Volume 6, Number 17

The Student Voice of University of Prince Edward Island

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Thursday, February 9th, 1989

Where Your Textbook Dollar Goes:

by: Scott Pound

It seems that the cost of textbooks has gone through the roof. A full time student who is taking five courses spends about $400 on books per year. With the increase in tuition last year, educa- tion costs just seem to be getting out of hand; how- ever, with regard to book prices, the outlook seems to be more of the same.

The principle cause of high textbook prices is the fact that not many of them are printed. Students do not make up a very substan- tial market compared with the market for popular nov- els or biographies, for exam- ple. Also textbooks are al- ways being updated in the from of new editions, mak- ing old editions virtually useless. These two factors make it difficult not only for students, but also for book- store operators.

Running a bookstore is not always a profitable busi- ness. “Most bookstores lose

i’ Marketing

The salaries and travel CXpenses of sales representatives, ddvertising and promotion Costs, catalogues and complimentary Copies are the publisher's marketing

costs.

7¢ Editorial Va Editorial expenses include the cost of acquiring the MAtnuscript and required Hustrations, and paying

the salaries of the spon- Soring editors, copy

cditors, and designers. 4

12 Author's Koyalty

The atithor’s many montis of W + pee er ei

"ung. based on a lifetime's study and 4 ‘TeDE . . Sperience, are at the fingertips of the Student toe relatively

money... we don’t” says Russ Stewart, manager of the UPEI bookstore for the past 17 years. The reason why our bookstore is prof- itable is the popularity of the clothes and sweats. Al- most all profits come from the sale of clothing. Mr. Stewart says,“If it weren’t for the sale of clothes, then there would be an addi- tional 5-7% mark-up on textbooks.” As it stands now there is a 20% mark- up on textbooks, and all the profits from our bookstore go directly back to the Uni- versity.

Many students wonder why it takes so long for orders to comevins Well, most books are printed in Toronto or the U.S.A. and shipping takes time, but, if your book is not on shelf at commencement of classes then the professor is usually to blame. Many professors wait until the last minute to order their books, even

6 Publisher's Profit

The publisher's profit provides capital tor market research, author development, and up-grading of customer service facilities. In general, the publisher develops the firnrs list and impr WES SCTVICES.

though they are asked to or- der them as early as April for the September semester.

There also may be stu- dents who feel they are be- ing ripped off. Mr. Stewart commented on this by say- ing, “I know a lot of students feel that they are being ripped off, but they aren’t. We have an open door pol- icy, anyone can come in and ask about prices.” When asked about the possibility of sales on books that are in demand, Mr. Stewart said that it would be absolutely impossible for the bookstore to have sales.

The only answer to the rising cost of books seems to be to buy them.used, but that can also present a problem. Under the present system that students use for buying and selling used books, its sometimes difficult to find the book you need. In the past, Bookswaps have not been a success. Another option

i Publisher Overhead

the gener maintenance and operation of the publishing: hose includes the fixed costs of rent, heat, hydro as wells

other Opening CXpPenses

25¢ Book Mampacture

Costs inelide setting the book anc its complemen Harv supplements in ty pe plate mak ings. pulpes. porinvtinns: and binding. and delivery to the publishers warchotse

- FC Bookstue Kent & Overhead

Rent heat hvdro and

lew dollars,

Publishing companics, like all businesses. pty corporate taxes which ip turn contiibite to the operating expenses of your institution

7 Corporate Txes h

CBoaksture Fearsome

stlespeople and

Knowledgeablemanagers, buyers. accounting people are reqrired ta keep thee Were

or university bookstote: mini tig sie athily

shipping are among the THCTOUS other expe 1yses, imeurred ensuring prlownypyt anebethicicnt service to

faculty and students

Textbooks: A Valuable Fart of Your Education!

Reality

would be to have a used bookstore to supplement our main bookstore. However, this is not feasable because the faculty will not give a commitment to use the same text for at least two years.

consequently a used book- store would lose money.

The consensus is that we students will have to keep digging deeper and deeper to keep up with the ever-rising costs of an education.

Textbook prices are

criminal! «