SwoopThat.com
Encyclopedia
SwoopThat.com is an online textbook
price comparison service
. Based in San Diego, California
, it specializes in college
textbooks but includes high school
textbooks as well. The company's books by course search engine
lets students input their class schedules, see all the required textbooks for those schedules, and find the cheapest online sources of those books. The search engine also includes a textbook exchange
feature through which students can buy and sell books from other students.. The website also includes a textbook buyback
platform through which students can sell their textbooks back to online vendors. SwoopThat has been featured in the New York Times, on the website of the Today Show, on the website of Computerworld
magazine, and the weblog lifehacker.com
.
and Harvey Mudd College
. It originally existed as a product search engine with an emphasis on local products and stores. It later shifted to a focus on textbooks based on a books by course model. It has since added course and textbook data from over 2,300 colleges in the United States. Through SwoopThat, students can compare prices for new books, used books, rental books, and ebooks.
Textbook
A textbook or coursebook is a manual of instruction in any branch of study. Textbooks are produced according to the demands of educational institutions...
price comparison service
Price comparison service
On the internet, a price comparison service allows individuals to see different lists of prices for specific products. Most price comparison services do not sell products themselves, but source prices from retailers from whom users can buy...
. Based in San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, it specializes in college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
textbooks but includes high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
textbooks as well. The company's books by course search engine
Search engine
A search engine is an information retrieval system designed to help find information stored on a computer system. The search results are usually presented in a list and are commonly called hits. Search engines help to minimize the time required to find information and the amount of information...
lets students input their class schedules, see all the required textbooks for those schedules, and find the cheapest online sources of those books. The search engine also includes a textbook exchange
Textbook exchange
A textbook exchange is the selling or trading of textbooks used from a previous college semester to students needing that textbook for the current semester.It is primarily aimed to fight the rising cost of college books....
feature through which students can buy and sell books from other students.. The website also includes a textbook buyback
Buyback
Buyback may refer to:*Buyback, the act of rebuying something that one previously sold, as with a lemon *Share repurchase, also called stock repurchase or share buyback, the repurchase of stock by the company that issued it-See also:...
platform through which students can sell their textbooks back to online vendors. SwoopThat has been featured in the New York Times, on the website of the Today Show, on the website of Computerworld
Computerworld
Computerworld is an IT magazine that provides information for senior IT leaders. It is published in many countries around the world under the same or similar names. Its publisher is International Data Group. Computerworld serves the needs of IT management via print and online...
magazine, and the weblog lifehacker.com
Lifehacker.com
Lifehacker is a weblog about life hacks and software which launched on January 31, 2005. The site is owned by Gawker Media and covers Microsoft Windows, Mac, and Linux programs as well as time-saving tips and tricks. The staff updates the site about 18 times each weekday, with reduced updates on...
.
History and business model
SwoopThat was founded by students from Pomona CollegePomona College
Pomona College is a private, residential, liberal arts college in Claremont, California. Founded in 1887 in Pomona, California by a group of Congregationalists, the college moved to Claremont in 1889 to the site of a hotel, retaining its name. The school enrolls 1,548 students.The founding member...
and Harvey Mudd College
Harvey Mudd College
Harvey Mudd College is a private residential liberal arts college of science, engineering, and mathematics, located in Claremont, California. It is one of the institutions of the contiguous Claremont Colleges, which share adjoining campus grounds....
. It originally existed as a product search engine with an emphasis on local products and stores. It later shifted to a focus on textbooks based on a books by course model. It has since added course and textbook data from over 2,300 colleges in the United States. Through SwoopThat, students can compare prices for new books, used books, rental books, and ebooks.