Advice for saving on Pearson college books with "etext" and "lab access code"?

[yourusernamehere]

Ahoy Mustachians!

I am in a management position at my place of work, and part of our requirements include taking certain college level courses. Even though I have a degree I need to take 3 more classes in order to be promotable (and to even have the role I'm in now, part of the agreement is to complete these classes.) The company has a pretty generous tuition reimbursement program, so I will have 100% of the tuition cost paid back to me as long as I pass. But I'm now looking at buying the book for the class - the company will not reimburse this portion. My class starts on 10/20. This is the required text:

Principles Of Managerial Finance With Myfinancelab And Etext
Author: Gitman
ISBN: 9780133740929
Copyright: 15
Publisher: Prentice H
Edition: 14
Price: $312

I could buy the book used but I can't figure out how to get the access to the etext and lab portion. Is there any workaround you brilliant minds know of? I have searched a few sites and everything I've seen so far either doesn't have the access code or has the wrong ISBN. (I don't know if this would come up, but I'm not looking for illegal downloads or anything like that. The best I think I can hope for is a way to buy the etext and lab access codes separately, and then rent the book for cheap.)

Thanks for your help!

[ixtap]

Have you checked the Pearson site? There is usually a way to buy the access codes.

Did you check the campus bookstore? They should package new codes with used books.

You will still be shocked at the prices.

[slb59]

With Pearson, I've found that if you buy the lab access code, you generally get the ebook included, though you might have to navigate a little to find and use it. The last Pearson class I did there was a navigation menu on the left with something like "text" as one of many bullets in there. I never would have found it if I hadn't been hoping so hard that I didn't have to drop another hundred on the book. Pearson usually offers a couple weeks of free trial, so you could always start with the free trial, see if you can find the book on the lab access site, and then buy/rent the cheapest combo available based on what you find. Or do all your homework at once during your free trial and never pay for the lab access.

With most texts, you can rent the book from Amazon and have the option to do either etext or physical book with or without the access code. Renting books on Amazon has saved me a small fortune in textbook fees, especially if you're willing to be flexible. Sometimes the physical book is cheaper, other times the digital version is. I got my $150 operations management textbook for a $19 ebook rental this semester :)

[ejacobson]

You should ask the instructor. Sometimes they can get freebie codes if they are experimenting with a new approach or a new edition. It's also worth asking just to make sure both the book and the code are required. Publishers are getting more and more into personalized learning and the lab access code is meant to be attached to your own work.

[yourusernamehere]

Thanks everyone! I did check the Pearson site and had trouble finding the separate code without the book, but I'll try again. I also double checked the tuition policy and learned that my employer will pay for 100% of required books!!! I'll still try to avoid acquiring a hard text if it's not necessary, but thankfully it will not be out of pocket (I'd better pass the class!)