Bookstore Sounding Board
The Spring term Physical Science class requires the new hardcover physical science book (I talked to the teacher), but it hasn't been listed on-line yet. Since it hasn't been listed, there's no way to find the book prices, unless you happen to be on campus. Last I checked, the prices weren't on the books in the pallet zone in the store either. It's not listed on byubookstore.com. For some unimaginable reason, the bookstore won't give prices out over the phone (if there is a reason behind this, I'd love to know it). I know that the bookstore is a monopoly and takes full advantage of this fact, but it would be really nice if they would act like they care about students and not fear competition, but rather try to win business by the quality of their service rather than by secrecy and coercion.
(I'm really sorry about venting like this. You guys really do a great job, but I'm just really frustrated about having to jump through so many burning hoops to try and budget a few textbooks. I really do appreciate all the work you guys do, and I would really appreciate a reply to my questions. Again, I'm really sorry to vent like this. I just felt that I needed to express my frustration. Thanks again for all you do. B.E. )
Bill, we recognize that BYU students have to negotiate endless burning hoops. We don't want to add to the total, though, and we're trying to figure this one out. The textbook manger went on the floor to determine exactly which book you're referring to, found two physical science texts, and the logical choice is Physical Science 100, published by the Bookstore and selling for $49.75. It is listed online but we're not sure how long it's been there.
It's hard to believe that we don't stay up late trying to create pitfalls and mess with your minds, but we actually do want to serve students. That hardbook text, for example, would cost about $120 if published by a national firm instead of by us. Fear competition? Nah. But we also spend great time, money, and effort compiling an accurate textbook list (not as easy as you might think--come by and we'll show you why), and we see no reason to hand it over wholesale to anyone who asks. And you're right about no prices over the phone (lots of reasons) but there are no secrets when you come to the text floor. We also give you back full purchase price if something doesn't click with a textbook you buy here (professor has second thoughts; you drop a class; you need a few bucks to impress that gorgeous girl in your religion class).
We thank you for writing and invite any comments, suggestions, or questions still remaining.(Posted 5/1/2007)
I realize that you are in the business to make money but is there any reason you can't publish the book list more than a week in advance. Some of us consider ourselves capitalists and like to take advantage of the free market by buying cheaper books online. I understand that many at the bookstore view this as against the honorcode but if you could at least give us 2 weeks to find the best deals on books we the students would very much appreciate it. And who knows the bookstore might actually have the best price. Thanks Jason
How about this for a deal, Jason: 6-8 weeks before the beginning of a semester, we provide all the necessary information about the coming textbooks (author, title, publisher, edition number, and ISBN) on shelf tags and on a printout at the information desk on the textbook floor. The secrets are then revealed to the capitalists almost two months before classes begin. (Naming names and numbers for textbooks as a violation of the Honor Code? An intriguing idea, but we're frankly going to pass on that.)(Posted 5/1/2007)
WOULD YOU PLEASE PUT FRONT PAGES PICTURE OF TEXTBOOKS IN THE RY-BYU UNDER BOOKS NEEDED FOR A TERM OR A SEMESTER?(ESPECIALLY IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THE TEXTBOOKS IN THE BOOKSTORE) IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ALL STUDENTS AS THEY TRY TO FIND A BOOK NEEDED WHEN THEY GO TO A BOOKSTORE.
Olya, we thank you for the suggestion. As attractive as this idea is, we're simply not going to photograph and post the cover of the almost 16,000 different textbook titles we order annually. The author, title, publisher, and edition number, and ISBN are sufficient in finding the correct book, and we provide that information 6-8 weeks before the semester begins on both shelf tags and a printout at the information desk on the text floor. You also get most of that information a week before classes on My Book List on Route Y a week before classes begin.(Posted 5/1/2007)
Why is it that the books needed for all courses are not displayed until the 28th of August? I will not be able to be down in Utah for school until September 3rd, how am i to get my books?
About 6-8 weeks before the beginning of a semester, all textbooks with all the necessary information (author, title, publisher, edition number, and ISBN) are available on shelf tags and on a printout at the information desk on the textbook floor. If you are not in Provo, you can have someone you know look up the details you want almost two months before classes begin Approximately one week before the beginning of the semester, the textbooks for your specific classes are listed under My Book List on Route Y with all the details except the publisher and the ISBN.
There are two reasons why the electronic list is not available earlier.
1. The final list is not entirely dependable until then. You would be surprised at the number of late changes because of shifting teaching assignments and faculty deciding to make text changes, such as dropping a title previously ordered.
2. There is considerable time and expense in producing a clean, final list, which is much different from merely collecting information from faculty (details available on request). We deal in almost 16,000 titles annually, and we have to walk a fine line between being a financially responsibly entity (the administration expects us to cover our expenses plus return a profit to the university) and serving the student. If, for instance, we have tons of overstock we have to ship back or if we have bought used books we can't sell, prices have to go up. On the other hand, if we don't have enough stock, we aren't serving the student who depends on us.
In short, we don't make the list available where potential competition could use it, but we do provide the information so interested students can find the books they will need before classes begin.(Posted 5/1/2007)
I have been looking at my book list and, naturally, checking prices online. I can buy all of my books (some used, some new) for 20% of what it would cost me to buy all USED from the BYU bookstore. This is not surprising. What is surprising is that I found that, on some books, BYU is charging ABOVE the MSRP. For example, a 7th edition book on advertising for one of my classes has an MSRP (Manufacture's suggested Retail Price) of $63.00. BYU Bookstore price? $84.00. Why is BYU charging so much more than already-inflated price recommended by the manufacturer? And please don't tell me that all the other universities do it - this is the Lord's University.
Spencer, congratulations for being a careful shopper. We, too, are surprised that your seventh edition advertising book costs more here than online. That's not like us, and the textbook manager would like to know how that could happen and is writing you to find out the exact title so we can determine just what is up. You'll be hearing back from us after he gets the particulars so he can trace down the problem.(Posted 5/1/2007)
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