2008 Woodie Awards
To buy or not to buy: SBU Bookstore pros and cons
Sean McCormack
Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: Forum
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When one Southwest Baptist University student ordered a used textbook from an online seller, it shared the same title and the same author as the text on the SBU Bookstore's shelf. However, the book that arrived in his mail was a Chinese translation, and he had to buy the book a second time.
While you will usually not receive a Chinese language translation of your textbook if you order it online, buying your books on campus offers its own set of advantages and can often save students from losing money.
If you are buying your textbooks new, and many students prefer new textbooks, the bookstore's prices are competitive with outlets like Amazon.com. Comparing the immediate availability of texts at the SBU Bookstore with the uncertain shipping dates of an online retailer gives an advantage to buying locally. In addition, at the SBU bookstore, you are assured of getting the correct books for your class. Particularly with used books bought online, there is no guarantee that the book you get will match the book you need for class.
While most books are available from outlets other than the SBU Bookstore, materials for some classes are printed locally and available only at the SBU Bookstore. If your class has one of these texts, the SBU Bookstore is the only place you can buy it.
Sometimes, students' schedules change. If you drop a class, or a class is cancelled, you can often return your book to the bookstore for a full refund, but many online sales, particularly sales of used books, are final.
Unlike Internet outlets and other bookstores, it is sometimes possible to charge textbooks to your student account and pay for them with financial aid. Students are unlikely to get the same positive response from a typical online seller if they offer strips of paper signed by Greg Stewart as payment.
If you should choose to sell a textbook, it's much more convenient to take your books to the SBU Bookstore than to spend money and time driving to Springfield to sell your books. You may find it more profitable to split the difference between the bookstore's selling price and the buyback price, but there is no guarantee.
Students may also choose to order their books from the SBU Bookstore's website at www.sbubookstore.com. Then, when the students arrive on campus, their books are waiting for them, boxed and ready for another semester of learning. By purchasing your books from the SBU Bookstore, you get a fair price and the peace of mind of knowing that your book will only be in a foreign language if you are enrolled in a foreign language class.
When one Southwest Baptist University student ordered a used textbook from an online seller, it shared the same title and the same author as the text on the SBU Bookstore's shelf. However, the book that arrived in his mail was a Chinese translation, and he had to buy the book a second time.
While you will usually not receive a Chinese language translation of your textbook if you order it online, buying your books on campus offers its own set of advantages and can often save students from losing money.
If you are buying your textbooks new, and many students prefer new textbooks, the bookstore's prices are competitive with outlets like Amazon.com. Comparing the immediate availability of texts at the SBU Bookstore with the uncertain shipping dates of an online retailer gives an advantage to buying locally. In addition, at the SBU bookstore, you are assured of getting the correct books for your class. Particularly with used books bought online, there is no guarantee that the book you get will match the book you need for class.
While most books are available from outlets other than the SBU Bookstore, materials for some classes are printed locally and available only at the SBU Bookstore. If your class has one of these texts, the SBU Bookstore is the only place you can buy it.
Sometimes, students' schedules change. If you drop a class, or a class is cancelled, you can often return your book to the bookstore for a full refund, but many online sales, particularly sales of used books, are final.
Unlike Internet outlets and other bookstores, it is sometimes possible to charge textbooks to your student account and pay for them with financial aid. Students are unlikely to get the same positive response from a typical online seller if they offer strips of paper signed by Greg Stewart as payment.
If you should choose to sell a textbook, it's much more convenient to take your books to the SBU Bookstore than to spend money and time driving to Springfield to sell your books. You may find it more profitable to split the difference between the bookstore's selling price and the buyback price, but there is no guarantee.
Students may also choose to order their books from the SBU Bookstore's website at www.sbubookstore.com. Then, when the students arrive on campus, their books are waiting for them, boxed and ready for another semester of learning. By purchasing your books from the SBU Bookstore, you get a fair price and the peace of mind of knowing that your book will only be in a foreign language if you are enrolled in a foreign language class.
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