Do college stores price used books differently than new books?
Yes. Although used textbooks provide students with a 25% savings compared to the cost of a new textbook, there is a slightly higher margin on used textbooks (34.9%) when compared to new textbooks (22.5%). The process of acquiring, cleaning, pricing, and re-shelving used books involves significantly more time than that of new textbooks and increases college stores operating expenses. In addition, because used books are non-returnable to publishers (as new books are), college stores assume a higher risk on their used book inventory. There is also the possibility that the publication of a newer edition will make inventoried used textbooks obsolete, even though the store has already purchased them.
