominion sell books already photocopied or do you have to bring in your own books? If they do sell books that are already photocopied, do they have alot in stock when it comes to business courses?

[nkwu]

I've always wondered about international editions. For those of you who have purchased them, is ther erealy a big difference between international and canadian editions besides, maybe grammar and spelling?

[chriswalsh]

I've always wondered about international editions. For those of you who have purchased them, is ther erealy a big difference between international and canadian editions besides, maybe grammar and spelling?

The ones I have seen are exactly the same, but usually paperback and slightly smaller (all fonts and images were scaled down).

I've never bought them, but would if I had the chance (they run around $25 in India compared to the $125~175 here).

[gq_fuzion]

For anyone that goes to Ryerson University, does the photocopy place near Dominion sell books already photocopied or do you have to bring in your own books? If they do sell books that are already photocopied, do they have alot in stock when it comes to business courses?

not sure which photocopy store... but my friend told me one of em has a few business books pre-photocopied

[Electricute]

For anyone that goes to Ryerson University, does the photocopy place near Dominion sell books already photocopied or do you have to bring in your own books? If they do sell books that are already photocopied, do they have alot in stock when it comes to business courses?


I know which ones do and which ones don't, but i don't want to get them shut down. I've heard that one close to rye that begins with the first letter of the alphabet was fine $25,000. not sure if its true or not.

to answer ur question though, yes they do, but not much. u can give them an original and come back the next day and pick it up. ;)

[Electricute]

I've always wondered about international editions. For those of you who have purchased them, is ther erealy a big difference between international and canadian editions besides, maybe grammar and spelling?

no difference at all. just a part that says "internation edition" and maybe some of the questions are in different order

[Eyies]

My thoughts:

Just buy it used. Never buy it new, because when you resell it, well, you have to resell at the standard "used" price with some deviation. Whereas, if you buy a used text, you can resell it back at almost the same used price. Don't lose any money ^^

[Explode]

www.gettextbooks.com

[deeplove]

new books (at least economics and accounting ones, and some courses make you get 2 :( ) at the bookstore cost anywhere from $100-$140 PLUS tax each.
but thankfully 3 of my eco courses are full year courses or else even more books to buy..
hopefully the profs don't decide to change the books/editions this year, so ill be stuck with getting the new ones (or don't buy and fail)

whatever happened to TUSBE? that site died like a couple months ago.. BOO!

[buffet boy]

I'm on my brothers account right now, but I use and buy photocopied textbooks allllll the time.

If you're at UofT, the photocopy bookstore right beside subway on college may have some of your textbooks already photocopied, ready to sell.

If not, get a group of friends together and pool in money to pay for the original photocopy and then just photocopy that.

Once you have a photocopied version, take it to the photocopy store right by st. mikes college (I can't remember what the store is called or the street, but its across the street from St. Basils church on the south side). They'll only charge you 3 cents per page as long as you are photocopying over 100 pgs. there is NO PLACE (on campus) that beats this price.

For certain textbooks I would advise against using a photocopy. Take a look at the text and see if it is very readable, with contrasting colours of the font and the page. If it does, it'll come out better. Also trust me on this one, don't try to be super cheap and get 2pgs a side unless you know for sure taht it won't be too small to read very comfortably.

Thats all I have to say.

[doodypoo]

is there a text book thread?

where can one find these shady photocopying places?

[M@rk]

I don't think photocopying is wrong... but I never buy photocopies because I'm the type to rely on textbooks for exam studying, and in the larger scheme of things, a couple thousand dollars isn't much if it's going to help me feel better when studying with color-coded diagrams and crisp text.

But I buy used books when possible, at a discount bookstore on campus. Or, if necessary, I'll buy them new from chapters.ca (in-store prices are more expensive) because it's always a bit less than the bookstore.

[mrl14]

Be careful when buying these books.

I was having a chat with a prof one day and he was telling me how he tricked a student into selling him a photocopied book. He then had the student expelled from school....so not a wise idea to buy them.

This was at Ryerson.

[nkwu]

^that's a foul professor. He must have, or knownsomebody who had somethign to do with the produciton of the book.

[mrl14]

^that's a foul professor. He must have, or knownsomebody who had somethign to do with the produciton of the book.

yep lol. These profs think they are better than everyone with their overpaid salaries.

[adehbone]

lmao you get expelled for using a fake textbook.........what was the reasoning the dean provided for that one..

dont know what kind of whackos work at ryerson......but thats insane.....

[thestagnant]

You can find tons of books using P2P especially torrent Sites. Then you just burn them to a CD and either use a library printer at your school or take it to a copy place. It won't cost more then $0.10 a page so for a 400 page text it will be $40. Its really easy this way and nobody has to buy the book initially.

[d_jedi]

No. For one, I am not a criminal, and for two.. used copies or international editions of the books are cheap enough (as a general guideline, I say 60% of the list price is usually appropriate for a used book.. you're getting it essentially half price after taxes are factored in..)

Edit:Although purchasing the previous edition of the book (which you can usually get for quite cheap..) and then photocopying the missing sections from the new edition may be OK, legally.

[Headhunter]

Whenever possible, I bought them before a test/project and then returned them after. Most of the time, the book wasn't necessary anymore by the final exam (at which point books were non-refundable), saved me quite a lot.

If you do this, be considerate and return the books in pristine condition.