RedShelf Reviews - What Is It?

WARNING: DO NOT USE RedShelf Until You Read This Review!
Is it a Scam? Does It Really Work?

RedShelf is a company that allows you to rent or buy e-textbooks from their official website. This allows you to save up to 60% off retail prices. The site includes digital content from the major academic publishers of the world, self-published content and trade publishers. With this site you will not have to download huge files because RedShelf offer their cloud-based reader. It means that you will have access to your content on any device having internet connection (including tablets, desktops, laptops, and smartphones). You can read anything you want anywhere and anytime. Is RedShelf right for you? What are the benefits of digital textbooks? We are going to answer these important questions by taking a closer look at how the system works. There is nothing difficult about using RedShelf. First of all, you will have to sign up for a RedShelf account completely for free. After that you will need to enter your first and last names, password, and email address. Then you will need to click on a link contained in a confirmation email in order to verify your account by. Finally, you can start browsing and search for textbooks on the site by ISBN, keyword, or title. Based on the title, you will be free to choose between 60, 90, 120, and 180-day rental plans. If you wish, you can buy lifetime access.

It is important to mention that before making a purchase, you will be provided with an opportunity to see whether the e-textbook comes with study tools or digital notes, how many pages can be printed and whether you will be able to access the content offline. After making a purchase or several, these titles will be visible on your Shelf of your account. They will be available for easy access from any device with the internet connection. When you open the e-textbook, you will see that it is laid out like a regular textbook. It even has a table of contents. Additional things include page arrows that can be used to navigate manually, perform a keyword search or enter a specific number of pages. Each digital textbook also as annotation tools (bookmarks) and the ability to leave comments, highlight, and even make drawings. Of course, there are some other advantages of digital textbooks which we will discuss in a moment. Now it is high time to check what real readers of RedShelf books think about them.

Customer Reviews - Does RedShelf Really Work?

The company is based out of Chicago, IL and was founded in 2012. Despite its 15-year experience in business, there is not much information about RedShelf available online, at least at the time of our research. It is known that its parent company is Virdocs Software, LLC. Nevertheless, RedShelf is the major supplier of digital books and learning materials. However, the company is not listed with the Better Business Bureau. Fortunately, there is enough online feedback about the service of the company and it is not surprising that there are both positive and negative users' reviews. Probably, the main reason for this is different needs and tastes of people using the service. According to a 2014 Crain's article, RedShelf Company had signed contracts with a few top textbook publishers. This is why; the company has a track record of success and an overall positive reputation within the industry.

DigitalBookWorld.com says that the company was originally founded by two college students from Detroit, namely CFO Tim Haitaian and CEO Greg Fenton. COO Tom Scotty was quoted saying that they provided students with lower cost and tried to help institutional bookstores and educational publishers realize new revenue streams. It is necessary to note that RedShelf was called a Top 100 Finalist for the 2015 Chicago Innovation Awards for its new eReader software platform. All this sounds really good but let us take a look at the actual testimonials of people who have used the service in their real lives.

"I used Redshelf when I needed to rent a book for a college class. I was satisfied with the reasonable price. I appreciate the ease with which I could navigate throughout the e-book from my tablet device or computer. I would gladly use this again if I need it. My friends use their website to rent books of different types both for studying and for entertainment. They are always pleased with everything. At least, I have never heard any complaints from my friends."

"Before renting a book from RedShelf, you should be aware of the fact that their major goal is to promote transition from traditional books to digital ones. As a student, I can say that this is much more convenient and easier. The majority of modern students have free access to the Internet. Thus, RedShelf is a great place to find low-cost books if you want to hunt for them. There is a wide collection of novels and studying literature. I am sure anyone will find a book to their taste."

"Red Shelf is an amazing ebook service because it gives me an opportnity to find any book I need at any time of day or night. I don't need to go to the libraries that often any more. They have a wide range of books and textbooks for college. I can print the ebooks if I need any specific chapter for school. The books are also available offline. I do recommend this awesome service to all students!"

My Final Summary

Digital Textbooks play an important role in the modern life of each person, especially a student. RedShelf is one of the leading companies offering a wide variety of ebooks online. Probably the biggest advantage of an ebook over traditional textbooks is its low price. You do not need to buy a new book, you can simply rent it instead. Convenience of usage is another vital factor. You will not have to take heavy books with you, but you will just need to download a book and enjoy it immediately. All you will need is internet access to see your e-textbook's content. The company offers free access at first.

RedShelf has agreements with 340 college bookstores in twenty-three states (mostly concentrated in OR, CA, WA, MN, NY, UT, GA, WI, IA, MI, PA, OH, and CT). You can rent an e-textbook through its website for a symbolic cost or buy lifetime access. RedShelf has an industry-recognized eReader platform, which gives you to access to content at any time and any place. Taking into account all pros and cons of the service, I do recommend RedShelf.

RedShelf Pricing and Rates

RedShelf's e-textbook pricing range between $30 and $200. The higher priced items are focused on sciences (psychology, biology, etc.), while the cheaper ones are usually focused on the humanities and English. It seems that RedShelf is the least expensive option when compared to the competition. If you are not satisfied with your purchase for any reason, the company offers a 14-day refund policy. In order to request a refund or ask any of your questions, you will need to contact the customer service by calling at 888-622-9838.