By HOLLY WEILEDER

Staff Writer

Never has it been easier to shop.

Thanks to Web sites like http://www.amazon.com, http://www.cheapesttextbooks.com and http:// www.eCampus.com, college students do not even have to leave their residence halls to purchase their text books.

"I like buying my books online because I don't have to wait in the long lines at the bookstore," Hannah McDonald, a sophomore interior design major, said.

"The beginning of the quarter is the busiest time for them, so I just try to avoid having to go in there."

When students do not feel like waiting in line at the Tech Bookstore, but still want to show Tech support, they will be pleased to learn that they, too, have an online option.

"We started selling our books online about five years ago," Gerald Reeves, bookstore director, said. "We have a favorable amount of students that buy online, with an about 90 percent satisfaction rate."

Many textbook Web sites resemble the same basic structure as the ever-popular http://www.eBay.com, where students are able to sell, as well as buy, new and used textbooks.

Cheapesttextbooks.com is a search site that comparison-shops through all the major online college textbook bookstores.

"The Web site offers free shipping to orders of $50 and up," McDonald said. "They also offer coupons from their site when they are available."

The free shipping may be beneficial during times of high gas prices.

"Our number one complaint of buying online through us is the freight charges," Reeves said. "Because of the rising gas prices, the shipping companies are affected and therefore have to charge more."

As popular as shopping on the Internet may become, some students will always prefer doing it the old-fashioned way.

William Carter, a senior health and exercise science major, does not mind waiting in the bookstore's sometimes long lines for his textbooks.

"I don't mind going to the bookstore because it's right there on campus and you can see people while you're in there," Carter said. "It's a lot easier than trying to deal with the Internet, too."

Although Reeves is happy with the success of the bookstore's online shopping, he still prefers the old-fashioned way as well.

"Personally, I would rather the students come in to the bookstore, so that they can get the benefit of all the educational supplies we have available," Reeves said.