By Becca Robb | Echo
Freshman year is bursting with decisions. Do you want to bunk the beds? Join Psych club? Grow a mullet? Textbook Butler aims to simplify these decisions by taking the guesswork out of textbook shopping.
Powered by Tree of Life Bookstores, Textbook Butler reviews students' class schedules and packages up all the books students need. Student leaders then drop off tidy boxes of textbooks in students' rooms.
"We found in our research that most students prefer not to have to worry about (textbooks) their first term," said Aaron Johnson ('14), customer service representative for Tree of Life Bookstores. "They don't have friends or (anyone) to borrow books from, so they're coming in cold. After that year it could be more beneficial for them to have that freedom of choice."
Freshmen are automatically opted-in with a rental preference, but can change their preference to buy "New" or "Used/New" books. Or they can opt out completely and return books to the Campus Store within the first week for a full refund. A 15 percent restocking fee applies to any returns after the first week.
Junior Evan Miyakawa decided to opt out of the service because he said he can find better prices online.
"In general, Taylor bookstore prices are much more expensive and I can get it much less expensive elsewhere," said Miyakawa. "(Sometimes) I'll find that there's a good deal at the Taylor bookstore but almost always for bigger textbooks there's a much better deal on Amazon or Chegg."
Campus Store Manager Stephen Richardson explained that Textbook Butler gives freshmen more breathing room to get to know people, get settled and get used to classes.
"It's everything you need at a competitive price," said Richardson. "It allows you to focus on the things that are higher priority."
Brand new books are full price, but Textbook Butler also provides rentals, as well as used books from Amazon and other buyback sources. Students renting from Textbook Butler are not penalized for any highlighting or other markings in returned books.
Sophomore Hannah Williams has used Textbook Butler for three semesters and recommends incoming freshmen opt into buying used books.
"Even trying to sort out who of your friends has that book and in what way you are going to get it from them is an unneeded hassle," said Williams. "(Textbook Butler) is a really great utility that we as students are being provided with, and I intend to take every small opportunity that makes my life even the littlest bit easier."
