Unfair bookstore policy needs to be revamped

Column By David Olson

Wow,” said Fresno State student Andrew Williams as he headed out of the Kennel Bookstore, “I hope my bank account doesn’t go negative. I had no idea my books would cost this much.” Williams was among the many that weren’t sure if they could afford all their books on a college student’s so notoriously limited budget early this semester.

Perhaps it’s the publishers who are earning more than their fair share off these books or maybe the markup is too high. Either way there is obviously no easy way to change the publisher’s markup.

What is, however, a potentially fixable problem is the Kennel Bookstore’s policy on book returns. Students are only receiving a fraction of what they paid for textbooks while the bookstore profits repeatedly from the same books. Students can sometimes purchase materials they end up not needing for one reason or another, i.e. they misplace the book, drop the class or grab the wrong class material in haste.

On Sept. 5, a friend and Fresno State student said to me that he, like students sometimes do, grabbed the wrong class materials for a wrong class but by the right teacher. He said he realized his error and brought it back almost immediately only to be instructed by the person at the customer service desk that because of copy center policy, his $80 would not be refunded, no exceptions.

The student said he pleaded by saying he needed this money to purchase the proper text to get started on his homework. Sorry, came the reply. This confused and angry student said he went to the register to see if he had at least enough money to buy the most basic text requirement, which were the class notes. He said he watched bitterly as the receipt printed out a note of declination.

This situation arouses certain questions. What sort of bookstore policy could possibly justify this, when the goods are presented for return in untarnished and perfect condition only hours after their purchase? How do the buyback prices differ so greatly from the used book cost? Why would anyone choose the student as a catalyst for financial gain?

When I asked her about the bookstore’s policy, Delia Nino, manager of the copy center, said, “Our texts are non-refundable because it costs too much to produce them.” Well, on behalf of the students at Fresno State, we appreciate your understanding in this matter, while students are attending class with improper text because of tyrannical policies, you take the students last pennies to pay for your overproduction.

I also contacted Kinko’s and they said they would produce the exact same text at 12 cents per page and the course packet my friend said he bought was 207 pages front to back—for a grand total of $24. Students should not be responsible for the copy center’s overproduction, I believe a change in policy in favor of the students should be put into effect immediately.

— This columnist can be reached at collegian@csufresno.com