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[expatinuk]

I use online resources as much as possible for my online classes. For texts that are required we have the school office mail them to any student not living in the UK (yes, of course we charge them for that).

[lucys]

I've had this problem too. I usually give a little leeway with due dates for the first few weeks and suggest that those students order a book with overnight shipping. After the first few weeks, when students continue to make excuses, I usually explain that they have fallen far behind the other students and should drop the course and take it again the next semester. When they see I am serious, most usually manage to get the book and make up the work. I don't have as much patience with this as I once did because my long distance students, including those in foreign countries, made the effort to get the book by the first day.

[jerseyjay]

See, this is why I am sometimes sympathetic to the students:

I regularly teach for a community college that is some thousands of miles away. A month and half before the new semester, they called me wanted to do teach a new course. No problem, since it would mean more money for me in a slow summer. They said they had arranged to have the book sent to me. Two weeks  before the class, I still hadn't got the book, so I request them from the publisher's website. The publisher's rep emails me asking why I am ordering the book if he already sent it. About four more days are wasted in a back and forth about how I didn't get the book. Then the rep lets me know that there was a glitch and my (and others?) book hadn't been sent out. Less than a week before the class I get the book. The second day of class, I get an email from the school saying the first package of books arrived, in the school itself, thousands of miles away.

And I am the professor dealing with the publisher directly. (Meanwhile, I have been getting all kinds of books I didn't ask for from the same publisher sent to my home and other work locations....). Added to the mix is that somewhere the students have been told to get the 15th edition of the book when the most recent edition is the 14th.

I still want the students to get the books, but I am also aware that there are an infinite of problems they can encounter.

[daurousseau]

It may only get worse, as publishers lay off staff. Enjoy talking to the "rep" on the phone while you can still find one.

[magistra]

I had a lot of reasons for choosing the book I did, chiefly quality and content, but price and the fabulous experience with the publisher didn't hurt.  The smaller presses can be the most generous and obliging sometimes.

[guestten]

I know this is a somewhat old thread but just wanted to add that there are websites that you can pay and download single chapters of a book for a discounted rate if that would help your students until they are able to get the book in the mail..that is if your book is listed. this is the only website I know of but there may be others:

ichapters.com

[sueelvins]

Have you looked into something called chegg.com? It is another place that I frequently visit for purchasing school books and they are quite competitive in their prices. The great thing about this place is, if the student doesn't want to pay for the book, he or she can just rent them. =)