For the last decade, college stores
have been paranoid about publishers going behind their
backs to deliver electronic content directly to students.
Although it's still not a reality that's come to pass,
it may eventually, and when it does "stores won't
offer much value here. Insofar as they 'collect' students
and shovel them over to publishers’ websites to
purchase content, bookstores will get a small 'click-through'
but nothing like the margins they enjoy on printed books
- not to mention used textbooks," one college publisher
(who preferred to remain anonymous) explained.
The paranoia is understandable given
the pressures on independent college stores represented
by NACS, who continue to lose ground
to large chains like Barnes & Noble
and Follett. Because of this, NACS
has established a large DC lobbying presence to protect
its own interests.
Recently, however, the paranoia got
out of hand when NACS sent out a press release accusing
publishers of gouging students with book prices. Their
website - through a series of FAQs on used books, college
textbooks, and “bundles” - echoes the general
sentiment of "distrust and frustration" students
feel, complaining that college stores are the ones who
are called upon to "justify the price differential
[between publisher's textbook prices in the states and
abroad] even while they are unsure why the price differential
exists."
The site also vents about how the
existence of alternative products in a free market economy
should decrease prices in a product category,
although college stores’ seemingly selfless offering
of used books in order to better serve their students
has done no such thing. (Somehow in the shuffle the
little aside about how used books are a cash cow for
NACS member stores got left out).
With NACS finding it necessary to
announce that they are working with publishers to address
these issues “in appropriate and legal ways,"
you can bet that this year's CAMEX
will be more than just a merchandising trade show -
though as one publisher tells us from the convention
floor, “The blood isn't running down the aisles,
yet.”
PT thanks Jim Lichtenberg's investigative
eye for helping to track down the turmoil.
