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Show Monday, August 8, 2005 A13 DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Is there any way to beat the bookstore? Bookstore alternatives are everywhere H. Rachelle Graham Chronicle Writer The University Bookstore might have had a monopoly on the buying and selling of course books on the U campus in the past, but that isn't the case anymore. Emerging alternatives include bookstore knockoffs, online student trading and online book- Tim Wood organizes books July 19 at Beat the Bookstore in preparation for the upcoming Fall Semester. stores. A bookstore knockoff just off the U campus, Beat the Bookstore is a place for students to buy their textbooks at discount rates. "I buy almost every textbook that students try to sell me, unless it is more than a few years old," Beat the Bookstore General Manager Zack Neipp said. "I buy for more and I sell for less. I was a student at BYU last year so I know what a burden it is to buy expensive textbooks." Neipp said the U bookstore often charges more than the actual retail cost of the book. Christine House, a junior in mass communication, said that with a limited budget, finding a less expensive option than the campus bookstore is important. "I believe the bookstore is too expensive," House said, "I sometimes order books at amazon.com and I like it. I plan to go to Beat the Bookstore for Fall Semester. I heard it is cheaper." Neipp said he expects his store to grow and gain more than the estimated 15 percent of U students he got Spring Semester. He said that another benefit is more flexible hours. Beat the Bookstore is open from 7 a.m. to midnight during busy seasons. Shane Girton, University Bookstore associate director, disagrees. He says the bookstore is the best place to buy books because its book list comes right from the professors of the class, so there is a guarantee that the students will get the right book. Also, there is a full refund for the first two weeks of class and a partial refund on books for the next two weeks that mirrors the tuition reimbursement program. "If students buy from the campus bookstore, the money will go to benefit students in the long-term, because part of the money we make goes directly to other programs on campus," Girton said. "Four cents on the dollar goes back to the U. We. are self-sufficient and the money we make pays the U rent," he Beat the Bookstore Main Campus Bookstore Buy and sell college textbooks. Supplies and books for sale LOCATED NEAR THE PIE RESTAURANT 201 S. l300,East, Suite B - , www. beat-the- bookstore, com Phone:(801)582-4477 zack@beat-the-bookstore.com • Hours: vary During busy times 7 a.m. - Midnight M-F Closed Sundays LOCATED NEAR THE : MARRIOTT LIBRARY : . ! . said. Online is another alternative place for students to buy their textbooks'. Students will commonly let their books go for approximately 10 percent of what they paid. However, avid eBay users from Florida State University have sold texts for as much as 50 to 60 percent of what they originally paid. 270S. 1500East •'••.•• • ' • • V ' ' - - www.ub$.utah.edu/store_hours.htm Phone:(801)581-6326 Hours: MWHF 8 a.ra - 5:30 p.m Tuesdays: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturdays: 11 a.m. - 4 p.n% Closed Sundays Online possibilities for acquiring books include eBay book trader (www.halfbay. com), Amazon (www.amazon. com) and www.bookzella.com. Bookzella functions more like eBay in that it doesn't sell books directly to students. It simply links students with other students who can then negotiate the sale of a book. hgraham(cv chronicle.utah.edu wt- / •< ** i t * ~" Are you among the one million people worldwide ••:•: suffering with the symptoms of ; ^ ^ » ¥ | seaser '•JX'tf, '• A research study at Mountain West Gastrdenterology is currently underway to investigate an oral drug for $ Chron's disease. If you have had Chron's disease for % at least 3 months and currqntly have symptoms, you . % ^ S 1 : m a y qualify to participate in this study. ;J yw |f University Bookstore Textbook Department Assistant Alyson Brewer prepares the help desk for student requests. -V^'1.'* i • University Bookstore works to provide cheap textbooks All participants will receive at no cost: .';/-.;.. • Study medication V. K-: ; • ;\-.\-s",-.-v\v;v""--V::;'•".• •'••:-";.•.•••• .'••^••f^^; Medical examinations and test required I Dustin Gardiner Bookstore Level 2 Chronicle Writer The University Bookstore is the traditional supplier of textbooks for students on campus, yet it is often criticized as being overpriced and unconcerned about the students it serves. Shane Girton, associate director of the bookstore, said that the bookstore aims to save students money and provide convenient access to textbooks. "We care about trying to save students as much money as we can," Girton said. "Textbooks are expensive. Nobody can deny that. We don't set the price—that is set by the publisher." Girton said that the bookstore saves students money in several ways. "Our goal is to find the cheapest alternatives for students. That is why we carry so many used textbooks, offer a five percent student discount and sell E-books," said Girton. He particularly stressed how used books save students money. Forty percent of the books in the bookstore are used books, which are priced at 25 percent less than new books. "We carry a larger percent of used books, which we have calculated to save the students about $1 million a year," said Girton. Girton also stressed that all students can get 5 percent off of their purchases at the bookstore by simply using their UCard. With textbooks costing as much as $400 to $600 per semester, many students are seeking alternative sources, such as amazon.com or eBay, for their textbooks. Girton encourages students to shop around and compare prices. "Our cost is compatible with a lot of other sources," Girton said. "We advise students to shop around, but don't discredit us because we can be 'V >:;••/./:>•? ' . b y t h e s t u d y . ; / - . ' • • • — o - / ' ^••;/::;;: •:•••.>---. ^ / . ^ ^ ; , ^ - • • • - . • • . - ® ^ | v W . : ^ ; -.;. Time commitment: I?;;V;^ • 6 office visits over 9 weeks Textbooks •;Scr':; New & Used : > Stairs Not to scale To learn more about this study and to find out if you qualify, call ~: ••••. . Tiffany Lyon 1) 944-317 cheaper." where else, their profit doesn't Girton listed some addition- stay on campus," he said. al advantages to shopping at dgardiner @ the bookstore. The bookstore <» chronicle.utah.edu is convenient to students because it's located on campus, he said. Not only is the bookstore convenient because of its central location on the U campus, but the bookstore also offers face-to-face service and advice, which .its competitors cannot offer, Girton said. He The N&val Reserve Officer can start you on an exciting career as a described the bookstore staff, submariner, surface warfare officer, SEAL, pilot or Marine Corps officer. which constitutes mostly of students, as helpful to stuNTOTC midshipmen leave the U with more than just a degree, they dents because many of them have greatjobs already lined up. have taken the same classes and can tell students if they actually need the book. "We guarantee that the book that students buy is the correct book for the class," Girton said. "Often with other sources Qualified freshmen can compete for two, three or four year students get the wrong book." scholarships. Two year scholarships are available for Another service that distinguishes the bookstore from qualified sophomores. its competitors is its full twoweek refund policy. This gives students the chance to return books for a full refund if they For more information contact LT Sheldon Shaw at drop the class. Besides cost and conve801-581-6723/801-587-3736 or email sheldon.shaw@navsci.utah.edu nience, Girton encourages students to use the bookstore because about 4 cents of every dollar spent at the bookstore goes back to the university. "Itstudents buy from some- Earn More than a Degree ' Scholarships Available www.nrotc.utah, edu .^: |