Mike Nelson
Biz Tech Reporter
Although the Humber Bookstore on campus is very convenient it does not always offer the best prices for buying books.
As consumers, it is important for students to know that there are options out there.
The Humber Bookstore and the Text Center are the two main competitors looking to capitalize on the student’s need to purchase course books.
The operations manager of campus services, Don Henriquez, said that the prices can be higher at the Humber Bookstore.
“Regardless of the price the bookstore sets, it’s very easy for the Text Center to go online, look at the price of that book and reduce their price,” said Henriquez.
The store manager of the Text Center, Ali Baytaly, said that he determines his prices by checking the prices at the Humber Bookstore and on the Internet.
“A student will tell me what the price is at the bookstore, so I will put the price down,” said Baytaly.
The higher price at the Humber Bookstore is the cost of convenience.
“The Bookstore is one stop shopping,” said Henriquez. “Students can get generally anything their looking for while they’re on campus and there’s no need to go off campus.”
Students like Jonathan Marocco, first year electrical apprentice, feel the pressure of scrambling to get prepared for the new semester and choose to buy books immediately from the Humber Bookstore.
“You come here and the next day you need books,” said Marocco.
Henriquez said that in addition to the convenience, students should shop at the Humber Bookstore for what the bookstore does for the Humber community.
“The more students use the bookstore, the more value-added programs the bookstore can provide to the Humber community,” said Henriquez.
The programs include the buy back program, an online program that gives students first crack at getting used books, and a scholarship program.
Keeping your money with Humber College may motivate some students to remain on campus when acquiring books. Many students go to the Text Center in search of reducing there education spending.
“I figure by not going to the Humber Bookstore, I can save,” said first year civil engineering student Howard Nguyen. “I’ve compared prices; you save at least 10 to 15 percent.”