Renting books keeps costs down

The Norwich University bookstore recently introduced a Rent-A-Text program that allows students to rent text books at approximately half the cost of purchasing them, according to the bookstore manager.

"The usual cost of renting is 50 percent, less than 50 percent off the new book," said Drew Alderdice, manager of the NU book store.  "We have a biology book for example, I think it is $204 but you can rent it for $92."

This idea started as a pilot program at 27 different schools. After receiving tremendous positive feedback, Follett, the company that runs the NU book store, expanded the program to additional schools.

The NU bookstore signed its contract in the middle of the 2010 spring semester, according to Alderdice.  

"Customers are telling us renting is a great," Alderdice said, "We should continue and expand it. I mean, when you have 27 schools and have such an overwhelming enthusiasm for a program, and then the next year you roll out 750-plus schools, it just shows you how committed we are to the program."  

Many students at Norwich have taken advantage of the new program, enticed by the reduced prices on text books.

"The financial situation at home is tight," said Chad Wasson, 19, a freshman mechanical engineering major from Clancy, Mont. "Any money saved is good, and by renting text books, I get to pocket a little money myself."

Wasson saved about $60 by renting three books this semester.  

Wasson also liked how the bookstore lent both used as well as new books because some of the used books "have little notes written in them" that add to their value.

By renting he saved himself from spending $180 on one book.

The bookstore is trying to provide students a number of different advantages with current programs and the new Rent-A-Text program by providing flexibility.

"You don't have to worry about annually selling back books," Alderdice said. "We buy back books from the bookstore."

However, a number of courses taught at Norwich are only offered during the fall or spring semesters, making it difficult to sell back used books once the semester is over.

Alderdice explains that with the Rent-A-Text program, "Your only obligation is to return it; you don't have to worry about how much money you are going to get back for the book."

"If you're taking a single semester course, it's a $100 book," Alderdice said. "You're going to rent it for, give or take around $45, and normally I buy it back for maybe $50."

Students are quickly discovering the advantage of renting text books over purchasing them.

"You can buy books and stuff, but in the past it's been a lot more expensive I guess to buy a book and sell it off of Amazon," said Evan Cary, 19, a sophomore communications major from Kingston, Mass.

"Because I usually don't get anything for it off of Amazon and it's a lot more work to get it off of Amazon too."

Cary said he rented two books this semester because he found out it was cheaper to rent the two books for one semester rather than buying them.

The bookstore requires students to sign up on the Follett website and provide credit card information for collateral if anything happens to the rented text book. Students can also rent text books from the Follett website and have it sent to the bookstore, according to Alderdice.

A number of students were unaware that they could rent books online and found that the sign-up process was confusing and complicated.

"That was a little bit of a hassle, trying to get online," Cary said, "I went into the website for the book but you have to type in a very specific website located at the bottom of your receipt."

Cary had additional problems trying to sign up for the program and wished that the bookstore explained how to sign up on the website.

Cary also stressed the lack of communication that makes shopping over the summer difficult

"We really don't get what books we're supposed to use until we get the teachers. We really can't shop around well for them," Cary said.

Students have been mostly positive about the program and think the Rent-A-Text Program was a positive addition to the school.

"Well I guess to the bookstore it helps," said Mary Seaberg, 20, a sophomore double English and education major from Warren, Vt.  "A lot of people were buying their books online. I guess it helps bring more money in."

Some students are still irritated over the price and feel that there are limited options at Norwich. Even the Rent-A-Text program has its limitations. Not every book in the book store is available to rent, only certain books are subject to being rented.

"The books are expensive and there is nothing we can really do about it. They have a monopoly here; there isn't a Borders or anything that is close that we can shop around for." Cary said.

Alderdice said Rent-A-Text was a major success. The bookstore also has ideas that it would love to see in the future.

"I would like to see more electronic books in the future depending on the professor and things like that, it's something coming down the road from texts to electronics," Alderdice said.