RedShelf has a rating of 1.97 stars from 79 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about RedShelf most frequently mention postal code, billing address, and college student problems. RedShelf ranks 126th among Books Other sites.
It's just a convenient place for students. And I guess not only for them, because you simply insert the book's title or some keywords and it offers you a very broad range of books and you will definitely find osmething you are looking for. Other than that, as I am fond of audiobooks, this service comes in handy in this regard too. You can have your text voiced aloud after selcting needed pieces. So, no troubles in understanding what they are doing whatsoever! Props!
I'm not sure how anyone who needs an audio reader can stand how RedShelf works. The way it pronounces words that are hyphenated is comical. There is no natural fluctuation in the voice. Also for fun, when printing to PDF if there is an error it will take a percentage off the amount you can print even though it didn't print properly. Sometimes the highlight doesn't follow the speed of the reading. Online textbooks are supposed to be cheaper than the paper versions were 20 years ago and that is not the case anymore due to greedy companies. At least with the paper version we could sell back. Use some of your profits to do better and not just pay your executives.
I'm not sure how anyone who needs an audio reader can stand how RedShelf works. The way it pronounces words that are hyphenated is comical. There is no natural fluctuation in the voice.
Also for fun, when printing to PDF if there is an error it will take a percentage off the amount you can print even though it didn't print properly. Sometimes the highlight doesn't follow the speed of the reading.
Online textbooks are supposed to be cheaper than the paper versions were 20 years ago and that is not the case anymore due to greedy companies. At least with the paper version we could sell back. Use some of your profits to do better and not just pay your executives.
I spent almost as much as I would have spent on a print edition (~$200), but with this: 1) I can't copy text; 2) I can't download chapters; 3) I can't view the content offline without downloading some app that I couldn't get to work anyway.
Hey guys - I paid you $200 for a book. Why do I have to continually log in to see it? Why can't I save it to my hard drive so I can access it offline?
RedShelf is a nickel/dime operation - I expect better from an academic-oriented organization. At least a print book I could have re-sold. I won't give these people another penny.
Tip for consumers:
This site uses the opportunity to comment on a product as bait to get your information.
Products used:
eBook
This garbage company seems only set on making as much money as possible from college students, which isn't something too crazy to think on. Textbooks in general are massively inflated in prices anyways. For reference, I am INDEED a college student currently getting two degrees.
But here's the main issues:
1. These morons couldn't even manage to create an actually useful manner to browse 'online' textbooks with their trash proprietary viewer. The search function takes forever to actually search, and can't even combine words to search for phrases, so enjoy getting 50 mentions of a common word in your phrase like 'the'.
2. They only allow copy-pasting up to a certain percentage of the book, which isn't necessarily an issue but is stupid since you HAVE to copy/paste in their own proprietary(stupid) way. I myself found a way around this garbage, so search for yourself how to circumvent this if you're forced to use this trash.
3. You CAN'T ACCESS THIS $#*! OFFLINE. (At least, in a way that isn't needlessly restrictive.)
These people behind this company are easily one of the main reasons why people move to pirate textbooks, beyond physical textbook prices. Search for your.pdfs before you decide to give these scam-artists your money, please. They certainly don't deserve profits for such lazy implementation, one couldn't imagine it's too difficult to copy-paste a textbook.pdf from the publisher(LMAO).
Tip for consumers:
If the company would like to discuss just how $#*! they are, feel free to forward my information to them.
Products used:
Two books' worth.
I was trying to purchase my ebook with a U. S Credit card but being physically in Canada. Reached out that evening to submit a request. Mentioned it was time sensitive. I got an e-mall back from "Marshall". IMMEDIATELY. He removed the conditions and I purchased my book within minutes. This is hands down quickest and one of the best customer service experience I had. Plus, we joked back n forth and seem like a stand up gentlemen. Give him a RAISE and Promotion STAT.
Tip for consumers:
n/a
Products used:
ebook
Redshelf seems to have decided to unnecessarily complexify the smooth experience that reading on a PDF offers. To go from page to page, you need to click on a small right/left arrow at the bottom of your screen instead of just scrolling down. The browsing bar is horizontal which makes scrolling using a regular mouse impossible. I bought a book for academical purposes and I had to forget using it during an exam as the browsing is painful and extremely slow. I have to mention that I am working on a computer and that the experience is probably better on a kindle style device. The book I bought only allows printing 10% of the total content to a PDF which is basically useless.The experience was overall nothing less than frustrating.
A next to useless web application. Note taking, highlighting, flashcards, search, and downloading for offline are all non-functional features. Top that all off with unnecessarily long loads times to turn a page of text, and you've got yourself a properly miserable reading experience. A big pdf document is infinitely more useful. Red Shelf is merely an effective way to implement a pay wall to texts.
Products used:
Algorithms in Bioinformatics
When you are buying your textbook you are presented with the Orwellian options where you have to choose whether or not you want to be able to copy text from the book. I am just trying to work on a project and copy text to be able to properly cite something and of course you are blocked from copying it, why would you want your pdf to be functional or anything anyway? These textbook companies are all leeches
Products used:
Worlds together, worlds apart
Great customer service from Angel Ruffin in my order #*******. The ebook wasn't showinf up, but I was able to retrieve it.
