FRONT PAGE
College textbook prices
by Karla Brown

The high price of textbooks is driving some college students to find cheaper alternatives to their school’s bookstore, such as the Internet and student book exchanges.

Kristin Berinobis was one of those students. She found her $117 economics book on half.ebay.com for $6.

Berinobis, a WCC and HCC student, ordered her book, paid an additional $5 for shipping and about a week later, received her economics book in “brand-spanking-new” condition.

But, as Berinobis explained, the benefits of shopping online don’t end with saving money. “I didn’t have to stand in a long line or fight for an ugly used book. The book was delivered to me at my house and for a much cheaper price.”
As a full-time mom, Berinobis always looks for ways to save. She said, “When you have a family, every cent counts.
“I think textbooks are ridiculously expensive, especially if you never use the book again.”

She said, “I highly suggest that students search on the computer for their books. I don’t want to put the bookstore out of business, but everybody can save a little money.”
On the other hand, some students see the expediency of the bookstore.

WCC student James Laidlaw spent around $200 on books for four classes this semester.

Laidlaw understands that he could save a lot of money if he were to use the Internet to buy and sell his textbooks. He said, “Basically, this is a very time-consuming process. The reason I haven’t done it before is because the bookstore is so readily available and more convenient, but you definitely lose money.”
Another WCC student, Cullen Reid, found the convenience of the bookstore cost him about $500 last semester.

His books for four classes and a lab almost matched his tuition. Reid said he chose to shop at the bookstore “because I was too lazy to look for outside resources.”

He thinks the prices of college textbooks are outrageous and much too high for the amount of time they’re used.

UH Bookstore director Randy Tanaka, a UH graduate, said he can relate to the students’ “sticker shock.” He thinks many students from public schools, who were supplied these materials, do not realize the value and cost of a textbook.
“When you were provided something for ‘free’ and now you have to pay for it, any price seems inordinately high,” Tanaka said.

WCC bookstore manager Jennifer M. Sogi said she is not against students finding other sources to save on textbooks.
She said another way students can get back some of the money spent on books is to participate in the textbook buyback week May 10 – 14.

Sogi added, “We do encourage students to sell back their books as soon as possible during the buyback session to get the best price possible, but don’t do so at the expense of not being able to study and prepare for your final exams!”
However, Laidlaw thinks the book buyback is a “rip-off.”
“Some books they don’t even buy back,” he said. “The book hasn’t increased in value, and they’ll probably sell it again next year for more than they bought it back for.”

A 2004 study called “Ripoff 101,” conducted by the State PIRGs (Public Interest Research Group), found that “textbooks are expensive and getting even more expensive.”
Based on surveys of fall 2003 University of California students, they found that a student’s textbook costs will average $898 this school year.

The cost of college textbooks has gotten so expensive that Congress wants its General Accounting Office (GAO) to investigate the industry’s pricing system.

Last month, 15 Democratic members of the House of Representatives signed a letter to request a GAO study. Results may take three months to one year to obtain.
“Ripoff” also found that textbook publishers add “bells and whistles” to increase the price of books. It stated, “Sixty-five percent of faculty ‘rarely’ or ‘never’ use the bundled materials in their courses.”

Tanaka said, “(The publishers) package CD-ROMs, study guides and other materials in a packaged bundle that makes it difficult to recycle as a used textbook.

“Publishers and authors only generate revenue and royalties through the sales of new books.”

Yet, the campus bookstores aren’t making a big profit; it’s usually zero to 4 percent, Tanaka said.

He explained that the UH Bookstore system uses a 24 percent “gross margin percentage” to calculate the price of a new textbook. “For example, if the retail price of a new textbook is $10, the bookstore’s cost from the publisher, in addition to the (6 to 7 percent) shipping costs, would be $7.60.”

He said that this 24 percent covers personnel costs, utilities, supplies, equipment costs and administrative and fiscal support.

“Your campus bookstore is here through good times and bad, and strives to provide the best combination of pricing, convenience and service.”

The UH Bookstore system has also developed a Student Book Exchange Web site at http://www.uhbooks.hawaii.edu/textbk_exchange/ where students cans buy or sell used texts.

In the future, both Reid and Berinobis said they will look for bargains on the Internet or from other students.