It is not uncommon for a college student to pay hundreds of dollars at the beginning of each semester for the basic books required for a class.
However, the Internet is allowing a new option to emerge-buying textbooks from overseas.
Local bookstore owners had various opinions about the new trend.
A recent New York Times article noted that textbooks cost far less in countries such as England and parts of Asia than they do in the United States. For example, a standard biochemistry textbook that costs $146 on the American version of the popular bookseller Amazon sells for only $63, plus shipping, on the United Kingdom version of Amazon.
College algebra and economics textbooks also sell for considerably less on the United Kingdom version of Amazon than the U.S. version.
Two college students in New York are trying to bring the cheaper overseas prices to American students through a new Web site, www.bookcentral.com.
The site offers many textbooks at least $20 to $30 cheaper than most bookstores.
The site said that because many book publishers have tried to prevent this overseas sourcing, fewer textbooks are available on the site now.
Sylvia Hinojosa, manager of Chimes Text Exchange, said although she did not know much about the issue, she wondered how prices could be so different for the same textbook.
Joe Bender, general manager of the Union bookstore, said he was glad the issue was coming to light.
“We’ve been saying all along that we [the bookstores] weren’t responsible for rising prices,” Bender said.
Bender said contrary to some opinion, the publishing companies, not the bookstores, are responsible for the high prices of textbooks.
“It’s frustrating as a store manager, and frankly, can be kind of embarrassing,” Bender said.
Students said they had not heard much about the issue.
Jennifer North, an undecided freshman, said she might consider purchasing books from overseas, depending on the cost difference and the shipping time.
Travis Miglicco, an accounting junior, said he might try to obtain books from overseas depending on how difficult it is.
Overseas sellers offer cheaper texts
October 31, 2003