Textbook retailers get on Internet
Campus Times
October 29, 1999
For generations the campus bookstore has been the best and only way
to purchase textbooks, but that has changed drastically this fall as a number
of Web sites VarsityBooks.com,
efollett.com, BigWords.com,
ecampus.com and Textbooks.com,
to name a few, have sprung to initiate an Internet book war and make buying
college textbooks as easy as clicking a mouse.
These sites are competing fiercely to attract students through numerous
discounts, bonus points, low shipping charges, television and radio announcements.
As more retailers take their business online the competition to attract
consumers increases and at the same time offers more options for consumers.
VarsityBooks.com was founded in 1997. The search engine finds texts
by course, professor, title, author, subject or ISBN. It also has a toll-free
customer service-support system and a 30 day money back return policy.
Also, it offers up to 40 percent discounts on new textbooks compared
to on-campus textbook store prices and online competitors. VarsityBooks.com
is able to offer 2.5 million titles of textbooks and general trade books
from more than 25,000 publishers and it stocks more than 200,000 books that
are ready-to-ship. However, they do not sell used textbooks.
While fairly new into the arena, efollett.com, which is part of the
Follett Higher Education Group, has 16 million books in stock including
foreign language texts and campus-specific course packs and value packs.
Also, it specializes in a large supply of used textbooks at 25 percent off
the new book prices.
Senior Doug Collins at ULV's distance learning center in Ventura recently
purchased textbooks online through efollet.com.
"I like to do everything online. However, I didn't have a good
experience with the online service due to a mix up and got the wrong books,"
said Collins.
However, he did say that he prefers all online services and thinks that
they are easy and convenient.
Other services include free in-store pick up, access to a wide variety
of college merchandise from hundreds of colleges and online sellers and
credits which allow students to save money on future purchases.
"I've actually [ordered] twice online. I felt that it's quick and
easy. I recommend everyone to order online," said Eric Buring a second
semester master's program student in Elmendorf, Alaska.
There are numerous online textbook retailers and often it is very difficult
to keep up with them and their discounts.
The quest to find the best deal on textbooks online without spending
too much time can be aided by an online service called BesteDeals.com.
This online site provides consumers with the opportunity to compare
textbooks prices with over 40 online retailers and in 20 seconds it provides
information on prices, availability, shipping charges and other options
that numerous online retailers offer. There is no charge for the service
and anyone can use it.
"If you order online you don't have to stand in line," said
Nick Karvia, ULV Bookstore's textbook manager. He added that "students
don't realize that they need to figure in the shipping and the buyback of
the book in order to determine if they are saving money."
All online retailers have their standards and goals when it comes to
attracting customers. While many online retailers offer a the same books,
their prices may vary.
Online retailers have their standards when it comes to targeting customers
and each offers deals to offset the price of the book while at the same
time provide customers with reasonable prices.
The convenience and opportunity of shopping from home that these sites
offer is their way of targeting consumers. However, by no means will the
online competition put the traditional textbooks out of business. There
are still traditional shoppers who want to see and thumb through their books
before purchasing.
"If you need the book right now, online bookstores aren't going
to do you any good," said Karvia.