Many students have successfully used ASUU’s online book exchange, finding the books they need and saving themselves money, according to student body representatives.
“It’s a service students have been waiting for,” said Spencer Angerbauer, Technology Board director for the Associated Students of the University of Utah. “It’s very practical.”
Although Angerbauer does not know specific numbers on how many students exchanged books on the Web site, he knows that on one day there were 3,000 books posted on the site. Once the momentum built for the book exchange, about 500 books were posted daily until finals week, according to Angerbauer.
“[Students] knew they would save money,” Angerbauer said. “It’s an alternative to going to the [University] Bookstore.”
Angerbauer attributes the success of the book exchange to publicity on campus.
“Advertising was the key,” Angerbauer said. “[Students] were able to see it was available.”
ASUU posted 1,400 signs around campus to inform students of the exchange, which caused negative feedback from administrators, Angerbauer said.
“The administration may have thought it was overdone,” he said. “We feel that it was an incredibly useful tool.”
The book exchange has 1,525 books currently posted on it. These postings will be deleted in three weeks, but students can post their books again if they still have not sold them.
ASUU is deleting the postings because the students who sell books are responsible to delete the sold books from the site. Students often do not delete these books, and many students have called booksellers, only to find that book had already been sold.
Michael Archibald is one of these students. He could not purchase a book because it was already sold. However that is the “only problem” he had with the exchange.
Another problem students using the book exchange encountered was signing up for a U email address. The book exchange requires a U email address because they want to verify that all users are students, and not booksellers posting large amounts of books. In the future, ASUU hopes to make the log-in to the book exchange part of the log-in that students use to register and check their schedules.
“Some students were having trouble using their U email account,” said Sergio Bayona, ASUU’s Web master. “For the most part we got really good feedback.”
The final problem Angerbauer and Bayona mentioned was that law was absent under the departments under which to list a book, which made finding or posting for a law book difficult.
“This is the first edition, obviously there are going to be some quirks,” Angerbauer said. “Everything we’re doing we’re going to be able to pass on to the next administration.”
Students who have used the exchange seem to be satisfied.
“I think it’s a good idea, my old school had something like it,” said Jen Patching.
“It’s a good way for me to sell them,” said Melissa Draper.
“I saved $10,” said Rick Henriksen. “I only had to buy one book. I emailed the girl, and the next day I had my book.”
Although many students welcomed the book exchange as a service long in coming, others did not consider the online book exchange an option.
“I’m lazy, [the Bookstore] was just easier,” said Rachel Peterson, a sophomore majoring in communication.
“I’m not really good online,” said Nichole Froelke, a social work sophomore explaining why she chose not to use the book exchange.
“I just figured I could come here and find them myself,” said Steve Kettle, a junior majoring in business. “I’m old fashioned, I didn’t even think about it.”
Shane Girton, textbook sales manager at the U Bookstore, has not noticed any major impact on sales from the online book exchange.
“We’ve had a good semester opening so far,” Girton said. “We’ve noticed maybe some of the titles that are being used semester after semester aren’t being sold at buy back as much as they have in the past.”
Girton also said gauging the impact of the online book exchange this semester is difficult because the Olympics have also potentially impacted sales.