At Penn State University, the Miller Economics Today textbook was a new edition costing $78. The only difference between last year’s edition is that the book now comes in a three-ring binder and includes copies of newspaper articles. As a result of this “new” edition, last-term students received nothing for their used textbook at buy-back rather than $40 for a used book sale. This Fall, since there were no used textbooks available, they paid $78 vs. $58 for used. And, at buy-back this Fall, the store will not be buying back a “used textbook” that is now a three-ring binder, so the student gets nothing for their $78 purchase.

In addition, publishers limit the amount a store can return of this type of book to 10% of what it purchased vs. 100% return privileges with traditional textbooks. What happens to the books exceeding 10%? They end up in the dumpster, shrinkwrap still attached – never opened.