VIDEO
CNNfn's Peter Viles reports on the dozens of online web sites dedicated to selling college textbooks
Windows Media	28K	80K

August 27, 1999
Web posted at: 2:06 p.m. EDT (1806 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNN) -- College students: Tired of long lines, exorbitant costs and out-of-stock titles at the school bookstore?

Try Internet 101 to get to the head of the class. Online book merchants are increasingly reaching out to the academic market, and money-starved students can cash in on what some say are great deals.

Retailers say online customers can save up to 50 percent off list prices when buying from one of dozens of web sites dedicated to selling college textbooks.

Type in a title and a site may compare prices from bookstores, online resellers and even student classified advertisements. It may also check any applicable taxes, shipping charges and possible rebates.

Yet students need to do their homework to learn about possible drawbacks. Financial Correspondent Peter Viles presents a lesson plan for online textbook buyers.