On Campus - by Nina Yiamsamatha on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 4:05 - 6 Comments - 61 views
If you’re a Gallatin student or have ever taken a Gallatin course, chances are you’ve been steered toward Bluestockings, which bills itself as a “radical bookstore, fair trade café, and activist center.” Looks good on paper but, unfortunately, the independent bookstore of choice for Gallatin professors assigning textbooks has a rather tyrannical return policy.
When I called to ask about returning a book I had bought that same day (after finding out a friend would happily give me her old copy), what should have been a fairly routine process took an unexpectedly bureaucratic turn. Apparently returns aren’t possible unless you actually drop the course and provide proof in the form of a mysterious “drop slip”.
Yes, it is definitely a worthy cause to support a local, independent bookstore with unoppressive, educational ideals. And yes, this policy might make sense for an independent bookstore that, like any other business, needs to make and retain a profit. But isn’t this commercial concern the very purpose of store credit refunds? Aren’t independent bookstores inherently supposed to have a more trusting and flexible relationship with their patrons (especially when many of their supporters are college students on a budget) than their corporate counterparts?
Take the NYU Bookstore. It is by no means without flaws, but it does carry used books and allow for partial cash-back returns at the end of the semester. There’s even a full refund policy for books that were purchased within the first two weeks of the semester. There’s no way to get money back on textbooks purchased from Bluestockings unless another NYU course registered them at the campus bookstore. And given that most of the books are on the obscure side and used only by the same Gallatin professors who send their students to Bluestockings year after year, that’s unlikely.
Considering Bluestockings’ raison d’être is to “actively support movements that challenge hierarchy and all systems of oppression,” this policy smacks of hypocrisy.
6 Comments
Joe Coscarelli
I should specify that I bought the book from a Bluestockings rep who came into my class on the first day with boxes of the required textbooks. The professor hadn’t handed out a syllabus before that class so most of the students bought the books from the rep, including me. It seemed like there was little alternative since many professors invite Bluestockings reps to come into their class and recommend students support the bookstore.
There was no mention at all of their return policy before we bought the books – either from the rep or from the professor.
Other independent stores’ return policies are a lot more reasonable. They allow for a 7 day refund with receipt (e.g. Shakespeare & Co.) or at least require that a book is returned in perfect shape in less than week after purchase (e.g. Revolution Books on 26th St.) – in both cases they reserve the right to refuse a return if the book looks like it’s been read. I’m not taking issue with indie stores’ return policies in general – just that of Bluestockings.
I should specify that I bought the book from a Bluestockings rep who came into my class on the first day with boxes of the required textbooks. The professor hadn’t handed out a syllabus before that class so most of the students bought the books from the rep, including me. It seemed like there was little alternative since many professors invite Bluestockings reps to come into their class and recommend students support the bookstore.
There was no mention at all of their return policy before we bought the books – either from the rep or from the professor.
Other independent stores’ return policies are a lot more reasonable. They allow for a 7 day refund with receipt (e.g. Shakespeare & Co.) or at least require that a book is returned in perfect shape in less than week after purchase (e.g. Revolution Books on 26th St.) – in both cases they reserve the right to refuse a return if the book looks like it’s been read. I’m not taking issue with indie stores’ return policies in general – just that of Bluestockings.
Joe Coscarelli
Well, that changes things.
It seems like an oppressive move to pressure you into buying books on the spot before searching for a better deal, but really it’s the professor that’s facilitating that. It’s just hard to say it’s the book store’s fault.
Moreover, it’s likely that everyone knows they can find a better deal on a book than at an indie store — that’s the case everywhere. Part of what you’re paying for is the intangible of supporting a local institution. For example, I can get the new Raekwon album for $9 from Best Buy or $13 from Other Music. The OTHER thing you’re paying for is convenience, especially when they come into your class, and place the book in your hand.
As a consumer, when making an impulse purchase like that, it’s the buyer’s responsibility to ask questions about pricing, return policy, etc. because of the special arrangement.
That said, I think it’s an odd situation and very NYU-like, and it’s great of Nina to let people know that this is indeed the case.
sandy
Well, Bluestockings is also generally a rip-off. Their books cost way more than they should. But then, that is the cost for avoiding chains.
Tiffany
I completely agree with you Nina. Since some Gallatin classes mandate that you read pretty obscure books that are difficult to find on even amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com, I don’t think it’s fair that you can only buy them (quickly and easily) from one bookstore that’s super over-priced. My professor realized last class that Bluestockings sold one of our books for $25 when it should have been sold for $8. And their return policy IS completely ridiculous. You need a ‘drop-slip’, but usually when you drop a class, your first thought isn’t, “Oh let me take this drop slip and bring it to the bookstore.” Instead, it’s “I have to bring this drop slip to the Registrar so I can ..drop my class..”
I’m not a fan of the store.
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While I understand your concern, I think the fact that Bluestockings will accept a return at all is quite a nice break for students, considering that right on the register there’s a big sign that says “All sales are final.”
If you’re taking issue with return policies in general — especially for indie stores — then that’s one thing, but I don’t know if they’re at fault in this particular situation. Sorry!