Hectic searching and long lines await those students who did not pre-order their books, but UofA Bookstore officials say they are well prepared to handle the influx of students.
Today and tomorrow will be the busiest days to get books, so the bookstore hired close to 250 additional students to help during the rush, said Debby Shively, director UofA Bookstore.
If looking to avoid long lines, Shively suggests coming in before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. The students who pre-ordered their textbooks will avoid the long lines.
“”If (students) pre-order their textbooks (the bookstore) will get the lists very early on. We’ll be able to pull them and bag them for (students) and then (students) can just come in and pick them up, and that will reduce wait time significantly,”” said Kurtis Durfey, marketing specialist for UofA Bookstores.
“”I like to do the pre-order,”” said Dana Spaniol, a senior studying retailing and consumer sciences. “”(You) don’t waste time picking them out and you get used books, which is a good deal.””
For those who did not pre-order, Shively wants students to know even though the lines look long, the wait is at maximum of six minutes.
“”The line is scary but it’s deceiving,”” Shively said. “”It moves really fast.””
The bookstore has developed several methods to lessen the wait time.
Members of the bookstore staff are scattered throughout the store to help students who may not be able to find what they are looking for. There are also close to 30 registers running all day to help the line move quickly, according to Shively.
“”They were extremely helpful,”” said Becca Hynes, a freshman studying linguistics. “”I was surprised by that.””
Some students avoid the high costs by ordering their textbooks online.
“”Online is very deceiving realistically.”” Shively said. “”One of the advantages of (buying at the bookstore) is that the money stays on campus, and we do try and compete with the online retailers,””
“”It’s cheaper (to get books online) because you just get used books,”” said Liana Joesph, a freshman double majoring in pre-nursing and psychology. “”You get them before school starts so you get time to review them.””
“”I buy (books) that are online,”” said Tara Fleishman, a Judaic studies and sociology junior. “”The (books) that aren’t online I buy here.””
Money spent at the bookstore is used to support the student affairs division and the UA. Commencement, ASUA, UApresents, Student Textbook Scholarships and much more are all supported by money spent at the bookstore according to Shively and Durfey.
“”If you order online you might have to pay shipping, you have to wait for it and it could take several weeks to get there. We are right on campus,”” Durfey said.
The bookstore can be more convenient for students due to its central location in the Student Union Memorial Center.
Shively also wants to clarify that there is a difference between UofA Bookstore and Arizona Bookstore located on Park Street and 2nd Street. Arizona Bookstore is a privately owned company from Nebraska and proceeds will not go to the UA unlike the UofA Bookstore. The Arizona Bookstore declined to comment on this matter.
