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Steve Stone
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| Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 9:56 pm
Post subject: Rip-off 101: Study takes aim at overpriced textbooks |
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Rip-off 101: Study takes aim at overpriced textbooks
COX NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON - For college students, few things are more maddening than the
textbook buying rush that clogs up university bookstores at the start of
each semester - except for, that is, the inevitably staggering bill.
A study released yesterday of 10 public colleges in California and Oregon
found that students will spend nearly $900 in the current academic year on
textbooks.
The study, by State Public Interest Research Groups, an alliance of
state-based organizations that advocate for the public interest, also found
that 59 percent of students surveyed said used textbooks were difficult or
impossible to find because newer editions had taken their place.
"Textbook publishers are ripping off students," said Kate Rube, an associate
with the group's Higher Education Project, which conducted the study. "It's
appalling that textbook publishers are playing these kind of games."
The group charges that textbook publishers resort to marketing gimmicks,
such as "bundling" texts with additional instructional materials or offering
new editions of books that contain minor changes, to flood the market with
souped-up versions of popular textbooks that jack up their price.
The group said that while half of all textbooks come with supplemental
materials, 65 percent of faculty surveyed said they rarely or never used the
extra items in their classes.
But publishers said they need to keep books updated for college professors,
who often ask for the most current editions, raising the books' cost, said
Pat Schroeder, president of the Association of American Publishers. Putting
out new editions "keeps the books much (more) valuable," Schroeder said.
"The professor decides what he wants," she said.
Publishers cannot control the availability of used texts in college
bookstores because it depends on how many students decide to resell their
books, she added.
Former classics professor Martin Snyder said he has tried ordering used
books for his students but found that publishers rarely stock more than
current editions of textbooks.
"It's easy to say it's up to the professor to pick a cheaper book, but there
aren't any," said Snyder, director of planning and development at the
American Association for University Professors.
The issue of overpriced textbooks has reached the Capitol, where lawmakers
have introduced legislation to battle a "national problem" that is adding to
the skyrocketing tuition fees that prevent some families from sending their
children to college.
"It's not just the tuition. There are so many additional costs," said Sen.
Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who offered a bill yesterday that would provide
working families with a tax break for up to $1,000 in textbook costs.
And as for the updated, glossier textbooks that hit the shelves every year,
not all of them really need to be changed, Snyder said. "If you're in the
humanities and you're teaching Walt Whitman - well, Walt Whitman hasn't
changed a whole lot in the last 50 years," he said.
(Published: January 30, 2004)
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Abe Kohen
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2004 8:02 am
Post subject: Re: Rip-off 101: Study takes aim at overpriced textbooks |
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Part of the problem is the publishing industry which practices geographical
segmentation.
Why does a book cost $120 in the US and just $5 in India?
If you can, order your books from overseas. Canada might still be a bargain
relative to the US (just like pharmaceutical drugs.)
The other part of the problem is a company called Follett Higher Education
Group, which is taking over many college bookstores, and thus able to
maintain inflated prices on both new and used books. Textbooks at amazon.com
and buy.com are often less expensive than at efollett.com.
Abe
"Steve Stone" <spfleck@zzcitlinkzz.net> wrote in message
news:XguSb.12325$3p2.90@news01.roc.ny...
| Quote: | Rip-off 101: Study takes aim at overpriced textbooks
COX NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON - For college students, few things are more maddening than the
textbook buying rush that clogs up university bookstores at the start of
each semester - except for, that is, the inevitably staggering bill.
A study released yesterday of 10 public colleges in California and Oregon
found that students will spend nearly $900 in the current academic year on
textbooks.
The study, by State Public Interest Research Groups, an alliance of
state-based organizations that advocate for the public interest, also
found
that 59 percent of students surveyed said used textbooks were difficult or
impossible to find because newer editions had taken their place.
"Textbook publishers are ripping off students," said Kate Rube, an
associate
with the group's Higher Education Project, which conducted the study.
