Booked Up
By John Warden
Associate Editor
With cost increases, some look to alternatives
College students are feeling the pinch in the
pocket from educational dues, whether it’s
the increasing costs of college tuition or the
textbooks they need for classes.
But what’s the reason for these textbook
price hikes?
The California Public Interest Research Group
(http://calpirg.org) released a report last spring
entitled “Ripoff 101.” It divulges
the findings of interviewing 521 students and
156 faculty at 10 public colleges in California
and Oregon. The report concluded that college
students will pay an average of $898 on textbooks
in 2004.
Questions addressed to North Lake’s Follett
Bookstore had to be directed through its corporate
office. When asked to comment on increased textbook
pricing, a store official replied through an e-mail
response, “We believe the key to keeping
textbook prices down is to support the right of
students to buy and sell used copies, to purchase
only what they need to succeed, and to ensure
that those materials are available when they need
them.” It isn’t only that books cost
so much, but the industry produces new editions
on average every 3.5 years, the Follett representative
said. This makes it extremely difficult to maintain
a steady system of used books.
“With our world constantly changing with
new information, it is imperative that the most
current information be available in such fields
as technology, health sciences and biological
sciences,” said Follett.
Textbook producers have added CD ROMs, passwords,
online tutoring, and other fliers to benefit the
student’s product experience. Some teachers
never implement this costly material into the
class syllabus. Follett notified the News-Register
that unbundled books can be special-ordered through
the bookstore.
Internet research shows that some publishers
distribute identical textbooks overseas at drastically
reduced prices. The shipping charges may be a
little higher than normal, but it is worth the
research if you’re looking for alternate
methods.
One useful method found, which involves an early
start to allow for shipping, is to purchase used
books of the previous edition online. Some editions
can be obtained for just a few dollars plus shipping
and handling. With permission, some instructors
will allow a previous book that contains nearly
identical information.
When selling used books, students have a couple
of options available, according to Follett. “Textbooks
that are re-adopted for a subsequent semester
are bought back at up to 50 percent of the purchase
price. Books that have not been re-adopted are
purchased at a wholesale value, which ranges from
10 percent to 30 percent of the original price.”
Remember to always advertise and search for your
books on campus bulletin boards. You can find
a valuable deal or bring in a small return on
your past subject‘s literature. Becoming
more and more popular is half.com by e-bay, online
(campusbookswap.com), on-campus book swaps.
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