Students upset over high book prices
Janelle Greco
Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: News
Many students this semester decided to avoid the long lines and high prices at the Campus Store and bought their books from Internet stores. With a rise in tuition costs, some students do not understand why books at the Campus Store have to be so expensive.
"The prices for the nursing books are not only extremely high in cost, but they also have hidden costs to add to the total," Ronnie Harrington, a Morrisville nursing student, said. The extra costs are for online codes that are needed for the classes. "With all of the payments we have to make it's harder to stay in college," Harrington said. "Prices are extremely high and obnoxious at the campus bookstore for course books when you could find the same one on Amazon.com for a more reasonable price."
Paul Linneman, textbook sales manager, said the Campus Store tries to keep book costs around the same range as its competitors. Compared to amazon.com, half.com, and other sites, Linneman said the bookstore prices are about the same.
"The prices are just too much," said Scott Morris, a Morrisville student. "Why can't a teacher use the same book and forget the newer edition? It's the same book, basically."
Morris said the bookstore should change the prices for certain books that look new but are damaged on the inside.
"Through all of the money that we pay for tuition, they should provide us with some books at least," said student Lauren Dodge. "So many people don't get aid when buying books and they suffer trying to obtain them to do the assignments."
Linneman, aware of the students' feelings toward the bookstore, said "the students don't see the work load behind our job, trying to get their books to them as soon as we can."
The campus bookstore helps students save money by keeping the original cost, Linneman said. Publishers generally increase their book prices twice a year, once in March and the other in October. The bookstore will order the books for each semester ahead of time. They try to prevent ordering during the semester because the price for the same book has increased.
"The prices for the nursing books are not only extremely high in cost, but they also have hidden costs to add to the total," Ronnie Harrington, a Morrisville nursing student, said. The extra costs are for online codes that are needed for the classes. "With all of the payments we have to make it's harder to stay in college," Harrington said. "Prices are extremely high and obnoxious at the campus bookstore for course books when you could find the same one on Amazon.com for a more reasonable price."
Paul Linneman, textbook sales manager, said the Campus Store tries to keep book costs around the same range as its competitors. Compared to amazon.com, half.com, and other sites, Linneman said the bookstore prices are about the same.
"The prices are just too much," said Scott Morris, a Morrisville student. "Why can't a teacher use the same book and forget the newer edition? It's the same book, basically."
Morris said the bookstore should change the prices for certain books that look new but are damaged on the inside.
"Through all of the money that we pay for tuition, they should provide us with some books at least," said student Lauren Dodge. "So many people don't get aid when buying books and they suffer trying to obtain them to do the assignments."
Linneman, aware of the students' feelings toward the bookstore, said "the students don't see the work load behind our job, trying to get their books to them as soon as we can."
The campus bookstore helps students save money by keeping the original cost, Linneman said. Publishers generally increase their book prices twice a year, once in March and the other in October. The bookstore will order the books for each semester ahead of time. They try to prevent ordering during the semester because the price for the same book has increased.