Every college student can relate to the burden of purchasing textbooks. For MSU students, there are three stores on campus to purchase textbooks that stick out: Student Book Store, Collegeville Textbook Company and Spartan Bookstore.
Collegeville Textbook Company co-owner Adam Seyburn said that he feels what sets Collegeville apart is its guaranteed buyback program on select books.
The guaranteed buyback program assures the customer that Collegeville will reimburse at least 50 percent of the purchase price for the book at the end of the semester.
“Fifteen years ago, the on-campus store did a similar program on a very small number of books. We have the buyback program for 30 to 40 percent of books here.” Seyburn said. “We make a concerted effort to be as competitive as possible, and the buyback program helps.”
Athletic training senior Yumi Babinec said she supports the buyback program.
“It’s nice that they have a buyback system, but with the high prices we pay for books, I just wish they could offer it on more books,” she said.
Student Book Store, or SBS, is more of a one-stop shop with a store full of MSU clothing and merchandise and an extensive selection of school supplies.
Finance senior Nick Bageris does his shopping at SBS because of the large supply.
“I go to SBS because usually even if I am late getting all my textbooks, they always seem to have the ones I need in stock,” Bageris said. “And if they don’t, they are usually very good about getting my order in a timely manner.”
Civil engineering sophomore J.T. Covington prefers Spartan Bookstore because of its convenient location on campus in the basement of the International Center.
“I get my books here because I know where it is and it’s easy to get to,” Covington said.
SBS and Spartan Bookstore offer their customers the option to rent textbooks instead of purchasing them at a discounted rate, though Collegeville does not.
As for purchasing school supplies, each store has its advantages and disadvantages.
Collegeville boasts relatively lower book prices, but as a result of their buyback program, does not have a large amount of new textbooks.
The amount of school supplies at the Spartan Bookstore and the SBS are comparable, but the Student Book Store has more competitive prices.
Collegeville offers some of the lowest prices on supplies, but the selection is smaller than their competitors.
