Spring Break
Where students look for books
Sarah Zeeck
Issue date: 8/17/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
As the semester begins, students scramble to purchase the required books for classes. Though many students opt to visit Chapman's Book and Office Supply and the Western Illinois University Union Bookstore, a large portion use the Internet to satisfy their purchasing needs.
"I know of some Web sites that will let you mail the books back when you are finished and give you your money back, so it's a little like borrowing," said sophomore finance major KayLee Hunter. "It's pretty cool."
Dozens of Web sites developed for the purpose of selling textbooks, such as Half.com, Amazon and Better World, claim to ship quickly, provide "safe and secure" checkouts and offer good deals on textbooks.
Buying books online, however, can have drawbacks. According to K. J. Johnson, director of the University Union Bookstore, one benefit from purchasing books through the Union is proceeds fund the university. In addition, Johnson said there is less of a risk involved with in-person book purchase.
"We have the most up-to-date information from the faculty as to what is needed for the class, because the instructors tend to change their minds a lot," Johnson said. "Sometimes with online purchasing, you can get the wrong edition easily, and it's easier to use the incorrect ISBN number. No one wants to accidentally get the wrong book."
Chapman's owner Tracy Brightwell-Kraft added that through the Internet, students may mistakenly purchase the international version, which cannot be sold back to bookstores.
"The international version is a cheaper version made overseas. Online, sometimes the sellers aren't very up front about that, but wholesale bookstores are pretty strict about not carrying them," Brightwell-Kraft said.
She went on to say the element of true customer service is lost in the Internet.
"You can handpick your own books or we can prepackage them for you. Some students like the books clean, whereas some like a little highlighting in them," Brightwell-Kraft said.
She added if you do not need the book for a class or if you drop the class, it is much easier and quicker to return them to a store.
Both the Union and Chapman's have a return policy that allows the customer to return books within two weeks of purchase for a full refund, and both Johnson and Brightwell-Kraft say their stores stock as many used books as possible because used books sell for 25 percent less than new books.
A third option in town is the New Copperfield Book service on the Square. This bookstore does not keep textbooks in stock, but orders them on request. A benefit to this service is that it can procure out-of-print or hard-to-get books.
"I know of some Web sites that will let you mail the books back when you are finished and give you your money back, so it's a little like borrowing," said sophomore finance major KayLee Hunter. "It's pretty cool."
Dozens of Web sites developed for the purpose of selling textbooks, such as Half.com, Amazon and Better World, claim to ship quickly, provide "safe and secure" checkouts and offer good deals on textbooks.
Buying books online, however, can have drawbacks. According to K. J. Johnson, director of the University Union Bookstore, one benefit from purchasing books through the Union is proceeds fund the university. In addition, Johnson said there is less of a risk involved with in-person book purchase.
"We have the most up-to-date information from the faculty as to what is needed for the class, because the instructors tend to change their minds a lot," Johnson said. "Sometimes with online purchasing, you can get the wrong edition easily, and it's easier to use the incorrect ISBN number. No one wants to accidentally get the wrong book."
Chapman's owner Tracy Brightwell-Kraft added that through the Internet, students may mistakenly purchase the international version, which cannot be sold back to bookstores.
"The international version is a cheaper version made overseas. Online, sometimes the sellers aren't very up front about that, but wholesale bookstores are pretty strict about not carrying them," Brightwell-Kraft said.
She went on to say the element of true customer service is lost in the Internet.
"You can handpick your own books or we can prepackage them for you. Some students like the books clean, whereas some like a little highlighting in them," Brightwell-Kraft said.
She added if you do not need the book for a class or if you drop the class, it is much easier and quicker to return them to a store.
Both the Union and Chapman's have a return policy that allows the customer to return books within two weeks of purchase for a full refund, and both Johnson and Brightwell-Kraft say their stores stock as many used books as possible because used books sell for 25 percent less than new books.
A third option in town is the New Copperfield Book service on the Square. This bookstore does not keep textbooks in stock, but orders them on request. A benefit to this service is that it can procure out-of-print or hard-to-get books.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Kyle
posted 8/19/07 @ 5:40 PM CST
I love how they cite customer service and maybe getting the wrong edition of the book as the main reason not to shop online. However, getting books online is the cheapest way to find the book you are looking for. (Continued…)
AngelD
posted 8/22/07 @ 2:14 AM CST
Yes...shopping online for books will get you much better prices. It astounds me what people charge for books. My husband works at WIU but also takes classes and he got both of the books he needed for his classes at least $20 cheaper on the internet than in either bookstore. (Continued…)
AngelD
posted 9/20/07 @ 10:05 PM CST
The price the bookstore pays the publisher is set, yes, but how much the bookstore marks that price up to make a profit is not set by the publisher.
Perhaps it's time for bookstores that sell college texts to think of a better game plan that would not require the kinds of mark ups. (Continued…)
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