It stores a temporary file in cache in ONE device so if you need it elsewhere you must first delete that copy which wipes ALL books from cache. It's a ridiculous setup. You cant easily go from laptop to phone, etc. and forget it if your first device is elsewhere and you can't erase it to add it to the new device. The need to allow REAL download of books you bought and own. Not on cache where you can easily wipe it out and all your other 15 books from this semester. For professional careers (law, medicine, engineering, etc.) where you study for years to take a state board you need easily 50 books to review and this place just doesn't allow for that access. Big disappointment.
Tip for consumers:
Ask company if you get a FULL book offline NOT in cache. Buy fully downloadable as pdf or other REAL form.
Products used:
Ebooks
I got this as a law student who prefers textbooks. I was disappointed that I had to use Redshelf with a westlaw ebook purchase. I'm writing this review because I can't access my book during class and it keeps freezing when I try to highlight. This is the worst ebook app I've ever used. It basically only lets you look at the text instead of utilizing the helpful augmenting tools that are the whole reason for using an e-casebook.
My entire Anatomy textbook was blurry as if they took a screenshot of every page and sent it through so many forms (. Png, pdf, etc.) until it got blurry. I could not read a single word and could not: copy or paste, no highlighting, couldn't download the textbook, you could barely zoom in. I requested a refund, I guess you do get what you pay for. The only reason I made the purchase was because it's the only E-book version of this Textbook that I could find and I didn't want a hardcover. Not worth it, I don't know why they have good reviews, am I the only one this has happened to?
Tip for consumers:
Don't buy their E-books
Products used:
Online Textbook
I reached out about an issue with the app in October 2021. As a student, obviously, a prompt response is needed to address a current problem. I got a response weeks later. The response was defensive and not helpful for the issue that still existed. I am not a fan of ebooks anyway but -for this course. It was the most cost-efficient option. NOTE: The search feature does not highlight each parameter found by page number, so you never know where the search item is without going through the entire list. NOT HELPFUL.
Tip for consumers:
Choose another option if you want timely customer service assistance.
Products used:
RedShelf ebook/app
RedShelf is absolutely dog water. It is horrendous. I don't like it all. It makes you enable all cookies and tries to steal your private information.
Tip for consumers:
Don't use it.
I have been submitting help requests for 3 weeks, but each time they just make it solved without even trying to reach me.
I cannot download ANY ebooks at all on any device. When I try to, it says "Publisher only allows 1 copy downloaded, please delete it from iPad." But it's not even downloaded on my iPad (that's where I'm trying to download it) so I can't delete it from there. So I can't download it on any device.
Only got 1 reply from them ever asking a question I had already explained in the original ticket, I replied right away, and they've ignored me ever since (2 weeks ago).
Tip for consumers:
DON'T USE THIS SITE. Just. Don't.
Products used:
ebooks
It's awful to navigate. It was so hard to get to the next chapter, add a highlight, bookmark, look up words and just load the page. It's almost completely unusable. Would not recommend.
While providing textbook for classes for university students, the organization has no agreement to provide supplemental files and data for the textbooks. Is that really a complete service when using a math textbook? It should be clear when accepting the 'Inclusive Access' that all textbook materials are NOT included. Along with the with the warning a path to get the materials or requesting them should be noted.
I have e-mails that redshelf cannot help me. A partial refund should be in order for my time searching for a solution to this issue.
Picture this, broke college student, $100 book, buys it, THE BOOK NEVER OPENS UP. Only errors. Fails course. Really simple story.
Tip for consumers:
Just don't, please.
Products used:
None
This company started out well but has gotten terrible by the years. There is no customer service and I am starting to believe that redshelf is a ripoff and I am seriously thinking about filing legal action against this company.
This ereader format makes large textbooks challenging to read and impossible to follow along with in class. Firstly, the redshelf page numbers don't match with the page numbers in the book, and actually obscure them from view so when the teacher calls out a page number she's looking at, it takes me longer to find it than she takes on the topic. This is also partially because you have to click arrow buttons to move between pages and it reloads every single time I turn a page. It takes me forever to move around in the book while she leads class discussion, and is not nimble at all. Next, the pages are like PDFs, not ePub format. When you land on a page it is off center and all the left and bottom of the page are off the side of the screen and are covered by the ereader buttons, forcing me to reorient the page every time a turn a page, after waiting for the reload. I tried to "download" all of my next two weeks readings for reading offline so that I would be able to flip pages without having to reload/reorient constantly, and it gave me a link to "return to" and of course it was a dead link that never worked. I tried multiple different sets of pages, this feature does not work at all as far as I can tell. Next the font size is super nonoptimal for small screens like an ipad, and because its more like a pdf than an epub (it doesn't reformat with font size changes) the largest size I can make it and still have the paragraph fit on screen is still too small for my eyes to read comfortably. The ereader has highlight and notes functions, but there is no cursor to resize a selection of text. So every time I want to highlight a section I have to get it right with one touch and drag, or else I have to delete and start again. As I mentioned the font is small so i've Accepted that this just wont be right ever. I hate that you don't have a working mobile app with a permanent sign in. I tried to download your app, but the book doesn't appear in there despite it being registered to my account. I tried to contact your customer care about this and they were no help at all. They didn't seem to know you had a mobile app. So I have to go through the browser every time. This is so tedious: go to webpage, sign in, open book, open bookmarks, wait for reloading constantly while trying each bookmark to figure out the one I'm supposed to read today. I know the tech is still sorting itself out, but I feel like enough publishers and ereader apps have established themselves so that we can avoid this glitchy stuff? Is there any way at all that I can get this book in any other format than on your ereader with this code. Either PDF or ePub would be great (I plan to convert to ePub either way so that it can be read in any other ereader. I really find this ereader platform to be unsatisfactory in every way that ereaders are supposed to make reading textbooks more convenient. I'm thinking about buying from kindle and cutting my losses at the hours of wasted time in my first two weeks of school trying to get this format to work.
