Today I talk about an ongoing crime that has continued on now for years and no one seems to want to do a thing about it. It's that most horrible crime that plague college students everywhere. The incredibly overpriced textbooks. Unless you're some snot nosed rich kid whose parents are giving them a free ride and paying for everything, you know what I am talking about.
Just the other day I went to my university's bookstore to purchase the texts books I'll need for my five classes this year. I had $400 in financial aid money to get them with, which turned out to be over $150 dollars to little. I was able to get all of them except one which cost $171 by its self, Ridiculous! I am a poor married college boy working at a fast-food restaurant trying to pay the bills. I don't have that kind of money just laying around. I'll have to wait several weeks until I get my refund money to be able to get it. Who knows how far I could far behind.
How long will this crime be allowed to continue? When will something be done? They are holding us over a cliff. We have to buy the books or we might not pass so therefore we'll charge you whatever we want for it. That's extortion. Something must be done. Maybe if we all banded together and refused to buy them.....
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I've been on both sides. As a student, of course, and as the spouse of a college bookstore employee. I can tell you one thing: the prices generally aren't your college bookstore's fault. The publisher charges obscene prices for the books and the bookstore usually adds less than 10 percent (barely enough to cover overhead). And for some, I understand -- these books don't have large print runs (compared to mass market books), are usually thick and often have a lot of color content (having worked in newspapers, I can agree those all jack up the price).
On the other hand, there is something fishy going on. I had a book this semester that goes for $120 new. There was an option to buy an electronic (.pdf) copy from the publisher and I hoped that might save me money. But no, they still wanted more than $80 despite not having to print or ship the darn thing.
The best way to get texts these days are via Amazon or a text rental place like Chegg.com. I've saved a lot of money and have guaranteed buyback.
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