Expertise provided for college book-buying experiences
by Tamara Collins and Brian Wainstein

   The lines are long; the prices are high, but the cash register keeps ringing. It's not the day after Thanksgiving. It's the start of a new semester, and students are buying books.
   Generally, the process is simple: a student enters the TCC Bookstore with schedule in hand and leaves an hour or so later with an armload of books and an empty wallet.
  TCC Bookstores offer the best selection of required texts. But problems can arise if students shop too early.
  "Often, instructors don't tell us which books they're going to use on time," Jamie Taflinger, TCC Bookstore clerical aide, said.
   The recommended time to buy books is during the first week of class. Buying books beforehand can result in purchasing the incorrect book or one that is unnecessary for that particular class.
   "It happens every year. You buy a textbook, take it back and then buy the one the instructor wrote," Rob McCormick, father of a TCC student, said.
   The TCC Bookstore staff is helpful and knowledgeable, and some staff members are students themselves.
   According to bookstore personnel, a good rule of thumb is to go to class first and find what is required before purchasing.
   Some people, however, do not want to face a crowd; in that case, calling the professor or asking the Bookstore staff can prevent one from ending up with the wrong texts and supplies.
   Although waiting until the first week of class will guarantee that students buy the correct book, students who did so were faced with lines stretching from the cash registers to the back of the bookstores.
   "[Buying the books for class] was easy and fast until the line," student Patty Crow said.
   If the wrong book is purchased, according to Bookstore guidelines, students have 10 working days in which to seek a refund for their purchase, but only with a receipt.
   If a class is dropped, the student must produce a drop slip and a receipt to receive their refund.
   "You fix your car and save the receipt; the same thing applies with your books," Tony Romero of the NE Campus Bookstore said.
   After purchasing books, students should remember that to sell back to the bookstore, the books should be in good condition and have all components, such as computer programs or booklets. If those requirements are met, the books may be sold back to the Bookstore for a maximum of 50 percent of the original purchase price.
   "We are not out to hurt the students financially. We want them to realize that buying and selling their books (at TCC Bookstores) is an investment in their education," Romero said.
   Buying books from a campus store, puts money right back into the campus and helps to keep tuition costs down, Romero said.
   When selling books, students must remember that the condition of the book is a big factor in what price the Bookstore will pay. Used books must be in good condition with very little damage.
   If a book was purchased at the beginning of the semester, it can be sold back for 50 percent of the original purchase price at any time during the year.
   Romero says that the best time to sell used books is during the week of finals.
   "We want everyone to have a fair chance at selling their books. Unfortunately, we cannot buy every single book, so it has to work on a first-come, first-served basis," he said.
   In addition, there must be a demand for the books in order for the Bookstore to buy them. If a newer edition is planned for the next semester, the current edition may not be a good candidate for buy-back.
   Michael Mackia, a NE Campus student, is among those who have had a problem in the past with selling books.
   "I tried to sell them back, and I was expecting to have that money for the summer. But I couldn't because the fall book schedule was not out, and they didn't know what books they would need. So I had to wait until fall. It really put a cramp in my finances to wait until the beginning of a term," he said.
   According to Romero, the TCC Bookstores will soon be implementing a new "Point of Sales" program, which will better track sales of books so students will get the best possible service and quality from their campus store.
  This POS system will track individual sales of books and help the students and employees at the Bookstore to better receive refunds and optimum sales for new and used books.
   Buying books is nothing to be afraid of as long as students follow the guidelines set by the bookstore and are knowledgeable about which books are needed.