Textbooks empty pockets

TEXTBOOKS, page 1 the main reasons students refuse to buy textbooks is the fact that their teachers “suggested it was not necessary.” Twenty percent of four-year college students have this same claim.

However, for the students who do purchase textbooks, the high prices are a familiar fear.

Asignificant issue that has made waves in the publishing industry involves its overseas distribution strategies. With objectives of helping needy countries such as India, Pakistan and China, companies shipped out older editions of textbooks to these locations in order to provide lower rates.

States for the cheaper prices.

“We had the best of intentions of trying to sell books cheaper to other countries…but American students are out looking to cut corners and its hurting the publishing industry,” Mesing said. “We’re trying to close that loophole…we have a hole division on that because it is such a big problem.”

Fall semester is right around the corner. If a student goes to the bookstore and coughs up $70 for a psychology book, where does each cent of each dollar they spend go and why?

“The mark-up from the bookstore is huge!” Mesing said. “They’re the enemy…they put their mark-up on it and put it on the shelf. No research, no development. They touch it once and get as much as we do.”