STAFF EDITORIAL
Finding cheap books for a changing class schedule can prove more difficult than others think. It seems like everyday, book prices are raised and the presence of used text books is slowley fading away. Some students is finding different resources to remain finicially stable while attending school while cursing whoever thought of such outrageous prices. As students speak of “fighting the man” by buying books else-where, the question is who really benefits and suffers from textbook sales? Publishers of the textbooks we buy every term are at the top of the food chain. Every few years these publishers release new editions of their popular textbooks to remain on top of their game. Sometimes these books include new information or updated facts but other times the book just includes corrections to grammatical mistakes, updating small facts or updating an entire section but keeping everything else the same. According to a bookstore pamphlet, they receive 20 cents to every dollar earned from the purchase of textbooks. The rest of the money goes to the publisher and other higher parties. The bookstore employees take the brunt of the textbook mayhem when it comes to selling or trading. General advice to the avid book buyer is don’t kill the messengers. They are only doing what the publishers are telling them to do. The bookstore isn’t “the man” to fight; the publishers’ of the books are. Shopping at the bookstore doesn’t seem all that bad to someone who’s new to the college life. The books are easily organized so students can search by classes instead of by title. They’re also labeled whether or not they’re required or optional. Prices may be the scariest factor while shopping at the bookstore. Other options have risen since the repercussions of textbook prices. Programs like used textbook warehouses, personal connections, or the ever-popular Internet resource. Several students search websites like half.com and ebay.com for better choices and prices. As the popularity of ebay.com booms, it only seems natural for sutdents to search for the best price for books on one of their auctions. Prices like $60 books for $20 or $30 alternatives is the typical when bidding. Students struck gold, right? Soon, many found additional charges such as outrageous shipping and handling (now really, do you need $30 bubble wrap to accompany your economics book?) and the increasing threat of being duked by the seller. Fear of buying the wrong textbook and being unable to return the book have stopped students in thier tracks The Internet is a great place for cheap textbooks but students also have to realize the consequences from these deals. Not only are there predators out there, waiting to fool the next unsuspecting student, but also misinformation on the product such as the wrong edition, can leave you up a creek without a paddle. You only see the condition of the book when it lands on your front doorstep. Customer safety is a risky factor while Internet shopping. Whether you’re shopping in your local bookstore or the international Internet, always weigh your choices. Price shopping before you textbook shop would be the best choice and not diving into deals you’re unsure of. Your classes aren’t worth going bankrupt over.
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