Spring Break
The Daily OrangeOnline book vendors offer cheaper deals
By Courtney Carpenter
Posted: 1/18/05, 12:24 AM EST Section: News
Books on Campus is an online student exchange site that has grown tremendously since it was founded last year at Brandeis University by Mark Kantor.
"Since (last year) we have increased from 12 schools to 250, including Syracuse," Kantor said.
The Books on Campus Web site allows students to post their books free of charge and set their own selling price, usually half the price of the bookstore.
According to Kantor, Books on Campus saved students $17,300 in textbook sales.
"We determined this amount based off the list price of the book minus the price of the student set. We like to have that data so we can see how much money we are saving
students," Kantor said.
Businesses are already anticipating online textbook ordering to increase.
According to the National Association of College Stores, they are responding by offering textbook reservation and using digital technology such as Blackboard to provide access to more course material.
University Bookstore plans to widen its target audience that uses their Web site by adding more products.
"We want to develop the Web site to offer not only textbooks but also non-traditional materials such as art supplies," Fonda said.
The biggest profit for bookstores, however, can be made on used books, according to Yunghans.
University Bookstore carries just 25 percent used books, Fonda said, while the Orange Bookstore carries 35 to 40 percent used books, according to Yunghans.
"Used books have higher profit margins. With used books we don't have to be as careful with packaging and usually there's no shrink-wrap or CD-ROMs," Yunghans said. "With used books there are no shipping costs. We buy them back from the students. Then we turn around and sell the book for 75 percent of the new price, making a 25 percent to 50 percent profit," Yunghans said.
Linda Chan, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, ordered two books this semester from eBay.com.
Chan ordered "An Introduction to Early Judaism" for $7 compared to the list price of $17 and "Standing Again at Sinai" for $10 even though it was listed at $18.
"I will definitely order online again because I saved a bundle," Chan said. "I don't want to be ripped off by SU unless I have to be."
"Since (last year) we have increased from 12 schools to 250, including Syracuse," Kantor said.
The Books on Campus Web site allows students to post their books free of charge and set their own selling price, usually half the price of the bookstore.
According to Kantor, Books on Campus saved students $17,300 in textbook sales.
"We determined this amount based off the list price of the book minus the price of the student set. We like to have that data so we can see how much money we are saving
students," Kantor said.
Businesses are already anticipating online textbook ordering to increase.
According to the National Association of College Stores, they are responding by offering textbook reservation and using digital technology such as Blackboard to provide access to more course material.
University Bookstore plans to widen its target audience that uses their Web site by adding more products.
"We want to develop the Web site to offer not only textbooks but also non-traditional materials such as art supplies," Fonda said.
The biggest profit for bookstores, however, can be made on used books, according to Yunghans.
University Bookstore carries just 25 percent used books, Fonda said, while the Orange Bookstore carries 35 to 40 percent used books, according to Yunghans.
"Used books have higher profit margins. With used books we don't have to be as careful with packaging and usually there's no shrink-wrap or CD-ROMs," Yunghans said. "With used books there are no shipping costs. We buy them back from the students. Then we turn around and sell the book for 75 percent of the new price, making a 25 percent to 50 percent profit," Yunghans said.
Linda Chan, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, ordered two books this semester from eBay.com.
Chan ordered "An Introduction to Early Judaism" for $7 compared to the list price of $17 and "Standing Again at Sinai" for $10 even though it was listed at $18.
"I will definitely order online again because I saved a bundle," Chan said. "I don't want to be ripped off by SU unless I have to be."
