ValoreBooks is a college textbook rental company that claims it can save its customers as much as $500 per year.
Given the sky high prices of textbooks, this claim seems believable. In fact, ValoreBooks rental prices proved far cheaper than the rental prices of other rental sites (even when you include shipping charges).
Unfortunately, a poor user interface, and limited inventory plagued the site. If Valore has what you need, it’s a great site, but that could prove to be an "if". Either way, you should definitely spend a couple minutes and see if it meets your textbook needs.
Check out ValoreBooks here.
Quick Summary
- Low prices for older textbooks
- Shipping is $3.95 per item, with free return shipping on rentals
- Limited selection on newer textbooks
ValoreBooks Textbook Rental Basics
ValoreBooks is an online textbook rental site that also serves as a marketplace for selling used textbooks at rock bottom prices. Unlike most textbook rental sites, ValoreBooks has great guarantees in place. For example, it will match prices from eCampus.com, Chegg.com, and BookRenter.com if you find lower prices (within 7 days of renting), and it offers a 30 day full refund window (compared with a 21-25 day return window offered by most sites).
Unfortunately, the generosity doesn’t extend to the return period. Borrowers who return a book late will automatically be charged for a 15 day extension. After that, borrowers have to pay the full list price of the book (less any rental fees and extension fees that have already been paid). This policy is fairly standard with textbook rental sites.
The problem with ValoreBooks has nothing to do with the prices or policies. Instead, ValoreBooks struggles with the customer experience. ValoreBooks lacked several recent edition textbooks that most other sites had. Plus, adding multiple books to the site was cumbersome, requiring constant navigation from the cart to the main navigation site.
How Long Do Rentals Last?
Renters can choose to rent books for a quarter (90 days) or a semester (125 days). Book rentals can be extended for a maximum of 15 days.
Can I Write In The Book?
Renters can do a bit of writing or highlighting in rented textbooks, but ValoreBooks will charge users full list price (less rental fees) if the textbook is excessively highlighted or rented. The definition of excess is up to ValoreBooks, so it’s best for renters to avoid writing in the books.
Can I Get A Rental Extension?
Valore offers one rental extension of a maximum of 15 days. After that, ValoreBooks will charge you full price for the book (less rental and extension fees that you’ve already paid).
Is ValoreBooks Shipping Free?
Return shipping on all rentals is free. However, you will pay $3.95 per item for shipping when you rent the books. Even with the higher than average shipping charges, ValoreBooks prices (on the books we could find) was much lower than the prices you would pay on other textbook rental sites.
What Happens If The Book Is Late?
ValoreBooks automatically charges renters for a 15 day extension if it doesn’t receive rental books on time. At the end of 15 days, ValoreBooks charges renters the full price of the book (less fees you’ve already paid).
What Happens If The Book Is Damaged?
If a book is damaged ValoreBooks charges you the initial list price of the book. ValoreBooks sets the standards for damage, so renters should be careful.
What’s The Return Policy?
ValoreBooks offers a generous 30-day window for free returns. This allows renters plenty of time to return books if they drop classes or find that they need to purchase the text.
Fine Print Warning: Supplemental Materials Aren’t Guaranteed
In an increasingly digital age, many new textbooks come with CDs, digital access codes and more. These features are not generally included with rentals from ValoreBooks, and will need to be purchased directly from the textbook publisher. If your professor requires the supplemental materials, be sure to consider those costs when you’re deciding whether to rent or buy.
Can You Find Better Deals?
ValoreBooks had consistently low prices on older edition textbooks, and lower than average prices on newer editions.
Unfortunately, ValoreBooks didn’t have some important newer books, so its impossible to assume it will have the books you need.
Right now, renters should check ValoreBooks for availability, but compare prices against other leaders like CampusBookRentals before committing.
Valore Books Review
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Pricing
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Shipping Costs
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Return Policy
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Extras
Overall
Summary
Valore Books is an online discount textbook reseller.
Robert Farrington is America’s Millennial Money Expert® and America’s Student Loan Debt Expert™, and the founder of The College Investor, a personal finance site dedicated to helping millennials escape student loan debt to start investing and building wealth for the future. You can learn more about him on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.
He regularly writes about investing, student loan debt, and general personal finance topics geared toward anyone wanting to earn more, get out of debt, and start building wealth for the future.
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Editor: Clint Proctor Reviewed by: Chris Muller