"It's
appalling that textbook publishers are playing these kind of games."
The group charges that textbook publishers resort to marketing gimmicks,
such as "bundling" texts with additional instructional materials or
offering
new editions of books that contain minor changes, to flood the market with
souped-up versions of popular textbooks that jack up their price.
The group said that while half of all textbooks come with supplemental
materials, 65 percent of faculty surveyed said they rarely or never used
the
extra items in their classes.
But publishers said they need to keep books updated for college
professors,
who often ask for the most current editions, raising the books' cost, said
Pat Schroeder, president of the Association of American Publishers.
Putting
out new editions "keeps the books much (more) valuable," Schroeder said.
"The professor decides what he wants," she said.
Publishers cannot control the availability of used texts in college
bookstores because it depends on how many students decide to resell their
books, she added.
Former classics professor Martin Snyder said he has tried ordering used
books for his students but found that publishers rarely stock more than
current editions of textbooks.
"It's easy to say it's up to the professor to pick a cheaper book, but
there
aren't any," said Snyder, director of planning and development at the
American Association for University Professors.
The issue of overpriced textbooks has reached the Capitol, where lawmakers
have introduced legislation to battle a "national problem" that is adding
to
the skyrocketing tuition fees that prevent some families from sending
their
children to college.
"It's not just the tuition. There are so many additional costs," said Sen.
Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who offered a bill yesterday that would provide
working families with a tax break for up to $1,000 in textbook costs.
And as for the updated, glossier textbooks that hit the shelves every
year,
not all of them really need to be changed, Snyder said. "If you're in the
humanities and you're teaching Walt Whitman - well, Walt Whitman hasn't
changed a whole lot in the last 50 years," he said.
(Published: January 30, 2004)
____________________________________________________
Back to Cape Cod Times home page
Comments and suggestions: news@capecodonline.com |
retailsales@capecodonline.com
cape cod online | capeweek | primetime | on cape | cape cod times |
classifieds
Copyright © 2004 Cape Cod Times. All rights reserved.
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Remove "zz" from e-mail address to direct reply.
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Peter
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2004 5:12 pm
Post subject: Re: Rip-off 101: Study takes aim at overpriced textbooks |
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| Quote: | Part of the problem is the publishing industry which practices
geographical
segmentation.
Why does a book cost $120 in the US and just $5 in India?
If you can, order your books from overseas. Canada might still be a
bargain
relative to the US (just like pharmaceutical drugs.)
|
Apparently the Amazon.co.uk often has books listed for cheaper than its U.S.
counterpart. Unfortunately this theory doesn't work so well for South
Africa - most textbooks (well, any books published in the U.S., actually)
here are considerably more expensive to buy in the bookstore than they are
from Amazon.com.
Peter |
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David Haardt
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 5:14 am
Post subject: Re: Rip-off 101: Study takes aim at overpriced textbooks |
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"Abe Kohen" <akohen@xenon.stanford.edu> wrote:
| Quote: | Part of the problem is the publishing industry which practices geographical
segmentation.
Why does a book cost $120 in the US and just $5 in India?
|
Because you're willing/able to pay more than an Indian.
-David Haardt |
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Abe Kohen
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 5:38 am
Post subject: Re: Rip-off 101: Study takes aim at overpriced textbooks |
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"David Haardt" <haardtnet@gmx.at> wrote in message
news:6bed43cc.0402011414.23599c33@posting.google.com...
| Quote: | "Abe Kohen" <akohen@xenon.stanford.edu> wrote:
Part of the problem is the publishing industry which practices
geographical
segmentation.
Why does a book cost $120 in the US and just $5 in India?
Because you're willing/able to pay more than an Indian.
|
Not if I can pay someone in India for their labor to buy the book and mail
it to me here. Geographical segmentation works as long there is a physical
barrier AND there is no perception of price gouging.
