Page 10 University Daily Kansan, August 24, 1981
Bookstores compete for students' money
By LISA MASSOTH Staff Reporter
As the new semester starts, the blanual battle of the bookstores has begun once again.
Competition between the Kansas Union Bookstores, on the second floor of the Union, and J. Adams in is full swing, as both strive to attract more customers.
Competition has been the name of the game for the two bookstores, but both managers enjoy the constant struggle for new customers.
"I'm 100 percent in favor of competition," said Steve Word, general manager of the Union Bookstore. "It forces us and him (the manager of Jayhawk Bookstore) to give the best deal."
Bill Muggy, Jayhawk Bookstore manager, agreed.
manager, agreed. "The competition has become much
more noticeable in the last year," he said. "The Union has adopted things I implemented."
Muggy cited such examples as more advertising and more assertiveness in student services, like buying books back at any time during the semester.
Used books have been one way for students to save money when their checking accounts drop to critical levels. This was one area where the competition was stifter between the two stores.
The two bookstore managers had trouble agreeing who had more used books, but both stores had a plentiful selection.
Muggy said he had the largest percentage of used books in stock.
"Two-thirds of our sales are used books." Muggy said.
However, Word said he had more used books because he had the largest number of books overall.
Title IX
From page 1
to develop a plan to correct any inequities. The plan would be closely supervised by the Department of Education, she said.
According to the latest court interpretation of Title IX, made in 1979, compliance requires athletic departments to divide total expenditures for all men's sports by the total number of women's sports and the total expenditure per athlete. That amount must then be spent for each female athlete.
He did admit, though, that his ratio of used books to new was not as high as Jayhawk Bookstore's.
"We have a larger selection of used books because we have more volume," World News reported.
If any problems arise with the new plan, the department can take 30 days to develop a case and take the university to court.
"He (Muggy) may have three books out of four that are used, but have only four books," Word said.
For new books, the difference in prices usually is very small between the two stores. Textbook list prices are usually higher than Word, according to both Muggy and Word.
A new introductory biology book sells for $20.95 at both stores. A new psychology book is $19.95 at both stores and is $15 used. However, a new introductory chemistry book is $20.95 at Javhawk, $24.95 at the Union.
"Students don't realize that bookstores have nothing to do with prices," Word said. "They are set by the publishers."
Word said he had experienced roughly a 4 percent increase in prices compared to last year. Muggy said his sales jumped 18 to 8 percent over last year's prices.
Book publishers apparently do not sympathize with the financial problems associated with face. Muggy said that recent publisher's prices had exceeded the inflation rate.
"We get more used books to fight it," he said.
"I'm considering putting the
Word was not pleased with the price increases either.
publisher's name and address by a sociology book that went up $4," he
When the subject of prices other than textbooks came up, both men were adamant about the deals each offers at his store and neither was shy when complaining about his competitor down the street.
Muggy said his prices were 10 to 20 percent lower than the Union's on such items as spiral notebooks and notebook paper. He also said that across the board, students save more at Jayhawk because of the number of used books he had and because of his low prices than if they bought at the Union and waited for the dividend rebates offered by the Union.
"They give the rebate because they overcharge on non-list price items," the
Word said he got volume breaks, allowing him to sell basic required supplies cheaper than Jayhawk. Paper-mate supplies were one example.
OVERLAND PHOTO
"We get wholesale prices from Papermate because we're their account," he said. "We deal directly with the manufacturer."
A quick price check placed the Union Bookstore out in front of the price battle. One hundred sheets of narrow-line notebook paper was $1.15 at the Union, $1.25 at Jayhawk. An Eraserate pen was $1.75 at the Union, $1.98 at Jayhawk. Spiral notebooks sold for $1.19 to $1.29 at Jayhawk; at the Union prices ranged from 96 cents to $3.49 fo a four-section notebook.
John Brilbach, Wichita sophomore, shops for textbooks yesterday at the Kansas Union Bookstore.
JOHN EISELE/Kansan Staff
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