WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1999

Not getting your money's worth

By Alicia Salazar

On-Line Forty-Niner

Many Cal State Long Beach students continually complain about the money they receive for their books during buyback time, but they may not realize that they can receive much more.

In the past, students received 50 percent of what they originally paid for a book, assuming it was still in use.

But in fall 1998, students began receiving a 15 percent bonus if they put the money on their Beach Club cards.

To be paid accordingly, the books need to be in good condition: no water damage, missing pages or front covers, said Rochelle McCoy, CSULB used book coordinator.

Books are not bought back when there is no demand for them, no instructor is using them or they are overstocked, McCoy said.

If a student pays $50 for a book, they will receive $25 when they resell it, said Fred Neely, University Bookstore director. The book can then be seen on the shelf for $37.50, 75 percent of the new value, Neely said..

"I paid $50 or $60 for a photography book and I received $10 during buyback," journalism major Ruth Williams said. "Class size had something to do with it I guess."

Beatriz Pina, a speech pathology major, has never sold books back because she said has heard students do not receive much for them.

"I understand that books have a lot of information, but when you sell them back it's not worth it," Pina said. "So I might as well keep my books for reference."

"They rip us off," communications major Angelica Razo said. "I don't want the books to pile up, so I sell them back because at least I get some money for them."

"The campus has an enrollment of 30,000 students and less than half will actually sell books back," McCoy said. "Some students do keep their books for reference."

"The main difference between us and University Text is that we support the campus," Neely said. "They are not on campus, they are privately owned. All revenues we generate go back into the operations to improve the campus or go to different areas on campus."

Used textbooks also have a low price guarantee that students may not know about.

If someone purchases a book from the bookstore and finds it available somewhere else at a lower price, the bookstore will pay the student 110 percent of the difference in cash.

This story is being re-run in its entirety due to an over sight in the May 10 issue.