Students to lose Road Trip in '87? — See SPORTS
trojan
Southern California	Wednesday, September 11, 1985
Volume XCIX, Number 7
University of
PROFITS DOWN
Used books don’t profit bookstore
By Nancie Mack
Staff Writer
After selling used books back to .the bookstore for a fraction of the price originally paid, and then seeing those books resold for a higher price, some students are led to believe that the bookstore makes a large profit from used book sales.
Although operational costs for the bookstore are lower than the profit margin earned from the sale of used textbooks, not enough used books are sold to offset the losses incurred from new book sales, said Jack Arnold, director of the university bookstore.
The only way to prevent financial loss for the bookstore is to sell more used than new books, Arnold said. There is a 33 percent margin between what the bookstore pays to buy back a used book and what it sells that book for later, he said.
There is a. 20 percent margin between what the publisher charges the bookstore for new textbooks and what the publisher suggests as the books' retail price. However, the cost of shipping the books to the university reduces the profit margin to about 17 percent.
Arnold said operational costs run 26 to 27 percent, leaving the bookstore with a loss.
In order to cover freight costs, the university raises the suggested retail price by about 2.2 percent, he said.
Used books are sold back to students at 75 percent of their original retail cost, Arnold said, but are bought back from the student at only 50 percent of the book's original retail price.
Books not being used the following semester will still be bought back if they are listed in the wholesalers' guidebooks, but students are paid what the wholesaler agrees to pay the university for the book — 15 to 30 percent of the book's original retail price, Arnold said.
Books not needed for the following semester and not listed in the wholesalers' guides will not be bought back, he said.
Tim Bayley, director of the UCLA student store, said that new' UCLA textbooks are sold at the original suggested retail price — without any increase to cover freight or other charges — but at a fluctuating loss of between §100,000 and 5200,000 a year for the store.
"We lose money every year selling textbooks," Bayley said. Textbooks are purchased by the UCLA student store at 80 percent of their suggested retail price, plus freight, he said.
Though the UCLA bookstore sells its used books at 75 percent of the original retail price, just as this university does, it buys them back at 60 percent if they will be needed the following quarter, Bayley said.
Arnold said this university buys back at only 50 percent of the original retail price because "that is the established price,'' or the standard used by college bookstores, he said.
"It.il i
News Repoffeig and
MIKE MELSON DAILY TROJAN
Cheaper than new, yes, but not much. But is the bookstore really making a profit on selling used books?
Just as this university does, UCLA will buy back unneeded textbooks at wholesalers' rates, if they are listed in wholesalers' guides. But they will not buy them if they are not needed or listed, Arnold said.
UCLA earns enough money through the sale of university merchandise to subsidize its textbook losses, but almost every other
(Continued on page 8)
Student pub — Traditions' — opening delayed again
* *
.....KSttg
JOEL ORDESKY DAILY TROJAN
Obviously, the pub will not be completed by its due date of Sept. 16. By working furiously, the university hopes to have “Traditions” open by Sept. 23.
By Beth Laski
Staff Writer
"Traditions," the student pub that was re-scheduled to open Sept. 16 after an earlier delay, will be delayed again because of the late arrival of necessary operational equipment, said Eugene Lawless, director of dining services.
The opening, now scheduled for Sept. 23, was originally projected for Aug. 15, but was delayed due to "normal occurences" that held things up for "a day here and there — right on through," as Lawless said in an earlier interview.
"It is frustrating for us not to be able to meet deadlines, but the approximate seven-day delay will allow us to open with the equipment to assure the proper service," said A.J. Mim-naugh, generals manager of Commons.
Although a delay is now anticipated, it is due to "things that happen on a job quite often," Lawless said.
"At this time, we are waiting on a back bar, a refigerator and other furnishings,” he said. "We are very pleased with the way it looks," he added.
Actual construction began late July and will be completed as planned by the second deadline of September 16.
Preliminary construction of the pub, which will be located in the former television room of the Grill, began in July with first stage demolition activity clearing the area for new construction.
Actual construction began late July and will be completed as planned by the second deadline of Sept. 16, Mimnaugh said.
The pub, which will be open Monday through Friday, is designed to be a "fun and social gathering place for students," Lawless said.
It will be equipped with a quality sound and video system, and there will be a full bar offering a selection of international beers, fine wines and non-alco-holic beverages.
Dinner entrees will be available until 10:00 p.m., and appetizers will be served through the midnight closing time.
The pub will provide an "attractive and comfortable atmosphere for students," Lawless
said.
The concept of the Grill will be enhanced by additional space to eat, drink and socialize, he added.
The decor will include memorabilia honoring the achieve-
Zumberge lauds L.A. in local address
By Jeffrey Tylicki
Editor
The City of Los Angeles has played a vital role in the development of this university and there will continue to be a recognition of that special urban relationship, President James Zumberge told local businessmen Tuesday.
"Many universities, as they mature, lose ties with the cities that nurtured them. We will continue to make a difference (in Los Angeles)," Zumberge said during a speech to the Town Hall speakers' forum at the Hyatt Regency.
It was the second time since Zumberge assumed the university presidency in 1980 that he was invited to talk at a Town Hall meeting, which regularly brings^ in speakers of national prominence to address its members.
Zumberge said that although private higher education is "in real jeopardy" because of growing tuition costs, this university is better prepared to weather those challenges, mainly because of its location in Los Angeles.
"While the university faces external threats to its survival, it has great opportunities to achieve its ambitions," Zumberge said.
He cited several qualities which make the university unique and not just a "me too"-copy of other American institutions. Those qualitites included its location as an urban campus and what Zumberge called an "entrepreneurial spirit" among its students and faculty.
(Continued on page 17)
ments of famous alumni. Lawless said the type of items required to complete the planned decor will take time to acquire, though.
"We are happy with the decor package," he added.