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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 2005)
Textbooks: GAO report says textbooks prices have increased 6 percent Continued from page IB at the request of Congressman David Wu last year, which states that the price of textbooks is “skyrocketing.” In the past, textbook price increas es were blamed on inflation. Howev er, the GAO report, which confirms previous research by nation-wide stu dent Public Interest Research Groups (student PIRGs) found that textbook prices have risen at double the rate of annual inflation since the mid 1980s. While the overall price inflation rose 3 percent annually, textbook prices rose an average of 6 percent. According to the GAO report, rea sons for the increase include the pub lishers’ response to meet the de mands of instructors on “bundling” CD-ROMs and workbooks with text books, increased investment by pub lishers in making these accommoda tions, and unnecessary new editions each year. “Publishers say they have in creased investments in developing supplements in response to demand from instructors. Wholesalers, retails, and others expressed concern that the proliferation of supplements and more frequent revisions might unnec essarily increase costs to students,” the report states. University President Dave Frohn mayer is familiar with the burden of paying for textbooks, but he said that because the University is not in an adversary position with the Universi ty Bookstore, “the real issue is with Life is f. ar more Seauttful and dangerous tkan / you ve keen to Id... 020164 Curious? Wednesdays Burke-Griffith Hall 12th Sc Kincaid 7:30 pm textbook producers, ” “Everybody is looking for areas of discretionary spending because the cost of college in general is rising,” Frohnmayer said. He added that professors have the ability to require used books, because new editions are not always necessary, but for students, he recommended taking advantage of books on reserve at the library. “Penny-pinching students can find ways to avoid (high prices), and more library time” is one of them, he said. But for students who enjoy mark ing up their pages or who lack the ex tra hours needed to take notes from books on reserve, purchasing online may be a solutions. The bookstore does provide ad vice in pamphlets and brochures for saving money, such as “Textbooks 101,” which explains that “the UO Bookstore is listening” to student needs about costs, long lines and other hassles. The tips provided in this and other brochures do not include purchasing textbooks online. (( f! TnitrAtiAilir rvrrtp short window of opportunity when students return for school. They have a limited number of weeks to make their money,” said Richard Davies, public relations managQr for abebooks.com. “The results of the GAO report did n’t surprise us; it confirmed previous reports,” Davies said. He said the online market offers low prices on nearly every subject. “I think students are fairly wise to that, but some students haven’t been around long enough to know. I feel quite sorry for the freshmen, actual ly,” Davies added. While the University Bookstore ad vises against going online for text books, the GAO report and all previ ous student PIRG reports highly recommend using the online market place. And because the University has no plan to combat these higher than-necessary prices because stu dents going online for textbooks has yet to impact bookstore sales, accord ing to Frohnmayer, the ball remains in the student’s court in terms of making textbooks affordable. The Emerald researched the differ ence in cost between buying books online and at the bookstore at stu dent prices, which are discounted 10 percent for new books and 32 percent for used books. Students taking History 101 this fall are required to purchase the new edi tion of “Discovering the Western Past.” It will cost $24.19 at abe books.com, which includes shipping, whereas the campus bookstore charges $44.75, which already in cludes the 10 percent discount. If stu dents purchase this book used at the bookstore with the 32 percent dis count, they will still save an addition al 28 percent by going online. For Chemistry 111 fall term a new edition of “Chemistry for Changing Times” is required. The books costs $66.75 online versus $98.75, includ ing the 10 percent student discount, at the bookstore for the same edition. Nonetheless, the bookstore’s tips, whether or not they actually save money, do come in handy. One sug gests going to class early to make sure students buy the books that pro fessors put on their syllabus. “Sometimes profs change their minds after telling the book store to order the books,” one brochure states. The second and third savings rec ommendations are to understand the return policy before you buy and save your sales receipt. Steps four and five advise students to keep books in pristine condition to ensure a full refund if returned and buy used textbooks when available. The back flap of one brochure warns against online purchasing, a money-saving tip recommended by student PIRGs, because students could purchase the wrong edition, not get the book in time for class, pay more in shipping, be taxed heavily, get scammed by publishers that “promise huge discounts” and have no options to return the book. Many of these warnings no longer apply for most online suppliers be cause of increased competition in the online market. As bookstore prices climb, more students are steering away from the campus bookstore. Thinking a week ahead yields an av o 'XTMjn rtc n f AH The California Student PIRG found, and the GAO report officially confirmed, that more than 50 percent of professors do not use additional materials, so if “bundled” materials are not included online — they usu ally are — students need not worry. As far as buy-backs, if students do not make it during the three week period after every term, when the bookstore pays 20 to 60 percent of a book’s value, they will receive 0 to 20 percent the value of their original purchases. Also, shrink wrapped texts with CD-ROMs and workbooks will not be accepted without the CD or if the workbook has been written in. Smith Family Bookstore on East 13 th Avenue buys back books at the same exchange rate as the book store 10 months out of the year, and, unlike the University bookstore, it accepts books not purchased from their store. To get involved in the books-price war, contact OSPIRG at 346-4377 or visit Suite 1 in the EMU. nwilbur@dailyemerald.com ONLINE TEXTBOOK RETAILERS www.abebooks.com textbookscene.com www.amazon.com comegetused.com www.campusbookswap.com swapyourtextbooks.com Safe, Free Rides At Night
