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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: Bookstore Returns
by Jen Mintz
After coming back from an
enjoyable, fun-filled, relaxing
Christmas break each of us is
confronted with the monotonous
task of purchasing outrageously
priced books. This particular
episode in which I was exposed to
and involved with is of relative
importance to every student who
invests their hard-earned money
into this institute of higher
education.
I thought the early bird catches
the worm, but it was obvious that
day everyone had the same idea.
How many of us have ever
experienced chaos in a small
confined store? That was
definitely the scene early that
morning. The shelves that were
supposedly in alphabetical order. I
felt like I was in a grocery store
going back and forth between the
aisles. Also, every book that was
picked out for me was a new
edition costing the most money. I
felt like I was dealing with a bunch
of used car salesmen trying to
sucker me into buying the most
expensive "lemon" in the store. I
thought my eyes were deceiving
me when a whopping $250.69
appeared on the register. Two
hundred and fifty dollars!! Think of
the things a person could buy with
$250.00 Reluctantly, I wrote my
check and thought that was the
last time I would have to step foot
into that bookstore.
Unfortunately, I spoke too soon.
A conflict arose in my schedule
which left me no other alternative
but to drop a class. This is where
the whole trouble started.
According to the rules and
regulations of the Penn State
Bookstores, one must have a
signed, processed copy of a
drop/add slip from the registrar
before the book can be returned. I
filled out my drop /add slip and
decided to return my book the
following day. The book I was
returning was brand new and
unused. If I had been in any other
store returning a new item with a
receipt there would be no problem.
Why do students always have to
experience a problem when
returning unused books to Penn
State Bookstores? My only
explanation to this is that the Penn
State Bookstore is out to get
every penny that poor college
students own.
The following day I turned my
drop/add slip and asked the
Registrar for a copy so I could
return a book. The answer that I
received was that the bookstore
could punch up my schedule on the
computer, allowing me to return
my book without a drop/add slip.
No problem right? Wrong! I went
to the bookstore to return my
$42.00 book. They asked me
where my drop/add slip was, and
I told them what the Registrar has
... better than evei
from $
*#•39
acres Collegian
the Hig
LL F (NATIONWIDE)
1-800-2224432 OR 215-266-1184
Mon.-Fri.
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said. To say the least, the people
who were working there were not
helpful; on the contrary, they
were very critical, and heightened
my temper. My drop did not
appear on the computer;
therefore, they would not return
my .book. I was absolutely
furious. I had dropped the class
and now i had to wait for the
computer. The response was, “Ve
don’t have to tell you all the
specific rules, just the general
ones." For those of you who know
me, you probably can imagine how
mad I was. I commented on how
ridiculous the rule was, and I was
told, "Go complain to
Staudenmeier. 1 ' My response
was, "I will."
Absolutely furious, I told my
story about being hassled and
“ripped off" to my fellow Penn
Staters. One by one stories
similar to mine from other
students came to my attention.
Stories such as people being led to
believe that a new edition was
being used when in actuality it
was the same book that has been
in use for the past four years.
This information was told to a
student by a manager of the
bookstore with the intention to
mislead and deceive the student in
order to obtain a dishonest profit.
I started my pursuit once again
by going to the Registrar and
getting a copy of my new
9:3oam-s:3opm
schedule. The bookstore workers
knew me by my face and probably
expected a war as soon as I set
foot in the door. This time I had
my new schedule as proof. I
walked in and immediately was
told that the drop had not come up
on the computer. By this time I
had enough. I exclaimed, "I have
my new schedule!" The reply I
was given was, "Don't be fresh
with me." As for that remark, I
firmly expressed my frustration
from the past two days, just to
return an unused book. Finally,
they returned my money.
I think that all the students in
the Penn State system should
examine the bookstore’s "rules
and regulations.” Ve pay a
sufficient amount of money to this
university and they should at least
formulate policies which help the
students, not hinder them. As far
as for the price of books, they too
are outrageous and the system
should recognize that it is hard
enough to pay for ones education,
expenses, and books, let alone
being worried about getting
"ripped off" by the system itself.
The return policy at the bookstore
has to go. Ve, the students, have
the power to do so. Voice your
opinion and get involved.
AIMS
399
February 1989