AS Bookstore provides textbook rental, price comparison options for students
The has added price comparison and online textbook rental options for students. Both services are now available on the bookstore's website.
"The market is changing quickly, and the bookstore is always trying to identify the best partners to bring Western students the best value," says Peg Godwin, the bookstore's manager.
The bookstore is working with Verba Software to offer the price comparisons and with Follett Book Company and Bookrenter.com for the online textbook rental service.
The Verba price comparison tool provides customers with a list of Western AS Bookstore’s new, used and rental book prices along with prices from popular textbook shopping websites. The list can include the book's price, its condition and the estimated time of its arrival.
"Textbook affordability is an important issue for students," says bookstore textbook manager Robert Perks. "These new features will allow students to research their options and choose the one that best suits their needs. Textbook rental is often the least expensive option but does not allow a student to keep the book or receive money back during the buy-back period."
Buying textbooks from the bookstore is generally the best overall value, Perks says, but with the price comparison tool students can decide for themselves what the best value is among many options.
Students will be able to rent about 90 percent of the titles they need. This option is an online service. Once the order is placed, the textbook will be shipped to the address provided by the customer. Textbooks can be rented for periods of 30, 60 or 90 days. To return a rented textbook, customers can mail it back to the vendor or bring the book into the Western AS Bookstore. If the book is not returned on time, the customer may be charged additional fees. Rented textbooks are not eligible for book buy back.
For more information on these and any other service provided by the Western AS Bookstore, contact the bookstore at (360) 650-3655 or visit the website at .
The Western AS Bookstore is 草榴社区's official bookstore. It employs 25 Western students and contributes proceeds to AS programs and activities. Money spent on campus stays on campus. Regular hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.