If I wanted to have a t-shirt with my school logo splattered in paint, I would buy it from Wal-Mart, where I would spend about $20 or just paint a house in an already owned t-shirt. The Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Bookstore is selling those t-shirts for $35.
While I can understand their prices for a lot of their apparel, this seems like a reach. CMU orders their clothes directly from manufacturers such as Nike, Champion and Adidas. From there, they put the logo onto the clothes and resell them.
These name brands are expensive, so in order to make a profit, it is understandable to upcharge on some clothing. The question is, how do they compete when people can just go to a big box store and get the same pieces of apparel?
Some prices do seem reasonable, like a cool embroidered hoodie that rings in at $54.99. However, there are definitely questionable prices to be seen, such as a ball cap for $24.99 or gray shorts for $47.99. Another discrepancy can be found in the fact that a regular t-shirt is $26.99 and the cropped version (less fabric) is $32.99.
Further, school supplies are also soaring in prices. Even non-CMU branded notebooks, pens, and even sticky notes are above the average price cap seen at other stores. Are we getting them from a more expensive manufacturer? If so, why? If not, why jack up prices?
Textbooks are the next point of contention. A used book can be rented for $90 when the Amazon rental is $12 and a brand new book is $50 (the book referenced is “A Short History of Renaissance and Reformation” by Johathan W. Zophy). An upcharge of $40 for a used rental seems excessive, especially when at least 14 students need the book and they will continue to make money off of it in future years.
Staff at CMU are not supposed to recommend outside sources for getting books, so many students may not even know there are cheaper options. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have much money left over to spend on books after being charged $5,577.37 for in-state tuition and student fees this semester.
I know college is expensive, I have been here long enough to realize that. However, it seems unfair to charge students copious amounts of money for things they need to pass a class they are already paying for.
The recent introduction of e-books has helped tremendously in this battle of money, but some classes do not offer the Direct Digital option. The e-books are usually around $50, which seems like a much more reasonable price. Tomlinson Library also has select textbooks that can be rented from students for an entire semester, a resource that is often left unutilized by students.
However, the introduction of Direct Digital and general setup of the store drove out Textbook Brokers, which was a close and affordable option for many students. After an interview with the General Manager of Textbook Brokers for a closing announcement article, I came to understand there was slim to no chance of it ever returning.
This leaves many students with the option of finding books, supplies and apparel in places other than CMU, which means even less money for the Bookstore in the end. In order to draw people back into buying at the university, there needs to be a change.
Students have been complaining about the prices and affordability at the CMU Bookstore for some time now.
With many financial problems plaguing students, there need to be better options on or near campus for textbooks and more affordable merchandise for Mavs.
