Book buyers’ intents called into question

Keene State College officials warned students on Tuesday, April 13 about prohibited solicitation by a book-buying company that, in some cases, offers students a lower value for books in exchange for immediate cash.

Campus Safety issued a warning via e-mail and a MyKSC announcement about Belltower Books after flyers soliciting business were found taped to bus stops and light posts.
Amanda Warman, director of Campus Safety, issued the warning to protect students’ best interests.

“We posted the warning to inform students about Belltower Books and that unapproved solicitation on campus will not be tolerated,” Warman said.

The e-mail provided a link to a Bowdoin College article reporting complaints from students who dealt with Belltower.

“I know that I sold one of my textbooks for $14 and I could have definitely received at least twice that amount from the textbook center,” a Bowdoin student said in the article.
Francis Brush, director of the KSC Bookstore, said while Belltower will buy most books, a student may not get a fair price for his or her books.

“Since Belltower goes through a wholesaler to sell the books they buy from students, the student will get the lowest price possible so that Belltower makes the most off the book,” Brush said.

According to Brush, all that is needed to price a book is a laptop, a scanner and appropriate software.

“The difference between Belltower and the school bookstore is the software they use to determine the price,” Brush said.

The school bookstore uses the Follett Blue Book to value textbooks.
Professors determine the number of textbooks needed for the following semester based on the number of students that have enrolled in their classes.

“If 20 students register for a class, we buy 18 books at the highest price for that book. After the 18, the value of the book depreciates,” Brush said.

“If the buy back is done correctly, students in the fall get cheaper books,” Brush said.
Students had different ideas of what to do with their text books at the end of the semester. 
Senior Cody Bisnett said he has heard of Belltower but did not have any personal experience with them.

When deciding between selling his books to KSC or Belltower, Bisnett said he preferred third-parties such as Amazon.com or Half.com.

“The KSC bookstore is a business; they have to make money off students with textbooks; from a senior’s opinion, sell to a third-party,” Bisnett said.

Junior Josh Lamoureux said he has confidence in his school’s bookstore.
“I use the KSC bookstore because I trust them. Also, I feel like I’m helping someone next semester with a used book,” Lamoureux said.

According to Belltower Books’ website, two Cornell students founded the company because they were tired of books stores not buying all their books back.

Tony Yates can be contacted at ayates@keenequinox.com.