Books swapped online

With rising textbook prices and the recent decision by the University to eliminate bursar billing for the majority of the student body, many students are now looking at alternative options for buying textbooks.\nIn response, Junior Alban Mehmeti, with assistance from senior Daniel Barton and Jared Petravicius, a University of Michigan graduate, has created www.swapiub.com, a Web site designed for students to buy, sell and trade textbooks.\n"The idea of the site is to sign up, put books up for sale and have others buy them from you," Mehmeti said. "Basically we're a listing service for books."\nAfter students register with the site they can name their own selling price for their books. The Web site recommends users list the price 30 to 70 percent of the IU Bookstore's used prices. Swapiub.com then adds 10 percent to the initial listed selling price that goes to fund its services.\n"First students that sell their books back make three times more money than when they sell them at the IU Bookstore," Mehmeti said. "Then buying is cheaper, with the lower prices. It's a win-win situation."\nDistinguishing itself from other textbook exchange Web sites and services, such as www.swapsimple.com, the site has purchased a database from the IU Bookstore that lists required textbooks for every class in the University. This allows prospective buyers not only to search by the title or ISBN number of the book, but also by the specific class they are enrolled in. However, the site's database will not be as active as the IU bookstore's, since they plan on updating it only once per week or month. \nAlso unique in catering exclusively to IU-Bloomington students, the site plans to implement a delivery service by next fall. After placing an order, www.swapsimple.com will send the books to the buyer's door for a small fee. \nMehmeti acknowledged several challenges users of the site might face. One of which is that the site cannot provide instant cash like the IU Bookstore for students selling their books. Though sellers might get more through this service, they may have to wait longer before they can sell their books. Students will likely have to wait until next fall when there is a buyer's market for books again, especially during the end of the spring semester.\n"Students have a tendency to want cash right at the end of the semester," said Dean of Students Richard McKaig. "The seller must be willing to risk deferring immediate income." \nThe University's decision to restrict bursar billing might give students more of an incentive to choose other venues than the IU Bookstore.\n"I think most students buy from the bookstore because they can put it on their bursar bill," Mehmeti said. "Now students will start watching the prices more closely. This will really work in our favor."\nAnother potential problem is that Mehmeti believes that students will want to sell more than purchase. Without enough buyers, Mehmeti warns, the site will be unsuccessful as it will be overwhelmed with sellers who can't find buyers for their books.\nMehmeti said they don't plan on restricting the site to only books. A student market will provide an outlet for students to buy and sell items such as appliances, furniture or electronics. \nThe site is currently in its beta stage which only allows students to sign up, list books, and make limited exchanges. The full version is expected to be operational by fall 2005. \n-- Contact staff writer Trevor Brown at brownta@indiana.edu.