2008 Woodie Awards
Student money burnt up on textbooks
The constant updates of new book editions is costing students their hard-earned money
McLorin, Shanae
Issue date: 3/29/07 Section: News
Instructors fall victim to these tactics as well. The report found that over half of the professors surveyed said that the textbook sales representatives rarely or never volunteer the price of the books they promote.
Another tactic that publishers like to use is called bundling. Students may recognize this when they purchase books that come with CD-ROM and study guides. Publishers make a lot of money off this tactic because the bundle drives up the price. When sold separately the book itself would be a lot cheaper.
Some may think that the bundle package is cheaper when in fact it is the exact opposite. It is worthless to have the package when students are only going to utilize the main book. This leaves a student with the feeling that they wasted their money.
"Our research found that textbook publishers' drive up the prices. Publishers are not disclosing pricing information clearly to faculty," said CALPIRG representative, Danny Katz.
The bookstore tries to help out students by buying the books back at the end of the semester. When selling a book back students will notice that they receive nowhere near the amount of money they spent and is never any more than 50 percent.
If the publishers decide to switch things up, the thought of getting money back from the bookstore goes out the door along with the old book.
Some may have the tendency to be upset with the bookstore, but this is another issue that falls on the shoulders of the publishers.
"It would be a blessing to have low-cost books because most students cannot afford the cost of tuition. It will help a lot of students and their finances," said Chabot student, Fermin Puell.
Another tactic that publishers like to use is called bundling. Students may recognize this when they purchase books that come with CD-ROM and study guides. Publishers make a lot of money off this tactic because the bundle drives up the price. When sold separately the book itself would be a lot cheaper.
Some may think that the bundle package is cheaper when in fact it is the exact opposite. It is worthless to have the package when students are only going to utilize the main book. This leaves a student with the feeling that they wasted their money.
"Our research found that textbook publishers' drive up the prices. Publishers are not disclosing pricing information clearly to faculty," said CALPIRG representative, Danny Katz.
The bookstore tries to help out students by buying the books back at the end of the semester. When selling a book back students will notice that they receive nowhere near the amount of money they spent and is never any more than 50 percent.
If the publishers decide to switch things up, the thought of getting money back from the bookstore goes out the door along with the old book.
Some may have the tendency to be upset with the bookstore, but this is another issue that falls on the shoulders of the publishers.
"It would be a blessing to have low-cost books because most students cannot afford the cost of tuition. It will help a lot of students and their finances," said Chabot student, Fermin Puell.
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