Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
A sign in the University Union advertising the bookstore's end-of-semester book buyback
program says "Cash for books: milk it for all it's worth." But just how much exactly
are students getting back in return for their used textbooks?
"If I buy a $200 book, I don't want to get $15 dollars back or $30 dollars back," said
sophomore Jeremy McCool. "That's just a complete scam."
Students typically pay hundreds of dollars a semester for their textbooks. However, when
it comes time to sell those textbooks, they are only offered a fraction of what they paid.
Meanwhile, those establishments who are paying for your books -- the University Union bookstore
as well as other bookstores, along with online textbook sites and Amazon -- sometimes resell
these textbooks for close to the amount that a student originally paid.
"I really think it's unfair for the simple fact that we pay hundreds of dollars for these
books that these teachers say we need... and only receive a few dollars back in return,"
vents senior Katherine Hallmon, who was outraged when she tried to sell a $100 textbook back
and was only offered one dollar. "It was actually old edition, so they said I couldn't give
it back, but they were willing to give me a dollar back for this book."
"They advertise it as if you are going to get a lot of money back, but so many of the
books have old editions," says A.J. Swenson, magnifying the overall consensus that the
offers students receive for their textbooks are not fair.
"I feel like they should give you more back for the book, or at least half," Hallmon continued
to plea. "But a dollar or 15 dollars for a $100 book? No it's not fair!"