Bookstore
faces competition
By Franklin A. Holman
On-line Forty-Niner
The
University Bookstore experiences competition
from an off-campus bookstore for the first
time in a year beginning this spring semester.
 Comparisons
between prices of randomly selected books
at the University Bookstore and Aida’s University
Book Exchange Inc, located near Cal State
Long Beach on Bellflower Boulevard, show
that, of randomly selected books, Aida’s
prices are lower.
Both Gary Hensley, manager of Aida’s University
Book Exchange Inc., and Roman Gulon, general
manager of the University Bookstore, claim
their stores should have the lowest prices
on used books, but price comparisons support
Hensley’s claim.
“We have more used books, so students can
save money. We also have less employees,
so we can offer books for cheaper,” Hensley
said.
“It is very doubtful that Aida’s has more
used books because they do not have enough
shelving room,” Fred Neely, director of
the University Bookstore, said. “Since
it’s their first semester in business, it’s
doubtful that Aida’s can have more used
books for this campus.”
Of three random books, “Intermediate Algebra:
Concepts and Applications, 6th edition,”
“The American Democracy, 6th edition” and
“Successful College Writing”, the prices
break down as follows:
•
“Intermediate Algebra: Concepts and Applications,
6th edition:” $68.85 used, $91.80 new at
the University Bookstore. $56.00 used,$85.00
new at Aida’s.
•
“The American Democracy, 6th edition:” $66.80
used, $89.05 new at the University Bookstore.
$50.00 used,$76.00 new at Aida’s.
•
“Successful College Writing:” $37.30 used
and $54.80 new at the University Bookstore.
$53.00 new, $35.00 used at Aida’s.
Each of the two bookstores price-shop online
to compare prices and to offer the best
overall pricing.
The University Bookstore did a comparison
study in fall of 2002 between their prices
and online book distributor prices. The
University Bookstore had the second best
overall prices between Varsity Books, Barnes
and Noble, Amazon and Wal Mart, with Wal
Mart having the lowest overall prices.
Despite the fact that the University Bookstore
prices are higher than Aida’s, according
to the comparison of the above-mentioned
books, the University Bookstore offers more
benefits to CSULB students.
According to Gulon, “The University Bookstore
gave $1,200,000 back to CSULB, $350,000
of that money was pure donation.”
The University Bookstore also offers more
school supplies, art supplies and testing
materials than Aida’s Bookstore.
“The University Bookstore provides much
better customer service. We have a much
better refund policy and more technology
at the student’s fingertips,” Neely said.
Aida’s also claims to offer the most money
on book buybacks.
“Aida’s puts more money in student’s pockets
on buybacks,” Hensley said.
Despite Hensley’s claim, a University Bookstore
study shows otherwise. In three of four
returns of random books, the University
Bookstore gave more money back to the student.
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