AND THE WINNER IS...
Think of it as Bookstore Powerball. You remember the lotto commercial with the lady on TV who's only job was to be there when the seven winning digit-balls were sucked upwards to reveal that day's Powerball Lotto winner. Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune viewers would stop and watch to see if their tickets matched that day's set of letters and numbers. The BYU Bookstore has rejuvenated the legacy recently by making us wait up until the 1st day of class to find out which books we need to buy; except there are no winners in this game. In fact, after selling us last semester on how BYU Bookstore revenue is used to 'maintain University facilities', they then try to convince us that they need our business in order to survive. I'm not buying it. Tom Hirtzel, the textbook manager, does not quite understand what I believe to be many BYU students opinion: be honest with us and we'll be honest with you. I am not likely to help the Bookstore when they deal underhandedly with me. Why does the Bookstore feel inclined to guilt students into buying from them? When a business does not have a quality product or realizes that no one buys their over-priced product, they resort to conniving as a means of selling. They have asked us to 'decide up front' where we will purchase our books, yet refuse to supply us with editions, authors, ISBN or titles of the books needed with sufficient time to buy anywhere but the BYU Bookstore. I have a hard time feeling loyal to any person or organization that appears less than honest and greedy. With most books marked a full 10% above regular online list prices (even after shipping), I will be taking my business elsewhere next semester and encourage others to do the same.
Josh Carroll
Longview, WA
MORE BOOKSTORE
The Bookstore's mission statement reads: 'The BYU Bookstore provides the University Community with goods and services in the most economical, productive, and customer-centered manner possible.' I fail to see how the new textbook return policy is either economical or customer-centered.
Threatened by e-tailers selling discounted books over the Internet, the Bookstore has opted to protect its business by creating a near-monopoly on textbooks. With class deadlines looming, students are forced to eat the cost of overpriced texts rather than find better bargains. It's a good move if the Bookstore is looking for short-term profits, but it's a bad move if the Bookstore intends to serve its customers.
The new policy wastes students' money by sticking them with excessive prices. It also wastes university resources by masking the Bookstore's inefficiencies. Wouldn't it be more economical and customer-centered for the Bookstore to set its prices and volumes competitively and allow students to shop around? If students are bound by the Honor Code to follow the Bookstore's policy, the Bookstore should be bound to follow its own appointed mission statement.
Here's a better plan: Instead of inventing monopolistic return policies to bind students to bad purchases, the Bookstore could focus its efforts on making textbook listings available earlier ? two weeks to a month before classes begin. This would let students shop around for the best deals, and save the Bookstore the trouble of overstocking every textbook. I suspect there's a policy that states that the Bookstore must stock enough copies of every book for every student in every class. If so, abolish it ? that policy is forcing the Bookstore to overstock and overprice its books.
Abe Gong
McLean, VA
HOMESCHOOL BENEFITS?
When my wife and I mention to our well-intentioned friends that we are strongly considering home schooling our children, we are without fail asked, ?But what about socialization?? Fortunately, we found a proven method by which our kids can receive the same socialization that government schools provide.
On Mondays and Wednesdays, I will personally corner my son in the bathroom, give him a wedgie, and take his lunch money. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my wife will make sure to tease our children for not being in the ?in? crowd, taking special care to poke fun of any physical abnormalities.
Fridays will be ?Fad and Peer Pressure Day,? in which we will all compete to see who has the coolest toys, most expensive clothes, and the loudest, fastest, and most dangerous car?all while dyeing our hair the same color and ripping our jeans.
However, every day, my wife and I will adhere to a routine of cursing and swearing in the hallways and mentioning our weekend exploits with alcohol and immorality. If our kids attempt to use the bathroom without permission, we will punish them immediately; and have asked them to hold us to a similar standard by reporting us to the authorities in the event we mention God or try to bring up morals and values.
And just think?all these benefits without a dime of taxpayers? money!
Alan Brymer
Fredericksburg, Virginia
PRAISE IT
Kudos to the University IT staff, which has done an excellent job in providing quick and easy access to Route Y, AIM, and other related services this Fall. I remember coming up last year with a million things to do but couldn't get too far in the first week because the system was unable to support the surge of students. So as we merrily drop-and-add our classes this first two weeks, I wanted to publicly offer accolades to the upgraded system, which is now fast and easy. The updated Kiosks aren't too bad either.
Spencer Hansen
Mesa, AZ
FREE PARKING PROBLEMS
When I found out parking passes were free this year, I was elated. Having just gotten married, I thought it would be wonderful to save myself the $65. However my joy was quickly turned to dismay this morning when I drove around for a half an hour trying to find a parking spot. I finally found one on the far east end of the Marriott Center parking lot. I was thirty minutes late to my class which was on the opposite end of campus in the JSB. I think giving away free parking passes and charging for bus passes has taken away the environmentally sound idea of carpooling by bus, and contributed to driving around our expensively gas-filled cars a lot more than we would have otherwise. I guess the $65 dollars I saved will be put towards a new bike. I hope I don't kill myself when it snows.
Lisa Brown
Chino Hills, CA