Book Buyers - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Feb 15, 2006

Book Buyers

Date: Feb 15, 2006

If you read the fine print on the complimentary review copies of texts you get from publishers, it's illegal to resell them. Some years back, the UAB bookstore was busted when it came to light that nearly all the books they were distributing were "comps" that had been obtained from "used" book buyers.

Date: Feb 15, 2006

Every book you sell is one commission the author loses when it is sold to a student.

Date: Feb 16, 2006

I am in total agreement with the previous comments. I did not make my question clear. What I am trying to find out is there a University policy of allowing these book buyers on campus. Book reps from the publishers have told me they are required to sign in when they visit the campus. I would assume that these book buyers would also.

Date: Feb 16, 2006

It seems to me that the disposition of a complementary copy of a book depends on whether the copy was "requested" or whether it was "unsolicited." I don't know what the law says about it, but I've always viewed it as unethical to sell a copy that was specifically requested by the faculty member. If an unsolicited copy appears in the mail, wouldn't the disposition normally be up to the recipient? It seems to me that an unsolicited copy could be tossed in the trash, maintained on the shelf, given away, sold, or otherwise disposed of in a legal manner.

Date: Feb 16, 2006

It seems to me that the disposition of a complementary copy of a book depends on whether the copy was "requested" or whether it was "unsolicited." I don't know what the law says about it, but I've always viewed it as unethical to sell a copy that was specifically requested by the faculty member. If an unsolicited copy appears in the mail, wouldn't the disposition normally be up to the recipient? It seems to me that an unsolicited copy could be tossed in the trash, maintained on the shelf, given away, sold, or otherwise disposed of in a legal manner.

There is some logic in the solicited versus unsolicited situation. However, I do not think that it would be the same if a vendor sent you an $800 computer to test and you sold it. As I stated earlier, the act of selling the book is one issue, you could do that on EBAY. A second question is the physical presence of a solicitor on campus who goes from building to building buying books. Is this an activity that is sanctioned by the University, or just ignored because it is difficult to police?

Date: Feb 16, 2006

Choices, choices wrote:

It seems to me that the disposition of a complementary copy of a book depends on whether the copy was "requested" or whether it was "unsolicited." I don't know what the law says about it, but I've always viewed it as unethical to sell a copy that was specifically requested by the faculty member. If an unsolicited copy appears in the mail, wouldn't the disposition normally be up to the recipient? It seems to me that an unsolicited copy could be tossed in the trash, maintained on the shelf, given away, sold, or otherwise disposed of in a legal manner.

I seem to remember a case at a university where the institution considered all these text to be university property. The reasoning was that the books were sent to the profs because of their position in the university and not as a personal gift. Do any of you recall this case?

Date: Feb 16, 2006

Cossack wrote:

However, I do not think that it would be the same if a vendor sent you an $800 computer to test and you sold it.

I've never received an unsolicited $800 anything.

Date: Feb 16, 2006

Dr. Lindley!

Good to see you around. I am a former student - one that enjoyed your class(es). Hope that you've survived well and haven't missed the likes of Madaris and Sackley too much.

I'm still slacking, but not quite the "slacker" you thought I was. Hope you are still a fan of the roundball team at USM as well - we need all the fans we can get.

God Bless-

Date: Feb 17, 2006

Regardless of what the policy turns out to be, it used to be common practice to have book buyers on campus. It was not long ago that I heard that a woman book buyer was verbally berated by a faculty member to such an extent that she felt that she might be physically endangered. If true, this behavior by a faculty member is appalling. People may not agree with a policy, if in fact there is even one, but please treat people with respect, regardless of work position, gender, and ethnicity.

It may turn out that by buying the unsolicited books back there is a greater supply for students, lowering their costs, instead of now when these extra books are often thrown out.

Compared to the selection of a new CFO, GA’s being fired, breaking of confidentially by a faculty member, IHL policies and most importantly the selection of a new president at USM, this thread seems diversionary and trite.

Date: Feb 17, 2006

Moral High Horse (I don’t think so) wrote:

Regardless of what the policy turns out to be, it used to be common practice to have book buyers on campus. It was not long ago that I heard that a woman book buyer was verbally berated by a faculty member to such an extent that she felt that she might be physically endangered. If true, this behavior by a faculty member is appalling. People may not agree with a policy, if in fact there is even one, but please treat people with respect, regardless of work position, gender, and ethnicity.

It may turn out that by buying the unsolicited books back there is a greater supply for students, lowering their costs, instead of now when these extra books are often thrown out.

Compared to the selection of a new CFO, GA’s being fired, breaking of confidentially by a faculty member, IHL policies and most importantly the selection of a new president at USM, this thread seems diversionary and trite.

If you are suggesting that wrong isn't wrong just because there are other issues facing us, then you are misled.

Date: Feb 17, 2006

I think the obvious answer to this problem of society is a national book insurance program. We could have anyone enrolled recieve the needed books after forking over a small copay. The premiums for this plan could be funded by equal payments from the bookholder and his employer.The premium would be provided by the state with a federal match for those too poor to ante up on there own.

Date: Feb 17, 2006

Just Wait A Minute wrote:

Moral High Horse (I don’t think so) wrote:
Regardless of what the policy turns out to be, it used to be common practice to have book buyers on campus. It was not long ago that I heard that a woman book buyer was verbally berated by a faculty member to such an extent that she felt that she might be physically endangered. If true, this behavior by a faculty member is appalling. People may not agree with a policy, if in fact there is even one, but please treat people with respect, regardless of work position, gender, and ethnicity.

It may turn out that by buying the unsolicited books back there is a greater supply for students, lowering their costs, instead of now when these extra books are often thrown out.

Compared to the selection of a new CFO, GA’s being fired, breaking of confidentially by a faculty member, IHL policies and most importantly the selection of a new president at USM, this thread seems diversionary and trite.

If you are suggesting that wrong isn't wrong just because there are other issues facing us, then you are misled.

True, but the topic in question is not wrong. That is not a relative position.

Date: Feb 19, 2006

Perhaps you haven't seen the various used books for sale at a local bookstore in downtown Hattiesburg? Many of those used books are books that were given to university faculty gratias. Strange how they ended up in the shelves downtown. Maybe that woman who felt so threatened hurriedly sold them on her way out of town.