CO-OP TEXT BOOK PRICES
ARE NOT UNREASONABLE
Here’s Some Information You Should Know
About the Books You Purchase at the Co-op
AS THE ABOVE INVOICE ILLUSTRATES, THE PUB
LISHERS SET TEXT BOOK PRICES, NOT THE CO-OP.
Books are invoiced to all college bookstores in the nation at an
established selling price. This set selling price includes a 20'i
discount (again illustrated by the invoice above) for the Co-op
and all bookstores. /
THE CO-OP REALIZED A 20', MARGIN ON TEXT BOOK
SALES . . . HALF OF THIS IS RETURNED TO THE STU
DENT AS CO-OP MEMBERSHIP DIVIDENDS AND THE
REMAINING 10 i MUST COVER FREIGHT AND HAND
LING CHARGES.
The Co-op’s 20' r profit is short lived. When Co-op membership
dividends are distributed in the spring, a student is returned 10' < ,
half of this profit. Thus the net cost of a $6.00 book is actually
$5.40 to you. The Co-op’s remaining 10'i profit is soon almost
consumed by freight and handling charges. This cost proved to
be quite significant since most publishers are located on the east
coast.
Reproduction of an actual
Text Book Publishers Invoice
THE SMALL PROFIT WHICH THE CO-OP REALIZES ON
TEXT BOOKS MUST HELP TO SHARE SOME OF THE
HIGH COST OF DEALING IN USED BOOKS.
Contrary to popular belief, the used book business which the Co-op
engages in proved to quite a costly enterprise. Once it is com
mitted to buying back a used book, the Co-op must purchase all
those presented even though it learns that another edition is to be
substituted. Despite the small price paid for used books, many times
the investment turns out to be totally worthless and this is the
reason higher prices aren’t paid. You are probably well aware of
the many edition and text changes that do occur. The Co-op en
deavors to provide this used book service to Oregon students at
as low a cost as possible, but unfortunately, many of these changes
cannot be forseen.
We hope this information has helped you understand better the
text book prices at the Co-op. Should you have questions about
this or the used text book operation at the Co-op, please do not
hesitate to contact one of us or Mr. Jerry Henson, the Co-op gen
eral manager. Remember, it’s your store.
Your student Co-op Board Representatives,
DICK WEIGEL — BILL HUTCHISON
WALT EVANS — CLARK STEVENS
KENT HUGHES