I've owned a retail business. My late sister owned a well-known retail business in New Orleans for many years, for which I sometimes wrote ad copy and did other jobs.
The wholesale price of a $10,000 product is $5,000. The wholesale price of a $10 product is $5, at least in the two businesses I know about. In both cases, the product came to the store on a truck. When the price of fuel doubled, what do you think happened to my wholesale price? What do you think happened to your retail price? Did I raise my price to get rich? No, in fact I went without salary some months, but WalMart beat me up anyway. In my sister's case, a good-quality machine-made product has become available which has eroded the appeal of her high-quality handmade product. (She passed away just as this trend was beginning, but she saw the train coming down the track.)
I don't think people who know nothing about retail should accuse retail businesses of trying to get rich without knowing the facts, just as I don't think people who know nothing about academic life should accuse professors of various things without knowing the facts.
I've owned a retail business. My late sister owned a well-known retail business in New Orleans for many years, for which I sometimes wrote ad copy and did other jobs. The wholesale price of a $10,000 product is $5,000. The wholesale price of a $10 product is $5, at least in the two businesses I know about. In both cases, the product came to the store on a truck. When the price of fuel doubled, what do you think happened to my wholesale price? What do you think happened to your retail price? Did I raise my price to get rich? No, in fact I went without salary some months, but WalMart beat me up anyway. In my sister's case, a good-quality machine-made product has become available which has eroded the appeal of her high-quality handmade product. (She passed away just as this trend was beginning, but she saw the train coming down the track.) I don't think people who know nothing about retail should accuse retail businesses of trying to get rich without knowing the facts, just as I don't think people who know nothing about academic life should accuse professors of various things without knowing the facts.
The high cost of textbooks is a problem that is much larger than the local B&N outlet on campus
As an instructor, I'm very mindful of textbook cost when I put together my syllabus. In my field, where introductory texts are numerous, a number of publishers have begun printing lower cost editions without four color maps and other expensive bells and whistles. I always run my own cost benefit analysis: Is this book that much better than a less costly alternative.
I have also turned increasingly to WebCT to post weekly readings from books and journals. Its an extension of the reserve reading desk that is more efficient and easier to use. It engages students with the discipline.
I teach in a CoAL department, so alot of what I assign is published as trade and therefore is pretty low cost.
I appreciate the dilemma for the sciences, where a more limited number of very expensive introductory texts predominate. I wonder what could be done to lower costs there?
The problem with all of these retail arguments is that competition in Hattiesburg is limited to two stores plus internet service. Right now, the only way for most students on financial aid to get their books in a reasonable period of time is to pay the premium at B&N. Those who have to pay out of pocket (not financial aid) are going online to avoid a lack of used textbooks and high prices for all texts.l
For a group that seems to question every little thing this administration does, it seems to me like you're giving this one a free pass.
Better yet, compare the prices on-line among all booksellers. Big differences. Many text publishers are also offering e-books at about 25% of the cost of new print books.
One solution (partial) is to post the book info by course in your college for the upcoming semester, thus allowing students to choose where to buy their books.
Another possiblility, get student organizations to organize book exchanges in your college or discipline.
I wonder how the prices on similar titles on bn.com compare to the B&N store on campus?
If you purchase a $25 B&N membership card, you get 10% off of all purchases online or at a traditional B&N bookstore, not one on a campus. The 10% discount can pay for the $25 cost in one semester of online book purchases. However, frequently other online book suppliers have cheaper books, specifically when ordering used or "previously owned" books. With the 10% dicount, the online purchases are less than buying them on campus.