Brock Press

Issue date: 2/2/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Bethany Scholl

The hectic time that is the beginning of the semester is often accentuated with the inevitable trip to the campus bookstore.
This semester is no different.
Students 'adding' and 'dropping' classes to create the perfect schedule are also frantically trying to get a hold of the relevant course material - enter the campus bookstore.
"Last year I found that the refund policy was very strict and confusing and so I never attempted to return any books," said a disgruntled second year student who contacted The Brock Press after a failed attempt at returning a book this semester.
During this time of uncertainty, advice from the Director of Bookstore Operations, Trudy Lockyer, is "to familiarise yourself with the refund policy so as to avoid confusion".
After complaints from students concerning the bookstore's refund policy were raised, issues such as textbook prices, buying and returning and even manners were discussed.
"It's difficult to please everyone, [but] the refund policy is not a secret," said Lockyer when explaining the difficult task of enforcing the textbook refund policy.
In addressing students' queries on pricing, Lockyer explained that the campus bookstore prices their books according to "suggested list prices", obtained directly from the publishers with little to no mark up, and that they have no way of competing with chain bookstores such as Chapters.
Lockyer also pointed out that the campus bookstore is in fact "part of the university", not a private entity. This means that money spent at the bookstore goes back into the university, which in turn, is spent on improving the quality of learning tools available to students at Brock.
"I don't think the refund policy is fair because any other bookstore, like Chapters or Indigo, there would be a standard amount of days you are allowed to return a book, not 'one final' day for all purchases," said the second year student.
The specific time period that books can be returned is listed on the refund policy, along with information in regards to providing proof of a dropped course in 'Period 3' in order to obtain a refund, a rule which has proved problematic for some students.
Copies of the bookstores refund policy can be located online at the campus bookstore Web site, posted within the bookstore itself and furthermore, a copy of the refund policy is stapled to each recipt with every purchase.
With the final date for book refunds having past us again for another semester (Jan. 22), book purchases from here on in will be final. As it is a stressful period for both students and those working behind the bookstore counter, who are often students themselves, a collective sigh of relief can be heard as everyone settles into the semester.
For more information regarding the campus bookstores refund policy go to campusstore.brocku.ca and click on the 'refund policy' link.

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