Books are a necessary evil, though, and hundreds of students stand in line at the Palo Alto Bookstore at the beginning of every semester to buy whatever texts are required.

First-time buyers of college textbooks are often shocked to find out how expensive their purchases can be. The obvious difference in price between the average textbook and a novel, for example, has prompted some students to think that the Palo Alto Bookstore inflates its prices and overcharges its customers.

“(Our prices) are in line with national markups with brick and mortar stores,” said Tom Peterson, manager of the Palo Alto College Bookstore, when asked about retail prices. Peterson estimates that national textbook markups average between 20 to 25 percent.

When asked about why most textbooks cost more than “regular” books, Peterson said that the increase in cost accounts for the extensive proofreading and fact-checking process many textbooks require. The fact that no textbook will ever appear on a best-seller list also influences high prices, according to Peterson.

Textbook prices at L&M Bookstore, located at 1716 North Main Avenue near San Antonio College, were similar to the prices at Palo Alto's store, for the most part. Several comparisons were made between the prices of randomly selected books at both stores. All books examined were listed as requirements in various history, math and communications courses at Palo Alto. Research proved that while some prices were slightly lower at L&M, others were moderately higher. However, nearly all such differences in price were small, with most amounting to less than $3. Searching for and ordering textbooks over the Internet presents its own set of benefits and problems. While quoted textbook prices from many websites were generally lower than those at both Palo Alto and L&M, shipping charges often eliminated any possible savings. If additional charges aren't enough to discourage the average student from shopping for textbooks online, other inconveniences such as shipping delays and availability issues may influence one's decision to shop at a non-virtual bookstore.

Another problem with online shopping is that some textbooks, which are readily available at the Palo Alto Bookstore, cannot be found or ordered on any website. Take for example the textbooks in the “Life in the American Past” series, edited by Palo Alto professor Peter Myers. While these books are required for several history classes here at Palo Alto College, no reference to them could be found anywhere online. Apparently, these books can only be bought locally.

Some online stores, however, still offer prices which are competitive with, if not lower than, those at Palo Alto or L&M, even with all drawbacks and extra charges considered. BigWords (http://bigwords.com/), in particular, sells both new and used textbooks at prices that are often lower than most other online bookstores. Also, comparison shopping via Bizrate (http://bizrate.com/) can uncover discounts and bargains on certain items in some cases.

While textbook prices at Palo Alto may not be as inflated as one might think, other items at the store possess prices which are far above those at other sources. Several Advanced Algebra and Calculus courses at Palo Alto require a student to have and use a graphing calculator. The Palo Alto Bookstore offers one such calculator, the Texas Instruments TI-86 Graphing Calculator.

The manufacturer's suggested retail price (according to the website found at http://www.1cache.com/) for this particular calculator is $149.95. The Palo Alto Bookstore sells the TI-86 for $197.99, which equates to a markup of nearly 33 percent. Such a large increase in price becomes even more magnified when considering that TI-86 calculators can be bought for less than retail price at many online sources and at local stores such as Office Depot.

It can be argued that any additional cost encountered at the Palo Alto Bookstore can be considered a cost of convenience. And to a Palo Alto College student, no other store that deals in textbooks is as convenient as the Palo Alto Bookstore. Some say that higher prices are a common practice among places of business which offer unique items at an easily accessible location. Palo Alto Bookstore manager Tom Peterson describes this arrangement as a “balance of price and convenience.”

While textbooks and their related costs are something every college student must deal with, some students may be eligible to receive financial aid, which may help cover the cost of, and in some cases entirely pay for, their books. Students may find such aid in a PELL Grant or a Texas Public Education Grant, among others. Information on these and other grants can be found on the Internet, and at the Alamo Community College District . website at http://www.accd.edu