If you're like me, you save money any way you can. From heating leftovers to clipping coupons, I usually find ways to stretch a dollar. But with tuition, student fees, and textbook prices increasing every year, it's difficult to keep a tight budget. Textbooks alone are quite steep.
According to the Wisconsin State Journal, UW-Madison students paid an average of $890 for books and supplies last year. Is there any hope for the penny-pinching student?
Hope appears to have arrived at last. ASM, in cooperation with Chadbourne Residence Hall and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has plans for a student textbook exchange before the spring semester.
According to Jessica Pavlic, chair of the ASM Academic Affairs Committee, the swap will take place at three times on a single day. In the morning, students will be able to drop off their books and set their prices. Laptops will be on site so sellers can check prices online.
That afternoon, students can buy the books they need. Later that evening, those who sold books can come and collect the money they made. The date, locations and times are not yet determined.
This seems like a fair solution. In fact, the Polygon Engineering Student Council has held independent book swaps for the last couple years without any major problems. Finally, the advantage will be with students, instead of the profit-minded bookstores. Or will it?
Despite some early hype, even an attractive system like this won't be perfect. There are several problems with the student swap, and they are as follows.
First, this exchange will not be as complete as the official bookstore. It's impossible. It will only have books that students supply. Therefore, you won't be able to find new editions of textbooks, books chosen by different professors, books for new courses or mint condition books. Obviously, these are things that no book swap can cover. Most professors will allow textbooks as old as two editions prior, but for those who will need a new book, the campus bookstore may still be the only option.
An important factor will be the number of students that participate. The more people that contribute books, the more likely that people will find the books they need. One hurdle for this is that students will need to hold on to their books over semester break. The temptation of quick cash from the bookstores, especially over the holidays, may hurt the success of the swap.
Also, since prices are set by the sellers alone, they may not be much more fair than bookstore prices. Pavlic said she recommends students sell their books for about 60 to 70 percent of the retail price. Within that range, people can usually sell books for more and purchase them for less than they could at one of the bookstores. Unfortunately, there's only one chance at a deal, which means the prices could be biased in the sellers' favor.
Without an opportunity for buyers to make counter-offers or negotiate deals, sellers could potentially sell books at, say, 90 to 95 percent of the bookstore price, and people would buy it because it's less than the stores. But the seller is making comparatively more profit than the buyer is saving.
Finally, this textbook exchange may not be as efficient as the bookstore. As expensive as they may be, at least you know the campus bookstores can get you in and out. This year will be the pilot program, so it may have some logistical kinks to work out.
The benefits of the exchange, however, will probably outweigh these problems. If things go well, the swap could be a great way for students to save money. The keys to its success will be open participation and ease of use. I'm glad ASM is working to save students money, and this exchange deserves the chance to work.
Brian Bisek is a sophomore with an undecided major. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
