2008 Woodie Awards
Buying Online
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: News
In 2007 the Government Accountability Office conducted a study and found the average first-year college student spends around $900 on textbooks.
As students continue to become Internet savvy, the practice of purchasing books online has been receiving record growth.
According to Alex Neal, president and founder of the online book comparison store, CampusBooks, web site traffic and online textbook sales have more than doubled during the last year.
The website, CampusBooks.com, features a search option where students can view multiple listings from other online book retailers, used and new.
Cheapestbooks.com is another multi-store search website that features a buy-back option. Students can purchase and re-sell their textbooks along with their favorite novels.
The Collegian profiled three books first-year students might purchase and researched their prices online.
The first book, Basic College Mathematics 3rd Ed., is being sold in the bookstore for $126.75 new and $95.06 used. After searching on-line, Half.com had the same book for $86.11 new and $59.32 used. Amazon.com had the book for $86.11 new and $59.33 used.
The second book profiled was Principles of Marketing 12th Ed. The book is being sold for $170.75 new and $128.06 used. The book was found on Half.com selling for $77.00 new and $79.99 used. Amazon.com also had the book for $74.99 new and $67.99 used.
The third book researched was Essential Biology with Physiology. The bookstore is selling the book for $105.75 new and $79.31 used. Half.com was selling the book for $91.41 new and $75.75 used. Amazon.com had the book $86.42 new and $76.81 used.
The average amount of money saved by buying a new book online was $51.91. The average amount saved buying a used book online was $57.53.
Figure in the $3-$5 dollar delivery charge and students are still saving roughly $50 a book.
Some price conscious LCCC students have taken to the Internet and received great deals. Marketing major Jim Bodnar said, "Buying books online is so much cheaper. I bought a book for $60 online and it cost over $120 in the [campus] store and all I had to do was wait a week. I've been telling people about it ever since."
Public Administration major Craig Deckleman ordered his textbooks of E Bay last semester. "Its less expensive," said Deckleman. "The books I got were in perfect condition and it only took four days to get here. I'd definitely do it again."
Full sales figures and profits margins for Spring semester were not available at press time.
As students continue to become Internet savvy, the practice of purchasing books online has been receiving record growth.
According to Alex Neal, president and founder of the online book comparison store, CampusBooks, web site traffic and online textbook sales have more than doubled during the last year.
The website, CampusBooks.com, features a search option where students can view multiple listings from other online book retailers, used and new.
Cheapestbooks.com is another multi-store search website that features a buy-back option. Students can purchase and re-sell their textbooks along with their favorite novels.
The Collegian profiled three books first-year students might purchase and researched their prices online.
The first book, Basic College Mathematics 3rd Ed., is being sold in the bookstore for $126.75 new and $95.06 used. After searching on-line, Half.com had the same book for $86.11 new and $59.32 used. Amazon.com had the book for $86.11 new and $59.33 used.
The second book profiled was Principles of Marketing 12th Ed. The book is being sold for $170.75 new and $128.06 used. The book was found on Half.com selling for $77.00 new and $79.99 used. Amazon.com also had the book for $74.99 new and $67.99 used.
The third book researched was Essential Biology with Physiology. The bookstore is selling the book for $105.75 new and $79.31 used. Half.com was selling the book for $91.41 new and $75.75 used. Amazon.com had the book $86.42 new and $76.81 used.
The average amount of money saved by buying a new book online was $51.91. The average amount saved buying a used book online was $57.53.
Figure in the $3-$5 dollar delivery charge and students are still saving roughly $50 a book.
Some price conscious LCCC students have taken to the Internet and received great deals. Marketing major Jim Bodnar said, "Buying books online is so much cheaper. I bought a book for $60 online and it cost over $120 in the [campus] store and all I had to do was wait a week. I've been telling people about it ever since."
Public Administration major Craig Deckleman ordered his textbooks of E Bay last semester. "Its less expensive," said Deckleman. "The books I got were in perfect condition and it only took four days to get here. I'd definitely do it again."
Full sales figures and profits margins for Spring semester were not available at press time.
Be the first to comment on this story