USM bookstore begins textbook rental program

USM students have a new option in avoiding the high cost of textbooks — starting this semester, students can rent their textbooks through the USM bookstore.

The store began looking into renting books in the fall, according to Nicole Piaget, bookstore director. Previously, students have been free to rent books through private companies, but this is the first time students can rent books through USM.

“We’re always looking for ways to help students save money,” said Piaget. “It was a good option, so we wanted to jump on it right away.”

Freshman Adam Balbo said most of his books this semester were relatively cheap, making it more sensible to buy them. One however, would have cost Balbo over $170 to buy new, so he opted to rent it through the bookstore. “We were warned that this book was going to be expensive,” he said. “It was either buy it for $177 or rent it for $36.”

Piaget said students trying to decide whether to buy or rent a textbook should first consider several factors, including the price of buying the book compared to its rental price, how long the student needs the book, and whether they would be able to use it in the future. Additionally, because students do not own their rented books, they cannot be sold back at the end of the semester. “If it’s a book that is going to be used again, that could be bought back, you might want to remember that when you’re deciding,” she said.

According to Balbo, the issue of selling his books back did not influence his decision to rent. “Expensive books are the books that will come out in a new edition, so I don’t want to risk buying it and not being able to sell it back,” he said. “I’d rather just pay less up front and not have to worry about a new edition coming out.

USM currently outsources the rental process to BookRenter, a website designed to rent textbooks to college students. Piaget said that running the program through BookRenter gives students the best selection possible at this time, though she said the bookstore is considering developing an in-house rental program in the future.

Students renting books have the option of renting a book for 30 days, 60 days, 90 days or 120 days, with the option of extending their rental. Piaget said students who drop a class may return their book within two weeks without paying.

Some students who used other book rental services in the past have expressed discontent at the level of quality and customer service. Freshman Sam Ellis said when he used the website Chegg to rent a book he needed for a quiz this semester, he ended up getting an order meant for someone in Texas. Ellis said he found it difficult to navigate Chegg’s customer service, and the experience made him reluctant to use the service. “It seemed like a common mistake,” said Ellis. “They acted like this happens all the time.” Ellis said despite his frustrating experience with Chegg, he would be open to renting books through the bookstore.

Balbo said he too rented a book from Chegg last semester, and was less than happy with the experience.

The high cost of textbooks is a common complaint among students, and has even attracted the attention of lawmakers and the federal government. According to a study published in 2005 by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, textbook prices have increased at twice the rate of inflation in the last two decades or roughly 6 percent each year.

According to The Wall Street Journal, legislatures in over 10 states have adopted or considered laws aimed at reducing textbook costs. A law passed in Virginia instructed state universities to adopt guidelines that would keep book costs down. The Higher Education Act passed by Congress in 2008 also called for universities to take steps to make textbooks more affordable. One of the suggestions it made was to make book rentals an option.

So far Piaget said just over 300 students have opted to rent their textbooks through the bookstore, with students renting an average of two books.