The Bakersfield College Bookstore is offering a 5-percent discount on all textbooks to students with a valid ‘Gades card sticker.
The bookstore had a similar deal last year when it offered a 20-percent discount on merchandise except for textbooks.
But officials came to realize that textbooks are the priority spending for students on campus.
According to Omid Sharbati, vice president of finance of the Associated Students of Bakersfield College, ASBC suggested that the bookstore give the discount.
The 5 percent will come out of store profits, which funds many campus activities, according to Robert Day, store director.
It is still too early to tell whether the bookstore’s profits on textbooks have gone up, but Day said that the discount will not affect the bookstore’s sales in a negative way.
BC sophomore Karen Holland believes the discount will help with purchasing books.
“It’s good to spend $10 to get a 5-percent discount on textbooks.”
However, sophomore Gilbert Ruiz disagrees.
He said he didn’t even buy a ‘Gades cards sticker to receive a student discount.
“Five percent out of $100 isn’t a big difference,” said Ruiz. “It wouldn’t make sense to spend $10 to get $5 off a textbook.”
Prices, however, have gone up on many textbooks, which has nothing to do with the discount, Day said.
Publishers raise prices on the textbooks every year, so the retail value of the books goes up.
That’s why many students search for lower-priced used textbooks every semester.
Freshman Nick Diaz prefers to buy his books online.
“It is cheaper and you don’t have to go through the hassle of waiting in line for a book that might be sold out,” said Diaz.
Day said that the bookstore would love to compete with other outlets, such as online book sellers.
But the fact that BC has to charge sales tax on textbooks puts the bookstore at a 7.25 percent disadvantage.
“We’d love to be competitive,” Day said. “But to be at a 7.25 percent disadvantage before we even play is not fair to me.”
Day said the students who buy books from the bookstore can get a guaranteed refund if a class gets canceled or a book has defects.