Reading Between the Lines: UC Bookstore Versus Discount Websites
Maria Dischiavo
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: News
Amanda Evans, a 19-year-old from Marcy, is a computer whiz. She can check the weather in a flash, respond to friends on Facebook, check her e-mail, and all of this while typing her multi-page research paper on global climate. Evans also uses the internet to shop online, and that includes scoring deals on college textbooks.
"If I can easily get the same exact book for less, why wouldn't I?" Evans said. "It's just plain stupid to pay extra for a product when money is tight and you have so many other options."
Evans represents a number of students that are choosing to buy their books online rather than at the Utica College bookstore. In this new age of technological growth, some are changing where and how they buy their textbooks in an effort to save time and money.
"I like the fact that I can get on[line] any time of the day and buy what I need," Evans said. "The bookstore obviously has to close down at a certain time. Amazon is always open 24/7."
Websites such as Amazon.com, eBay.com, Craigslist.com and Half.com offer textbooks at drastically reduced prices, and students are taking notice.
Martin Cain, a 20-year-old Herkimer resident, said he also prefers to buy online to fulfill his class requirements.
"I live off campus and it's just easier for me," Cain said. "The books are usually more affordable, and the books are very rarely sold out online. A lot of times, when you go to the bookstore, they won't have the book you need anyway."
Cain recently bought a Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry textbook that retails for $185 used at the UC bookstore for less than $70 used on Amazon.com.
"Occasionally, [Amazon] may be on backorder, or the shipping may take some time," Cain said. "But I just order early and never encounter problems. If you wait to buy from the bookstore, they may run out of used copies and then you'll be forced to buy new books and pay extra."
While Evans and Cain find convenience in the online ordering process, others prefer the helpful staff at the UC bookstore. For Rachel Nadeau, freshman and Psychology major, the convenience of buying at the bookstore is unbeatable.
"If I can easily get the same exact book for less, why wouldn't I?" Evans said. "It's just plain stupid to pay extra for a product when money is tight and you have so many other options."
Evans represents a number of students that are choosing to buy their books online rather than at the Utica College bookstore. In this new age of technological growth, some are changing where and how they buy their textbooks in an effort to save time and money.
"I like the fact that I can get on[line] any time of the day and buy what I need," Evans said. "The bookstore obviously has to close down at a certain time. Amazon is always open 24/7."
Websites such as Amazon.com, eBay.com, Craigslist.com and Half.com offer textbooks at drastically reduced prices, and students are taking notice.
Martin Cain, a 20-year-old Herkimer resident, said he also prefers to buy online to fulfill his class requirements.
"I live off campus and it's just easier for me," Cain said. "The books are usually more affordable, and the books are very rarely sold out online. A lot of times, when you go to the bookstore, they won't have the book you need anyway."
Cain recently bought a Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry textbook that retails for $185 used at the UC bookstore for less than $70 used on Amazon.com.
"Occasionally, [Amazon] may be on backorder, or the shipping may take some time," Cain said. "But I just order early and never encounter problems. If you wait to buy from the bookstore, they may run out of used copies and then you'll be forced to buy new books and pay extra."
While Evans and Cain find convenience in the online ordering process, others prefer the helpful staff at the UC bookstore. For Rachel Nadeau, freshman and Psychology major, the convenience of buying at the bookstore is unbeatable.
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