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Web offers book-buying alternatives
Many Web sites exist for exchange and rental of textbooks
by Allie Grasgreen | News Reporter
As a student at Iowa State University, Aayush Phumbhra spent hundreds of dollars on textbooks, just like students all over the country do every year. But unlike some other students, Phumbhra did something about it.
In 2003 he co-founded www.chegg.com, a student-to-student exchange Web site, with University of Minnesota alum Osman Rashid. Chegg recently launched the extension site www.textbookflix.com, a textbook rental service that plants a tree for every rental.
"We've all been students at some point," Phumbhra said. "We always wanted to save students money. Someone has to take the initiative to do it."
Phumbhra is not alone. A number of newly established Web sites are offering students alternative sources for textbook purchase and rental. One, www.bookrenter.com, was the brainchild of another frustrated college student.
Textbook rental Web sites like these offer students cheaper alternatives to purchasing books. When the student is finished with the rentals, he or she mails them back to the company in a pre-paid package. These Web sites offer students the financial advantage and eliminate stressful bookstore visits, but some students cited the mandatory return policy as a disadvantage.
"I like the option of having the ability to keep the textbook if I wanted to," said University junior Stephanie Smith. After taking a good class, Smith sometimes prefers to hold onto the textbook for future reference.
University senior Adam McGlone made the same point, but uses www.half.com, a division of eBay, to purchase his business textbooks at prices lower than The Duck Store's.
Smith is more inclined to use comparison sites like www.studentshopper.com, which compares title prices from numerous vendors. The site allows students to purchase textbooks from different online vendors in one online order.
Steve Gross, founder of www.studentshopper.com, has a daughter at the University and said while University bookstores aren't "the bad guy(s)," often used books are out of stock.
"We saw a need in the marketplace for students to be able to find a way to save money on textbooks," Gross said. "Prices of textbooks have escalated tremendously and opportunities for students to reduce their costs have diminished significantly."
Jim Williams, The Duck Store's general manager, noted that last year approximately 40 percent of textbooks sold were used, and student discounts totaled $1.1 million. Students receive a 32 percent discount on used books and a 10 percent discount on new books at The Duck Store, and management regularly compares their prices to other online retailers to keep prices as low or lower than the competition. Plus, The Duck Store is local and independent, he said.
"The difference between us and other stores is that our only purpose is to serve the students and faculty and staff here," Williams said. "We're not owned by the University. We're independent. We're advocates for the students."
In 2003 he co-founded www.chegg.com, a student-to-student exchange Web site, with University of Minnesota alum Osman Rashid. Chegg recently launched the extension site www.textbookflix.com, a textbook rental service that plants a tree for every rental.
"We've all been students at some point," Phumbhra said. "We always wanted to save students money. Someone has to take the initiative to do it."
Phumbhra is not alone. A number of newly established Web sites are offering students alternative sources for textbook purchase and rental. One, www.bookrenter.com, was the brainchild of another frustrated college student.
Textbook rental Web sites like these offer students cheaper alternatives to purchasing books. When the student is finished with the rentals, he or she mails them back to the company in a pre-paid package. These Web sites offer students the financial advantage and eliminate stressful bookstore visits, but some students cited the mandatory return policy as a disadvantage.
"I like the option of having the ability to keep the textbook if I wanted to," said University junior Stephanie Smith. After taking a good class, Smith sometimes prefers to hold onto the textbook for future reference.
University senior Adam McGlone made the same point, but uses www.half.com, a division of eBay, to purchase his business textbooks at prices lower than The Duck Store's.
Smith is more inclined to use comparison sites like www.studentshopper.com, which compares title prices from numerous vendors. The site allows students to purchase textbooks from different online vendors in one online order.
Steve Gross, founder of www.studentshopper.com, has a daughter at the University and said while University bookstores aren't "the bad guy(s)," often used books are out of stock.
"We saw a need in the marketplace for students to be able to find a way to save money on textbooks," Gross said. "Prices of textbooks have escalated tremendously and opportunities for students to reduce their costs have diminished significantly."
Jim Williams, The Duck Store's general manager, noted that last year approximately 40 percent of textbooks sold were used, and student discounts totaled $1.1 million. Students receive a 32 percent discount on used books and a 10 percent discount on new books at The Duck Store, and management regularly compares their prices to other online retailers to keep prices as low or lower than the competition. Plus, The Duck Store is local and independent, he said.
"The difference between us and other stores is that our only purpose is to serve the students and faculty and staff here," Williams said. "We're not owned by the University. We're independent. We're advocates for the students."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Adam
posted 11/20/07 @ 9:25 AM PST
Great point. It is true that buying books on the web has come a long way. What I learned is using a price comparison search engine saves a lot of money on the books I buy. (Continued…)
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