College textbooks prove expensive

I am writing to bring public awareness to the monopoly and price gouging that goes on at college campuses in Indiana and I'm sure across the country. Every person who has taken a college class in the past 3 years knows how expensive textbooks are. Many medical books, as well as engineering books, cost over $100. On more than one occasion, I have seen people pay more than $100 for one book for one class then turn around and try to sell it back only to learn it is no longer being used.

If you are lucky enough to actually get an offer from the bookstore, it is usually some miniscule amount of money. I have been offered as little as 50 cents for some of my books. I realize there will be some books that are old and can't be used anymore in the classroom, but many of the more common classes should have books that are "worth" more.

Some books have stickers that guarantee 50% buy back prices. If bookstores are willing to guarantee half the price of the book, why don't they just charge half price from the beginning? I'm not an economics major, but when I pay $75 for a book and get $34 back, there is someone who gets over $40, and it's not me. The bookstore cannot convince me $40 goes to cover labor costs, royalties, etc. A bookstore selling hundreds of books a day in some cases is making a killing on the poor college student.

Joseph Knight

Senior, School of Liberal Arts

Thoughts, prayers lie with victims of attack

In wake of tragedy, America needs to rebuild

PUCC slows Internet connections

Citizens have right to see budget

College textbooks prove expensive

OPINIONS DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111 ext. 256

Opinions editor:
Tom McHenry

To send a letter to the editor, please email opinions@purdueexponent.org