PUHI — Students entering the Kauai Community College for the spring semester have a new tool when doors to the campus opens Monday. The University of Hawaii Bookstores, of which the Kauai Community College Bookstore is a part of, is
PUHI — Students entering the Kauai Community College for the spring semester have a new tool when doors to the campus opens Monday.
The University of Hawaii Bookstores, of which the Kauai Community College Bookstore is a part of, is daring its customers to compare its textbook prices with well-known online retailers.
“It’s relatively easy to get in and start comparing the prices for the different textbooks students will need for their classes,” said Noel Mock, KCC Bookstore manager, using one of the store’s terminals to log on. “We plan to offer this program from now, forward.”
According to Student Watch 2013, a study by the National Association of College Stores Foundation, nearly 70 percent of students regularly compare book prices online, states a release from the University of Hawaii.
The new University of Hawaii comparison tool gives its students at all 10 campuses across the state the convenience of viewing textbook options with a single search on their campus bookstore’s website.
“The common belief is that the university bookstore is always more expensive than competitors such as Amazon.com, or Half.com,” said Tricia Ejima, the assistant director of UH Manoa’s Campus Services, in the release. “There are more than 350 other college bookstores now using the same digital comparison tool, and they tell us that once presented with this transparent environment, more than 85 percent of their customers choose to shop at their campus store.”
Mock said use of the system is pretty simple — students visit the store’s website and select the courses and sections in which they are enrolled.
In the state-of-the art software system, a click displays a display of the books required and in available formats, including new, used, rental or digital, with accompanying prices from the UH Bookstores along with between five and seven of the top e-tailers.
“There are even notes from the online sellers on the condition of the books, how long it will take to get here, and other notes,” Mock said.
College textbook prices are 812 percent higher than they were a little more than three decades ago, the American Enterprise Institute reported, according to a 2013 Huffington Post article. The National Association of College Stores said the average college student will spend $655 on textbooks each year, the article said.
But the student customers are able to compare costs, book conditions, arrival dates, and return policies before adding their selections to the online shopping cart where they can make a single purchase.
The new system also gives students the added convenience of not standing in line during the traditional rush week when students pick up their course materials. Textbooks purchased from the UH Bookstores are available for home delivery, or pick up at their campus store.
“One stop comparison shopping is just one of the ways our bookstores help our busy students make smart choices,” Ejima said. “Our growing textbook rental program gives them up-front savings. The buyback program gives them immediate cash for books they no longer need.”
Ejima said by working with the university faculty, the bookstore is able to offer the most competitive prices by ordering the correct editions as early as possible before the start of each semester.
“Our campus stores are keeping pace with our communities’ needs and proud to be a resource they can count on for everything from apparel to Apple computer repairs, and more,” Ejima said.
The Kauai Community College Bookstore is open Mondays through Fridays until 3:30 p.m. and Mock said is popular among visitors who are looking for University of Hawaii logowear.
Offerings also include a limited selection of new book titles and a more comprehensive Hawaiiana selection.
