U-Store joins e-commerce trend with online book sales

In an effort to keep pace with the recent outburst of e-commerce, the U-Store has launched a new service that enables students to order their course textbooks online.

According to U-Store president James Sykes, students can visit the U-Store Website, buy their course materials online and even have the books delivered to their rooms at no extra charge.

Sykes said the U-Store recently has encountered competition from online textbook companies as well as local bookstores such as Micawber Books on Nassau Street.

"The Internet and business has become a major issue in retail, and we really felt we needed to offer this service in order to be competitive," he said.

U-Store student board member Gina De Raimo '00 also stressed the importance of keeping up with the growing trend of online shopping. "With the advent of online trading and internet sales, the U-Store is trying to conveniently have all of the students' needs serviced," she said.

Sykes said he anticipated the new service would be popular with many students. "We recognized that there was a certain section of the student population that wouldn't want to deal with the hassle of coming in and waiting in line," he said. "This way we could offer a quicker, hassle-free service and not lose them to the other online companies."

The U-Store is following the technological trend that is sweeping through the University community, Sykes said. "Almost all of the students and professors are wired, so it was only natural for us to have this service available to them," he added.

To simplify the textbook ordering process for professors, the U-Store has included an online "adoption" system where faculty members can reserve their course materials for the upcoming semester.

Sykes said the U-Store offered the online adoption system on a limited basis last semester, and about 30 professors used the new service.

The U-Store has also installed a computer in the textbook room so that students can print out a list of the books they need and "make the shopping process a little easier," Sykes said.

De Raimo said though the U-Store hired experts to set up the new service, any future suggestions for improvements will come directly from the students. "I've gotten some very positive responses from students who are interested in using the service," she added.

John Dabiri '01 said he plans to order his books online. "The process of buying books has always been such a frustrating experience, and I think that this service will make my life much easier," he said.

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Since the service was first implemented Jan. 17, the U-Store has received 196 online orders.

"We've encountered a few challenges the first time around, but overall it's been a good experience to learn from and improve upon for the fall," Sykes said.