Hi KM - I first want to start off apologizing for the unsatisfactory experience you’ve had with our platform. At the start of the school year, the last thing we want is for you to be stressed out about your textbooks. It sounds like this textbook is indeed a PDF format, which sometimes limits the adaptability of the experience in the eReader. We’ve been strongly advocating for the creation and adoption of ePub titles not only with our publishing partners who create the files, but also with our campus partners who adopt the materials. We understand how accessibility and functionality are impacted by these two formats.
With that being said, we’ve sent you a private message asking for the email tied to your account as well as the name of the title. We’d be more than happy to see if there is an ePub alternative that we can provide through our platform instead of your current version.
We truly appreciate this honest and thoughtful feedback. We’re constantly improving our platform and this insight will be shared with our product and development teams. Please take a look at the private message we sent your way as we’d like to rectify this situation in any way possible.
-AM
This website is the worst for ebook.
First its ever slow, even with its offline option.
Second it doesn't have an app or anything related. You need to have wife to open it. So better to get a hard copy.
I hate it hate it. It interrupts with my study. Waste of move, time and the worst thing.
I purchased a book with "lifetime access". It stopped working after 1 month! I have called 3 times and emailed 2 times over the last couple of days and they have "escalated" the issue each time. Is anyone actually going to call me back for this escalation? I have given up and repurchased the book from Kindle/Amazon because clearly I need it for a class. FLAWLESS experience. I will never comes to a 3rd party service like this one again. Rather pay more for RELIABLE customer service.
Redshelf is renting a textbook for double the price that Amazon is renting the same book. I asked them if they would be willing to price match or refund me the difference and was denied that courtesy. Despite bad company policy, the customer service was quick to respond and professional.
I purchased a book and cannot access it. When I contacted customer service, no one responded. Do NOT purchase from this site.
Tip for consumers:
Don't use it!
Products used:
None, I never was able to get the content I purchased.
I really wanted to use it, but Redshelf deleted 500 pages of my annotations without every notifying me. How could this happen if this company would be any serious with its customer base? I am not a student, I am a professorl and thought that maybe that's the way to go a little more paperless and a little cheaper for the students I teach. But after this horrible experience, take my warning: Don't bother with Redshelf, spend your money in better ways: If you value your time and your work, buy a real book or at least a different ebook.
As law student with a focus in environmental law, I buy all texts in e-version. This wasn't an issue last year when the software contracts were with VitalSource, but things have become nearly unmanageable since having to use RedShelf. The texts typically take over 15 minutes to load, and that's after having to force close and restart the app multiple times because it freezes &/or when it finally does load it doesn't import your highlights/notes so you have to keep refreshing app until it does. I have been in contact with technical support for over 5 months now, who have been extremely kind and communicative, but which has ultimately produced absolutely NO solutions to these issues.
Considering the $180+ price tags on these e-texts, it is absolutely absurd that they do not even work and that the company cannot provide any remedy or alternative option in the interim while attempting to resolve the tech glitches. Knowing that these texts are being sold for educational purposes, the company has an obligation to establish safeguards &/or remedies in these instances where their product is defective. The lack of such is a huge pitfall for me and will likely prevent me from working with them in the future.
Products used:
law textbooks
RedShelf is an EdTech company focused on providing more affordable, engaging, and efficient digital course materials to millions of students nationwide.
Founded in 2012 and recently named one of the nation’s fastest-growing private businesses by Inc. Magazine, RedShelf is a Chicago-based EdTech company helping to make education both more affordable and more effective through the use of digital instructional resources. Partnering with thousands of publishers and nearly half of all college and university campuses nationwide, we deliver 1 million+ higher education titles (textbooks) to learners on our awarding-winning eReader. For institutions, it's one piece of RedShelf's end-to-end Content Delivery System (CDS) for effortlessly distributing those materials, either through their campus stores or directly from their LMS.
Hi!
We are happy to further look into this for you! Can you please submit a request via solve.redshelf.com so we can further investigate?