Book rentals now available for reduced prices at CMU Bookstore, Student Book Exchange

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Students now have the option to rent, rather than buy, their textbooks.

Barry Waters, director of the Central Michigan University Bookstore, said there are currently 640 titles available for rental, about 25 percent of the entire textbook list. The rental price is generally between 35-60 percent of the new retail price.

The Student Book Exchange, 209 E. Bellows St., too is giving the students the opportunity.

“We dove in head first in an effort to offer students a lower priced alternative,” Waters said in an e-mailed statement. “The response has been positive.”

At the bookstore, students are able to purchase any item in the store at the same time as rental textbooks and they can pay for that purchase with any of the accepted forms of payment, including charging to their student account.

Mike Johns, an SBX clerk, said they currently have 425 titles available to rent. To rent a textbook from the SBX a student must be 18, have a valid driver’s license or state ID, have a valid credit card (so the SBX can bill them for the replacement costs and processing fees in the event they fail to return the book) and have a valid e-mail address.

Johns, a Jackson junior, said as long as students are responsible he recommends considering renting to students.

“Buying can sometimes be a gamble, especially if they’re not going to carry that book next semester,” Johns said. “To us the real plus is you know exactly what you’re paying for the book.”

On campus, rental books may cost less up front, but they must be returned at the end of the semester and students will receive no refund for the books. If students fail to return the books or return them in poor condition they will be charged the full price of the book and a penalty to their student accounts.

“Customers are given an agreement at the time of rental that clearly states the acceptable conditions for returning books,” Waters said. “If you rent a new textbook it is expected that you will have minimal highlighting and notes within the book when you return it to us.”

Books must be returned to SBX by Dec. 17 in order to avoid late fines.

Erika Schrand was very pleased to have the option to rent or buy. The Avoca sophomore rented only one book because that was her only needed title available for rent. But she said given the option she would rather rent than buy in most situations.

“If I bought a book I’m just going to sell it back anyway,” Schrand said. “Renting seems like a good deal.”