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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 1982)
Bookstore fee discourages text speculating By Dane Claussen OMhaEnwrald Among the changes at the University Bookstore students may notice this fall are a 50-cent per book "restocking fee," more discount sales and more in-store promotions and cus tomer education But just as important are the "behind-the-scenes" aspects, such as the installation of a $74,000 computer, and contin uing emphasis on service, quality, used books and retain Y OF OREGON BOOK STORE .NO Emerald photo The bookstore is a great service to students because of its product diversity, employment opportunities and services such as free check cashing, gift wrapping and notary public. THE EMU CULTURAL FORUM PRESENTS of o / 10^1 0? of nn\^h PUNISHMENT faRm imiRSOM, VFP7. W EMU BALLROOM 9 PM Tickets available: EMU Main Desk, Earth River Records, Dianas Come early to attend the EMU Open House with free refreshments, demonstrations, and special discounted prices throughout the EMU Watch for our special Open ad in the Emerald ing the 11 percent textbook dis count, says Jim Williams, book store manager The purpose of the restocking fee, which has already been tested in the University law school, is to discourage students from 'speculating'' — buying books they may not need because they drop a class or for other reasons. Restocking problems are compounded by students requesting that a book be reordered - at considerable expense to the store - then buy ing the book elsewhere or dropping the class, Williams says The restocking fee system has been successful at other college bookstores, notably Stanford, he says "Our intention is positive," Williams says, explaining that discouraging speculation will lessen bookstore operating costs and student inconven ience The bookstore also plans more discount sales to decrease college expenses for students and allow the book store to come closer to its goal — operating at a break-even point More in-store promotion and education will alert book store “members" to the store's unique services, competitive prices and tough anti-shoplift ing policy, he says. The new computer — estimated to pay for itself in 2'/j years — will improve efficiency at the bookstore in a number of ways, Williams says Store em ployees will be able to give students more accurate infor mation about the availability of books and provide professors with information about numbers of books purchased by students, among other services, he says The computer won't be a "cure-all," but “will allow more outreach," Williams says. Without pre-registration, faculty "are in the dark on how many books they should order,” Williams says, adding that the bookstore returns to publishers and wholesalers an average of 28 percent of the textbooks or dered Problems are compounded by a lead time of at least six weeks from the time professors contact the bookstore to the books being on the shelves, he says Used book sales, which in creased 60 percent last year, will continue to be encouraged. Williams says Because attending college is expensive, students demand high quality goods at the lowest possible prices. Williams says, adding that he believes the bookstore has been especially successful in this respect Bookstore prices are compe titive with other merchants in the area, he says. The Western College Bookstore Association, for which Williams serves on a buying committee, takes bids for huge quantities of supplies, and keeps quality in mind as well, he says. “You get the quality of a sta tionery store at a lower price," he says with pride. The store also keeps prices as low as possible because of its fiscal goal to operate as close to a break-even point as possible, Williams says. Unlike 90 percent of other college bookstores, the University Bookstore is not under pressure to make a profit for the University administration or student union, but rather di rected by its elected board to serve students, faculty and staff, he says Retaining the 11-percent textbook discount may conflict with the bookstore’s fiscal goal. Plans currently call for the dis count rate to be evaluated at the end of fall term, Williams says, adding that the store does 30 percent of the year's business in the first three weeks of fall term The discount rate, the highest of the nation s 72 “big college" bookstores, might have to be trimmed because of sales de clines Sales have dropped recently despite the bookstore selling textbooks below cost. The losses are made up in other departments, William says “The big unknown is fall en rollment," Williams says Sales for fiscal year 1982-83 are al ready down 11 percent and that a 10 to 15 percent drop from last year’s $5 8 million gross income is projected, he says The bookstore also is a great service to students because of its product diversity, em ployment opportunities and services such as free check cashing, gift wrapping and no tary public, he says “Members should expect a lot from their bookstore," Williams says, adding that students can always make suggestions at the Sounding Board on the second floor. He says that the store's losses to shoplifting — $60,000 to $80,000 per year — do not represent large percentage but are notable, and that the store takes a tough stand on shoplift ing “We employ student security guards and then prosecute to the fullest extent of the law," Williams says Prosecuting shoplifters is unpleasant but necessary, he says, adding that the bookstore's reputation among policemen and area legal circles is "impeccable "
