With textbook buy-backs beginning today, questions have arisen over what
is the best course of action: selling books back to the Textbook Annex, or
to other, privately owned businesses.

Whether you purchase your books online, from other students or from the
Textbook Annex itself, when it comes down to the end of the semester, for
many students it’s about getting some of the many dollars you spent back.
Deciding on the most profitable option can be a mind-wrenching decision and
one that has caused much debate.

A recent email sent by the Textbook Annex to every undergraduate student
at the University of Massachusetts sparked much controversy among students
on campus.

The email explained that students need to be aware of persons selling
books door-to-door in the dorms. It continued to state that these “scams”
are not authorized or affiliated with the Textbook Annex in any way.
Students were advised to contact the University of Massachusetts Police
Department if unauthorized book vendors were seen in residence halls.

“Persons selling books to students does not affect the Text Book Annex,
but it affects the students who purchase the books,” Alumni Jennifer Lee
said. “We have had two complaints in the past about people going door to
door and selling books stating that their prices are better than us, and
then students find out that this information is wrong.”

However, some disagree with this statement. Jeff Nelson, a sophomore
Engineering major, explained that sending this email out to all students,
and implying that selling books outside of the Textbook Annex is illegal,
was not right.

“This email implied that it is illegal to sell books without any
explanation, and this is not fair or right,” Nelson said. “I personally
don’t think that they buy books back at the percentages they say they will.
I turned in a new book that I had bought for $70 and I think I got maybe
$15.”

Nelson said that he was not the only person conscious of the situation.
When asked if he had bought or sold books to students on campus, he
responded by stating, “Yes,” but continued to say that he had no plans to
continue this business in the future.

“I don’t think that many have the incentive to buy books outside of the
Annex. It’s just something to deter them away from it,” Nelson said. “The
books we buy are our property and we have the right to choose what we want
to do with them.”

The issue at hand, which Lee expressed concern over, was students
selling books to other students and misquoting the actual prices offered.

“We don’t set prices on any of our books because they are all very based
upon whether the book is on order, its condition, whether it’s a new
addition, so there are many dependent factors to be dealt with,” Lee said.

Other questions have arisen in regard to the pricing of these books.
These questions stem from the fact that the Textbook Annex and the Campus
Store are no longer University-owned businesses.

“There will not be any changes in the prices of our books. Textbooks in
particular can be costly and students realize they are spending that money
as an investment into their education,” Store Director Phill Olson said.
“Our goal is to make each student’s shopping experience as pleasant as
possible.”

The Textbook Annex is made up of a staff of undergraduate, graduate and
alumni students from the University. Lee expressed that by being made up of
alumni they have the knowledge of what the real policies of the Textbook
Annex are.

“Nine out of eleven staff members are undergraduate, graduate and alumni
students,” Lee said. “We know the value of the books students buy and what
kind of investment they are. We wouldn’t quote prices due to the many
variabilities.”

Aside from dealing with the up-and-coming textbook buyback season, other
changes are being looked into within the Textbook Annex. Olson explained
that they are working to continue to keep decreasing the amount of time that
students have to wait in line to purchase their books.

“Over the summer, we will begin remodeling the building. One of the
biggest things I think that students will notice will be that the traffic
flow will be shifting,” Olson said. “We’re also going to be updating the
technology by putting in a new computer system, so that should help increase
the speed of things as well.”

Olson also spoke about the store putting more effort into advertising
with students on campus. They will, for instance, be holding a customer
appreciation day in which they will be having a holiday sale for students
and staff. Other events that will be taking place before the end of the
semester is Frugal Friday, where if one book is bought, the next book
purchased with the same or less value is 50 percent off.

“Our goal is improve the overall experience that students have when
shopping in our store,” Olson said. “We just want to continue to fulfill the
needs of this campus and fine-tune our system even more.”