So I started to look at textbooks in the marketplace from older students and I`m just wondering how I can make sure that the textbook is the same one that is being used this year. I know you can look at the edition but sometimes, the bookstore does not tell me the edition it says n/a.
So is there any other way I can find out if the books people are selling and the books I need are the same before I buy them?

You can ask for the ISBN and compare it to the one on the bookstore website. You can ask the person you're buying it from which course they used it for, to get an idea if youre even looking at the right book. You could try going into Titles and seeing what the textbook cover looks like, and confirm with the person you want to buy it from.
Once I was buying a book and asked "Its ___ edition right? With the white cover?" She said yes, I showed up to meet her, and it was the previous edition with the red cover.. I still bought it and it worked just fine.

I would wait until class actually starts because the professor usually lets you know what versions they recommend you use for the course. Sometimes they'll say an older version is okay as well and you can usually purchase that textbook for cheaper since it's not the most current one available.

alright thanks so much!
I'll wait until class starts then, but if the isbn is different from titles, is it still ok to buy it or not?

isbn?

Originally Posted by Ace0fSpades

isbn?

International standard book number (A way to identify books).

You can usually find it around the barcode

The best thing to do is wait and see what your prof tells you because often they come out with new editions that are not much different then the older versions.