At the dawn of each new school year, there is always a rush to buy books. Freshman get led down to the Andover Bookstore by their Blue Keys during orientation to endure the traditional wait in line. Returners straggle down as well. Hundreds of dollars of parents’ money is spent per student buying these expensive books. Parents and students go home, and after comparing prices with Amazon, can’t help but feel that they got screwed. Nothing could be further from the truth. Even so, Bookstore proprietor John Hugo ’98 says, “The Bookstore is just one of many options.” Amazon and other major online retailers are generally cheaper options. A booklist, ironically compiled by the Andover Bookstore, is available on PAnet weeks before the start of school to facilitate book ordering. Many people order there books online after seeing this list, and I personally saved over $100 dollars doing this. Even if your PAnet isn’t working (surprise, surprise) you can see the booklist at the Andover Bookstore. If you have enough to front the costs, you can do what David Russell ’12 did. He saved $125 dollars by returning the books he had bought at the bookstore and buying the same exact books on Amazon. Buying used or renting is certainly another viable option. The recycle and reuse of books is environmentally and wallet friendly. You can buy used books on Half.com for a fraction of what they go for new. Yet, I am always leery of buying something used without physically examining its condition first, especially when it is something as fragile as a book. You can always go to Text Exchange, but if your class requires a recently published book or you like to highlight, that option is out the window. You may spend more money at the Andover Bookstore, but you are not being ripped off. According to Mr. Hugo, Amazon drives the price they pay to purchase the book down by purchasing enormous quantities. They then take their most popular textbooks and sell them at or below unit cost. They can do this, because they make up profits in shipping prices and the sheer quantity of books they sell. Even if the book does not sell enough to make a profit, Amazon does not need textbook sales to be successful. They can make only a marginal profit in their textbook department and stay in business because of their lipstick, Kindle and clothing sales. The combination of relatively small number of sales, downtown rent prices and lack of product diversity means the Andover Bookstore just cannot come close to matching most online retailers prices. Even with higher prices, the Andover Bookstore is not as bad of an option as it seems. Titles not included among the most popular on Amazon are oftentimes cheaper at the Bookstore. This was exactly the case Min Jae Yoo’s ’12 biology book. The Bookstore is convenient. The return process involves twenty minutes of walking and an immediate transaction rather than the expensive and tedious shipping process. The Andover Bookstore accepts the Blue Card, a convenience Amazon may never implement. Buying used at the Bookstore is a good deal. Not only can you inspect the books in person so you can be certain of what you are getting, but Mr. Hugo checks the price of used books online and sets his prices lower. The Andover Bookstore is part of the community. Mr. Hugo himself is a recent graduate. They are knowledgeable about the teachers and every book they sell. If you have a question, complaint, or comment you will end up talking face-to-face with an informed individual, a rarity in the days of outsourced customer support. The Andover Bookstore is a part of the schools history. It has been selling books to students here since before even Dr. Pottle was born. Mr. Hugo says that alumni often come back and fondly recall buying their books at the Bookstore. It is a quaint store enjoyed not only by Phillips but also by the whole town of Andover. Where online are you going to find a fireplace, complimentary animal crackers and coffee while shopping for textbooks? What I’m trying to say is disregard Mr. Hugo’s statement about the bookstore being an option—it is the option. I know it feels like giving like throwing money away and I hate getting off my wallet as much as the next guy, but think about it like this: Mr. Hugo claims that in your academic career you will spend more on delivered food than on textbooks. So, ease off the Dominos and buy your books from the most well run vendor—the Andover Bookstore. Derek Farquhar is a three-year Upper from Andover, MA and a Commentary Associate for The Phillipian.
