Spring Break
Students sound off as textbook prices inflate
Experts say many factors play role in setting cost of books
Lisa Riordan
Issue date: 4/6/07 Section: News
"Although last term I only got $15 back," Ogle said.
"You can maybe sell them online or something, but it's such a hassle," Hart said.
Eckrich wants students to understand the rational behind the pricing. "With book-buyback, we consider two things: If the book can be sold again, then we pay the student 50 percent of the original cost," Eckrich said. "If they can't be sold again, then we sell it back to the wholesaler. The wholesaler sets the prices, and we pay that price back to the students."
Some students feel that the bookstore set prices are unfair, and that it is making a profit off of students.
The OSU Bookstore, however, is an independent, non-profit organization.
According to NACS, 58 percent of each textbook dollar sold goes to the publishing company to pay for general production costs, administrative duties and marketing.
An additional 7.1 percent of the textbook dollar goes to publishers as profit.
The author's royalties comprise 11.7 percent of the dollar, while freight and transportation costs eat up another cent.
College bookstores account for the final 22.2 percent of the textbook dollar.
The OSU Bookstore has a gross margin of 17 percent, well below the national average.
"We have one of the lowest textbook margins of any college store in the country," Eckrich said. "We can do this because we're non-profit."
NACS reports that the typical college bookstore takes 4.9 percent home in profits.
The OSU bookstore takes in only 1.9 percent profit. "All profit goes right back into running the store," Eckrich said.
Dr. Kevin Ahern, a professor in biochemistry and biophysics, collaborated on a textbook published in 2000, and described the experience as the most grueling, stressful, intense 18 months of his life.
"I earn royalties but they're not nearly as much as students think," Ahern said. "The author's take is pretty small compared to what goes to the publishers."
"Students definitely have my complete sympathy when it comes to textbooks, they're too expensive," Ahern said.
Ahern thinks that unnecessary new editions are the reason behind rising textbook prices.
"You know, I can understand why some subjects need to be updated often. But things like math and history, they're not really changing," Ahern said.
Both Eckrich and textbook manager James Howard also expressed concern over frivolous new editions. "We work with professors, if we can get an extra two years out of a textbook before it's replaced, then we save the students money," Eckrich said.
"You can maybe sell them online or something, but it's such a hassle," Hart said.
Eckrich wants students to understand the rational behind the pricing. "With book-buyback, we consider two things: If the book can be sold again, then we pay the student 50 percent of the original cost," Eckrich said. "If they can't be sold again, then we sell it back to the wholesaler. The wholesaler sets the prices, and we pay that price back to the students."
Some students feel that the bookstore set prices are unfair, and that it is making a profit off of students.
The OSU Bookstore, however, is an independent, non-profit organization.
According to NACS, 58 percent of each textbook dollar sold goes to the publishing company to pay for general production costs, administrative duties and marketing.
An additional 7.1 percent of the textbook dollar goes to publishers as profit.
The author's royalties comprise 11.7 percent of the dollar, while freight and transportation costs eat up another cent.
College bookstores account for the final 22.2 percent of the textbook dollar.
The OSU Bookstore has a gross margin of 17 percent, well below the national average.
"We have one of the lowest textbook margins of any college store in the country," Eckrich said. "We can do this because we're non-profit."
NACS reports that the typical college bookstore takes 4.9 percent home in profits.
The OSU bookstore takes in only 1.9 percent profit. "All profit goes right back into running the store," Eckrich said.
Dr. Kevin Ahern, a professor in biochemistry and biophysics, collaborated on a textbook published in 2000, and described the experience as the most grueling, stressful, intense 18 months of his life.
"I earn royalties but they're not nearly as much as students think," Ahern said. "The author's take is pretty small compared to what goes to the publishers."
"Students definitely have my complete sympathy when it comes to textbooks, they're too expensive," Ahern said.
Ahern thinks that unnecessary new editions are the reason behind rising textbook prices.
"You know, I can understand why some subjects need to be updated often. But things like math and history, they're not really changing," Ahern said.
Both Eckrich and textbook manager James Howard also expressed concern over frivolous new editions. "We work with professors, if we can get an extra two years out of a textbook before it's replaced, then we save the students money," Eckrich said.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.