Virginia Isaad/Roundup News
A new task force was set in motion on Monday to regulate bookstore mark-ups of textbooks per a vote by the Pierce College Academic Senate.
Bookstore prices are about 10 percent higher than the publisher’s retail price according to information compiled by Phil Stein, Senator Emeritus.
“The problem is not our bookstore… it has its hand tied by the Board of Trustees who establish a district mandated mark-up,” said Stein.
In the last four years, there has been a 40 percent growth in textbook costs, according to Larry Kraus, associate vice president.
“We have an invested interest in student success,” said Stein. “If students can’t afford textbooks it hurts their chances of success.”
The bookstore functions as non-profit therefore the prices “should not exceed prices of publishers”, according to Richard Follett, At-Large Senator and Parliamentarian.
A text book published by McGraw- Hill was priced at $118.82, Amazon had it priced at $95.78, and the Pierce bookstore mark-up price was $131.50, according to the information compiled by Stein.
Various solutions proposed by Kraus include low rental prices, adopting a span of four years for editions, and providing students with coupons.
“The bookstore is a service institution unlike Amazon which is an online service,” said Kraus. “We have to supplant money for losses to cover employee and other costs.”
Postage costs also contribute to the high costs due to the fact that many are published out of state.
“Some books are published in New Jersey so they have to be shipped cross country which hikes up the price,” said Follett.
Students depend on used books as a low cost option however, with new editions coming out every year used books are not viable alternatives.
“Editions are changed for publishers to make money,” said Izzy Goodman, Past President. “The bookstore made 30 percent less with escalating costs… they’ve priced themselves out of the market.”
Students are also encouraged to purchase Pierce College merchandise thereby providing funds to the bookstore which can help lower textbook costs, according to Follett.
“I groan with my students. I see the impact this has… it is not a simple issue,” said Kraus.
http://www.piercecollege.edu/offices/bookstore/