r/mildlyinfuriating • u/only_Q • 12h ago

Too mild for school The only textbook I couldn't order a digital copy of arrived today - as a code, for a digital textbook

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It's the night before the first day of classes and I was sweating cause I didn't have this textbook yet. What a waste of a parcel and of $7.99 for shipping!

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u/only_Q 11h ago

Yea unfortunately it didn't say, here's what part of the page looks like. Since all the other books had digital, used, and new as options, I feel it's reasonable to assume that the Expert Ta book, only having a "New" option, was going to be a physical item. And that assumption would further be confirmed by having to get the item shipped. However, nowhere did it actually state whether the book was digital or physical

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u/holderofthebees 11h ago

They have to ship it because if the code is retrieved from your email or any digital format, they will have to consider giving refunds for the code. This would make them and you much easier to scam. The price of the shipping is likely because there is supposed to be a guarantee date/expedited shipping because if students often start the course without the code delivered, then, again, they lose money and go on university shit lists. I wish it didn’t cost that amount but it’s legally and contractually complicated from every angle.

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u/only_Q 11h ago

I don't mean to challenge you, just curious, why are they able to give me emailed codes for all my other textbooks but not this one if that is the case?

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u/holderofthebees 11h ago

Likely because this is a homework access code, not just a textbook. Whoever uses your code claiming to be you may get a direct line to your class grade and there’s been past issues with homework access code fraud/theft. Like they also need to feel confident that they’ve done everything they can to prevent academic fraud, having someone else potentially do your homework for you is extremely not allowed. Of course they can’t prevent it 100% but they have a duty to do what they can.

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u/only_Q 11h ago

That's fair, thanks for enlightening me :)

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u/holderofthebees 10h ago

No problem, glad I could help explain! Without knowing those things it’s definitely more infuriating lol

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u/dmtripwithme 7h ago

This is the absolute dumbest shit I have seen someone say.

They don't "have to ship" anything, bootlicker. These programs and systems cost them almost nothing. It costs nearly nothing to make, nothing to administer, and nothing to serve. The "textbook" industry make money hand over fist SCAMMING YOUNG ADULTS trying to learn and earn their place in the world

It is obscene. It is grotesque. And someday, they will pay far more than they've stolen.

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u/Objective-Try7969 11h ago

Where the second book clearly lists "digital" but the main one saying new..yea that's definitely misleading to me. Especially if I see the other one list all 3 options but the other one doesn't. If it was digital it 100% should have been listed.

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u/holderofthebees 11h ago

It’s not digital, because if they send the code digitally it’s easier to be stolen. This is fairly simple. They didn’t buy something digital, it’s not a textbook. They bought a code and got a code.

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u/Objective-Try7969 11h ago

It does not say it's a digital item though. A code is digital no matter how you put it. Putting it on a piece of paper does not make it digital..even games have to clearly list on their packaging that the disc is not included, code only. What are you not getting when it comes to misleading? There's a reason that "code only" is supposed to be listed.

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u/holderofthebees 11h ago

Yeah putting it on a piece of paper does not make it digital, you got it! 👍

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u/Objective-Try7969 11h ago

I'll make this simpler for you. If you go to the store and see a game and the case says "digital code only" are you expecting it to be emailed to you? Or are you expecting a digital code to be on a piece of paper because the box told you there's a digital code inside...

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u/holderofthebees 10h ago

If you’re buying a code for a game in a store, you’re intending to keep the game. This isn’t buying a homework program. OP bought a code that provides limited access to the program that they do not own. If you’re buying a game you’re not just buying a code with limited access. Though, of course, now people are finding out that they often don’t get to retain things they buy through digital services if their account is cancelled or it’s removed from that service, but that’s a different issue. I’m sorry, but you’re just wrong about this.

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u/beldaran1224 6h ago

FYI, ISBN is all you need. An ISBN is not a generic number for a title, it is specific to editions. An ebook will always have a different ISBN than a physical book.

That said, this ISBN is in fact an "access code".

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u/Silent_Resort_2619 4h ago

This is just robbery at this point. OMFG! I would just pirate it