Working Together is Key to Saving Money

Every fall, students across the globe trudge to the bookstore, waiting in line with cash, checks, and cards, bracing themselves for the announcement of the total cost of their books. Students spend between $200 and $600 every semester, and as they walk out, the reactions are all the same- “what are you going to do about it”? Publishers and distributors know this. If you want to pass the course, you have to buy the book, no matter the cost. Jay Ahgharian, four year manager of the Plymouth State University Bookstore, and a resident of Ashland, talked with me about why prices are so high, and what we can do to cut prices. As you may recall, Plymouth Book Exchange beckoned students downtown at the beginning of the semester, offering lower text book prices. This is because the bookstore downtown has no obligations to the University. The Plymouth State University Bookstore has to give money to the PSU budget, which aids in improving the campus. It is extra income for the University. Jay did not know if it was true that the Plymouth Book Exchange sold cheaper books, but he did acknowledge that a marketing strategy is to charge less for some merchandise, and the same or higher prices for others. “I am not saying they are doing it, but it is a tactic in business”. Buying books on campus keeps some money on the campus. Money has gone to the Eagle Pond Poetry Series, emblematic gifts, sponsorship of the Robert Frost Alumni Scholarship, and renovations in Boyd Hall. He says this is why “there might be some price difference…we help the University to grow”. New Hampshire is one of least educationally funded states. What we pay in tuition still isn’t enough to “carry the whole load”. It depends on how the contract is written from the University. Some Universities want a bigger percentage of the sale, or they have other restrictions, causing prices to flux slightly. He feels that our prices are on the lower side of the national average university price. Buy-back policy depends on if books will be used next semester. If they are being used on campus again, students get 50% of the purchase price. If the book is not being used next semester, the National Data Base gives a price that includes shipping and handling to other schools or back to the distributor. It depends on how much in demand the book is around the country. Old editions must be dumped, and the distributor takes that into consideration as well. The higher the demand, the higher the price. “We have started a campaign to get more used books,” Jay stated. These come from the distributor and buy-back at the end of the semester. There are a few important things. If he knows before the buy-back period starts (last week of classes) what books teachers will use again next semester, he will know whether or not to order them. This means the faculty must do their part to let the bookstore know before buy-back starts if they plan on using the same books again. If it is being used, students get 50% back. If faculty misses the deadline, students get penalized because the books will be shipped out because there isn’t enough room to store books that might be used again. Jay must look at what the National Data Base says it is worth. If the same book has to be re-ordered, not only do we lose out on the refund, but shipping and handling must be paid again. Used books are first come first serve. If it takes too long to get an order, then the used copies will be gone. This year, PSU increased their used book supply by 30%. “If you buy a book for $100, and bring it back and get $50, you bought that book for $50,” Jay explained. This is hard to remember when you write a check for $400 at the beginning of September. “That is very crucial, that the faculty order their books on time, it saves the student money, and it saves me money”. Used books cost 25% less than new books. After buy back, a $75 book is only $32.50. Market price usually stays about the same even as the information gets older. Once the publisher decides to print a new edition, the used book is taken off the market. Jay estimates there used to be 5-6 years between editions, “now it is more like 2-3 years”. Buying books from friends is “an individual decision”. He understands how students want to save money, but there are dangers to buying this way. Are students sure the book is being used the following semester? The damage to the university from this type of selling is “not a major factor”. “You get cash when you come in- no ifs, ands, or buts, you get $50 for the book and you walk out of the store.” If you drop or decide not to take a course, PSU store will not buy back a book purchased on-line. Students will have to settle for the buy back price because places like Amazon won’t take it back. “When it comes to a full refund, I have to have a receipt”. “We have concluded that the only way to reduce the price is to buy more used books…This was the tactic last year, and that will be the tactic for many years, because that is the only way. We need everyone’s assistance…the students are actually the faculties customers.”