The start of each semester signals a new beginning, new classes and a new list of required books. The amount of books necessary for each class varies, but students often find themselves purchasing large amounts of books, easily spending in excess of $300 each term. The high price of books at local stores have students searching for alternative outlets for their supplies.
"Textbooks are too expensive so I bought mine at The Option or on Amazon," explained Randi Zukas '11. "[Except in the case of books like] my math book, which wasn't available in the special version anywhere [other] than Amherst Books," she added.
Many college students opt for used books when possible. Laila Milevski '11 went to all of the bookstores around town, including The Option, Amherst's student-run used book store, and found prices of her psychology textbook ranged from $60 to $92. She found the book available online for $5 plus shipping and handling, all while not sacrificing the quality of the book. "The $5 textbook is completely fine," she said.
However, used books aren't always available. Many times the most recent editions of textbooks are exclusively offered at a bookstore or online in new condition and at full price. Language books, for example, can cost around $150 for a package that includes the textbook, workbook and dictionary.
The cost of books is sometimes subsidized by the Department of Financial Aid in the form of grant money. With financial assistance or otherwise, students often sacrifice in other areas of their lives-school supplies, social activities, clothes, etc.-in order to pay the high prices of required books.
"I remember my friend's organic chemistry book with the lab manual amounted to $250, which I thought was a ridiculous price for a single textbook," said Alexander Guevarez '10. According to him, another friend was able to purchase the same book at The Option for $100.
Nonetheless, Guevarez said that he purchases the majority of his books from Amherst Books since he isn't guaranteed to find them at The Option.
According to Mona Morgan, an employee of Amherst Books, students constitute about 70 percent of the store's business at the beginning of each semester. That figure drops to 35-40 percent once the initial rush ends. Still, Morgan said that the store has many regular student customers who come in throughout the entire year.
Amherst Books does not offer discounts to undergraduate students, but does eliminate the tax from the total price. For graduate students, faculty, and staff, Amherst Books offers a 10 percent discount, and 20 percent off if they order books from the store.
The difference in policies has led students to wonder whether or not local stores could offer similar discounts for undergraduate students, with some joking about starting a store of their own.
"It's all about publication politics," said George Lew '08E. "We need to have a subsidized bookstore of our own."