Abe |
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KSG
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 4:48 am
Post subject: Re: Rip-off 101: Study takes aim at overpriced textbooks |
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"Abe Kohen" <akohen@xenon.stanford.edu> wrote in message news:<bvjv5b$t1r4q$1@ID-102750.news.uni-berlin.de>...
| Quote: | "David Haardt" <haardtnet@gmx.at> wrote in message
news:6bed43cc.0402011414.23599c33@posting.google.com...
"Abe Kohen" <akohen@xenon.stanford.edu> wrote:
Part of the problem is the publishing industry which practices
geographical
segmentation.
Why does a book cost $120 in the US and just $5 in India?
Because you're willing/able to pay more than an Indian.
Not if I can pay someone in India for their labor to buy the book and mail
it to me here. Geographical segmentation works as long there is a physical
barrier AND there is no perception of price gouging.
|
It's really not if you can, but if you will.
KSG |
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Abe Kohen
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 10:14 am
Post subject: Re: Rip-off 101: Study takes aim at overpriced textbooks |
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"KSG" <ksg619@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:f55f01d6.0402091348.30bc14a2@posting.google.com...
| Quote: | "Abe Kohen" <akohen@xenon.stanford.edu> wrote in message
news:<bvjv5b$t1r4q$1@ID-102750.news.uni-berlin.de>...
"David Haardt" <haardtnet@gmx.at> wrote in message
news:6bed43cc.0402011414.23599c33@posting.google.com...
"Abe Kohen" <akohen@xenon.stanford.edu> wrote:
Part of the problem is the publishing industry which practices
geographical
segmentation.
Why does a book cost $120 in the US and just $5 in India?
Because you're willing/able to pay more than an Indian.
Not if I can pay someone in India for their labor to buy the book and
mail
it to me here. Geographical segmentation works as long there is a
physical
barrier AND there is no perception of price gouging.
It's really not if you can, but if you will.
|
Yes, I've actually done it, when the opportunity was there.
Interesting thing is that on the inside cover of the Special Eastern
Edition, it gives the price in Rupees of both editions, so you can see the
huge bargain you are getting.
Abe |
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KSG
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 12:04 am
Post subject: Re: Rip-off 101: Study takes aim at overpriced textbooks |
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"Abe Kohen" <akohen@xenon.stanford.edu> wrote in message news:<c09iav$1434lv$1@ID-102750.news.uni-berlin.de>...
| Quote: | "KSG" <ksg619@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:f55f01d6.0402091348.30bc14a2@posting.google.com...
"Abe Kohen" <akohen@xenon.stanford.edu> wrote in message
news:<bvjv5b$t1r4q$1@ID-102750.news.uni-berlin.de>...
"David Haardt" <haardtnet@gmx.at> wrote in message
news:6bed43cc.0402011414.23599c33@posting.google.com...
"Abe Kohen" <akohen@xenon.stanford.edu> wrote:
Part of the problem is the publishing industry which practices
geographical
segmentation.
Why does a book cost $120 in the US and just $5 in India?
Because you're willing/able to pay more than an Indian.
Not if I can pay someone in India for their labor to buy the book and
mail
it to me here. Geographical segmentation works as long there is a
physical
barrier AND there is no perception of price gouging.
It's really not if you can, but if you will.
Yes, I've actually done it, when the opportunity was there.
Interesting thing is that on the inside cover of the Special Eastern
Edition, it gives the price in Rupees of both editions, so you can see the
huge bargain you are getting.
|
Sounds like a business opportunity -- assuming it's legal.
KSG |
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Captain
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2004 8:48 pm
Post subject: Re: Rip-off 101: Study takes aim at overpriced textbooks |
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"Abe Kohen" <akohen@xenon.stanford.edu> wrote in message news:<c09iav$1434lv$1@ID-102750.news.uni-berlin.de>...
| Quote: | "KSG" <ksg619@hotmail.com> wrote in message
"Abe Kohen" <akohen@xenon.stanford.edu> wrote:
Part of the problem is the publishing industry which practices
geographical
segmentation.
