Chances are good that these books were bought at wholesale prices on other campuses, meaning the students on those campuses had to sell those books at a much lower price due to their books not being listed for the coming semester. I’m sure that those people made a good chunk of money, and I’m equally sure that they also vanished by the time it came to drop and add classes when the semester got under way. Need a refund? You may be out of luck.
As much as some students may hate it, college bookstores do provide vital services for you. At our stores, we try to stock as many used textbooks as we can get because that’s what the students want. (Take your pick of whatever’s on the shelf.) If you need to return a book during drop-and-add, bring it back to us with your receipt and you’ll get a full refund on the spot. If a book isn’t in stock, we’ll find out if the professor has turned in their required text list or if the publisher has failed to send us our months-old order. We’ll even offer to buy your books from you year-round, even if you didn’t buy them from our store. (In most cases we’ll even tell you the optimal time to sell your book for the best buyback price.)
In the meantime, we employ students at all of our stores, making sure that we are able to work around their class schedules. Many of our older employees have children who are students, so they also buy and sell their books through us. (They do get a break in price when they buy books, though.) We give scholarships, sponsor community events and organizations, and perform voluntary services regularly. We earn money and we spend money within our local community like everybody else. We aren’t getting rich, but we are earning a decent wage plus benefits. If that sounds like a complete rip-off to you, I don’t know what else to tell you.
(This wasn’t targeted specifically at you, Cyberhwk. Just a little more info for people to consider…)
It is not the bookstores fault. It is the publishers and professors. Professors who don’t get their book orders in despite the fact that it take all of 10 minutes out of thier precious hitting on the female students time. At my old school a psych professor signed a contract with the book company saying that she would block the buyback (by changing editions, etc) for a kickback! I know anther psych professor who gets $12 for each study guide he sells packaged with the text. He “edited” it. I have seen it, he pulled it off the website (the student question section). He is the course administrator, there about 3000 students in all in this class…do the math on how much money he is making.
In all fairness, my child development prof customized a book (she took the sections she would not cover out of the book) so that we could be charged 50% less. And she was defiant against the book rep when he suggested that we should not be allowed to sell it back. She told him “Up yours!” and got her book order in early.
I have always loved the bookstore people. I always make a point of establishing a good relationship with the staff of my college bookstore. They really do try hard. The textbook manager was one of the hardest working women I have ever seen. She would go after professor for the book orders. She has performed “surgery” on books so the students would not have to buy new ones.
I have told the whiney people in the bookstore to shut up before. Be happy they are getting something back! I have taken English classes with 9 novels…I would get 50cents back each for them because the professors would change the books constantly.
People need to treat the bookstore staff with respect! They do not control the prices. If you have a beef, take it to the professor (please, maybe they can be shamed) or to the publisher.
Corner the book reps! They can be found prowling the campus. Ask your professors for cards of them and complain. Email McGraw Hill College Division. If anyone wants me to, I am sure I can get some emails.
Bottom Line: Complain to the right people and don’t verbally abuse an innocent person.
(I once got $4 back for a $120 Spanish textbook set. I wasn’t happy but I kept myself under control.)
The publishers are dumb. They add 2 new pictures to a book and call it a new addition.
Geewhiz, you are exactly right. It’s customers like you who make the 10 hour sales floor shifts bearable. I don’t know how the regular book store staff can manage this year-round.
Come to think of it, my limited retail experience gives me a much greater appreciation for retail workers everywhere and tempers my outlook on the old adage “the customer is always right”. Properly trained staff can make for a smooth buying experience, while unrealistic customers can make it hellish for everyone.