Wait!
Don’t sell your books back yet, and don’t buy them, either.
If you’ve been in college long enough, you’re familiar with the thievery intertwined in the business of textbook sales at the Co-Op Bookstore, Chimes Textbook Exchange and even the LSU Bookstore.
These outlets promise “cash for books” at the end of each semester, but usually only provide pocket change to students selling their textbooks.
These stores often buy used textbooks for insanely low percentages of the original price, only to sell them at prices hardly discounted from that of a new book.
Take, for example, “Mass Media Revolution,” which is used in Mass Communication 2000. The textbook is sold for $95.20 new and $71.40 used at all of the bookstores — only a 25 percent discount.
During their buyback period, the Co-Op Bookstore will pay 50 percent of the price of a new book for a used book. This is under the assumption professors will use it again, which is unlikely because textbooks often change editions on an annual basis.
Personally, I spent about $500 on textbooks last semester and made about $75 after selling my books back. This was mostly a result of textbook editions changing.
When it comes to getting enough value out of textbooks, students have a problem, and we need solutions.
One place to go is Craigslist, where people post listings for various goods. Since Craigslist is unregulated, however, things can get to be a bit sketchy, pushing people away from using the site.
On Amazon, users can buy new and used books for far cheaper than at bookstores. “Mass Media Revolution,” for example, is sold at all Baton Rouge bookstores for $95.20. On Amazon, it’s going for about $75 new.
Another example is “Campbell Biology,” which is required for Biology 1201 and 1202. Bookstores are selling it for $202.65 new when it can be purchased for about $155 new on Amazon.
While Amazon offers a great alternative, it has its downfalls. Firstly, you have to wait a few days for your books depending on your shipment method. Secondly, the best deals on Amazon are generally from third-party sellers and aren’t eligible for expedited shipping.
Renting books is another alternative, but can still be expensive. Also, renting is not available for all books, and some stores have vague rules on what customers can and can’t do to the book as far as highlighting and underlining.
Fortunately, there’s a promising new solution which became available Monday.
Electrical engineering junior Hans Weggeman created a website essentially combining Noteswap, Craigslist and Facebook to ease the way students deal with used textbooks.
The website, titled Stroupp (combining “study” and “group”), offers students a way to connect with other students in their classes to buy, sell and swap books and notes through classified-style ads.
“When you pay $150 for a book and get a fraction of that price when you sell it back, you’re just not getting your money’s worth,” Weggeman said.
To register with Stroupp, one must have a “.edu” e-mail address, and once registered with the site, students can enroll themselves in classes, allowing them to post homework, notes and ads for other students in their classes.
Weggeman said the classified ads would be safer than Craigslist because you only have to deal with students.
“It basically cuts out the middleman,” Weggeman said. “Students can even trade books instead of buy and sell.”
If this site takes off at the University, our problems with secondhand textbook sales may fade. It will take time, but if the site does take root, we could see a difference in the value we get out of our textbooks.
“This is a site that saves a real ‘x’ amount of money each year,” Weggeman said.
We’re already broke college kids, and it doesn’t help when the bookstores screw us. An idea like this offers a new way for students to connect and get the most value out of books. Let’s try it out.
 
Chris Grillot is a 20-year-old English and mass communication senior from New Orleans. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_cgrillot.  
 
Contact Chris Grillot at [email protected].