Why does a book cost $120 in the US and just $5 in India?
Because you're willing/able to pay more than an Indian.
Not if I can pay someone in India for their labor to buy the book and
mail
it to me here. Geographical segmentation works as long there is a
physical
barrier AND there is no perception of price gouging.
It's really not if you can, but if you will.
Yes, I've actually done it, when the opportunity was there.
Interesting thing is that on the inside cover of the Special Eastern
Edition, it gives the price in Rupees of both editions, so you can see the
huge bargain you are getting.
Abe
|
Abe,
I'll take you up on this on an experimental basis. I live in India.
Send me a wish list and let me see if I can come up with the goods.
You pay three times the rupee cost + shipping. That takes care of my
time and expenses.
Ravi |
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KSG
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2004 2:44 am
Post subject: Re: Rip-off 101: Study takes aim at overpriced textbooks |
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kullaks@yahoo.com (Captain) wrote in message news:<3e9950b2.0403110548.555550e8@posting.google.com>...
| Quote: | "Abe Kohen" <akohen@xenon.stanford.edu> wrote in message news:<c09iav$1434lv$1@ID-102750.news.uni-berlin.de>...
"KSG" <ksg619@hotmail.com> wrote in message
"Abe Kohen" <akohen@xenon.stanford.edu> wrote:
Part of the problem is the publishing industry which practices
geographical
segmentation.
Why does a book cost $120 in the US and just $5 in India?
Because you're willing/able to pay more than an Indian.
Not if I can pay someone in India for their labor to buy the book and
mail
it to me here. Geographical segmentation works as long there is a
physical
barrier AND there is no perception of price gouging.
It's really not if you can, but if you will.
Yes, I've actually done it, when the opportunity was there.
Interesting thing is that on the inside cover of the Special Eastern
Edition, it gives the price in Rupees of both editions, so you can see the
huge bargain you are getting.
Abe
Abe,
I'll take you up on this on an experimental basis. I live in India.
Send me a wish list and let me see if I can come up with the goods.
You pay three times the rupee cost + shipping. That takes care of my
time and expenses.
|
Ravi, I'd be interested in doing this... are you really game?
Thanks,
KSG |
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Captain
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2004 10:21 am
Post subject: Re: Rip-off 101: Study takes aim at overpriced textbooks |
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ksg619@hotmail.com (KSG) wrote in message news:<f55f01d6.0403111144.4acb798e@posting.google.com>...
| Quote: |
Ravi, I'd be interested in doing this... are you really game?
Thanks,
KSG
|
I am game. Send me a mail off the NG, to ravikumarATvsnlDOTcom
Replace AT and DOT with the appropriate symbols.
Ravi |
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Abe Kohen
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 7:33 am
Post subject: Re: Rip-off 101: Study takes aim at overpriced textbooks |
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|
"KSG" <ksg619@hotmail.com> wrote
| Quote: | kullaks@yahoo.com (Captain) wrote
"Abe Kohen" <akohen@xenon.stanford.edu> wrote
"KSG" <ksg619@hotmail.com> wrote in message
"Abe Kohen" <akohen@xenon.stanford.edu> wrote:
Interesting thing is that on the inside cover of the Special Eastern
Edition, it gives the price in Rupees of both editions, so you can see
the
huge bargain you are getting.
Abe
Abe,
I'll take you up on this on an experimental basis. I live in India.
Send me a wish list and let me see if I can come up with the goods.
You pay three times the rupee cost + shipping. That takes care of my
time and expenses.
Ravi, I'd be interested in doing this... are you really game?
|
Buyer beware: The print and paper quality are usually inferior, but the
lower price more than makes up for the reduced quality.
3x makes the arbitrage interesting. KSG will be saving a lot, and Ravi will
have a very nice markup, given local labor costs.
I am curious how you will solve the credit issue. Perhaps you will limit the
number of books purchased at any one time.
Abe |
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