page 6, Jan. 19,1979
BOOKSTORE
NOT TO
BLAME FOR
HIGH COST
* With the arrival of a new term,
U^i'C-A students are faced with
the purchase of course books at
ever-rising costs. Many students
falsely attribute this increasing
burden to tlie Book Store and
its management. Under closer
scrutiny, it becomes apparent
that the Book Store is making
efforts to keep these costs at a
minimum.
Contrary to widespread be
lief, the Book Store has abso
lutely no voice in the selection
of books for each course. This
responsibility is placed solely
on tlie professor teaching his
particular subject. There are
no expense limits imposed on
professors by the Book Store
or the Administration, so in
structors are free to require
any number of books at any
cost. With this freedom, prof
essors can order and require
books not actually usec^ during
their course, and the same sub
ject/course under different in-
structots can require two sep
arate sets of books.
W'ith such diversity of mater
ial, the Book Store and students
And it difficult to make u% of
book exchanges to cut costs.
The Book Store attempts to '
lower student costs by stocking '
used books obtained througli
student exchanges and a used
book agency, Barnes & Noble.
To students, the Book Store
guarantees one-half of. the cur
rent price of a text if it will be
used in a course again and is the
proper edition. After purchase,
the Book Store sells tliese books
at a reduced rate over new cost.
The Book Store attempts to>
lower student costs with thesei
I
measures, but by N.C. State Law,'
as an auxiliary service of the uni
versity system, it must maintain
a margin of orofit. In accordance,
with established book store and
publishing companies’ price in
dexes, it charges a gross profit
of 25% on retail books. (Other
profit margins are listed below.)
For example, if the Book Store
obtains a book at $7.50 whole
sale, it is obligated to cliarge
$10.00 retail price. This figure of
25% on books is inflated over
real gross profit (about 14.6% in
1978) due to handling and ship
ping expenses.
Another costly problem faced
by the Book Store is the rising oc
currences of shoplifting. Accord-
to Mr. Pott, Vice Chancellor of
Finance, the problem is greatest
at the start of a term when
student needs are higher and the
Book Store is crowded. Attempt
ing to lower shoplifting, Mr. Pott
has requested assistance from sec
urity. To combat tliese losses,
the Book Store must raise prices
on other items sold in the store.
Ud until last year, the UNC-A
Book Store showed reasonable
profits. These profits are de
posited in a fund maintained by
the Book Store from year to
year. The cumulative fund bal
ance at the end of the fiscal year
1978 was listed at $54,399.01.
In die fiscal year 1978, the Book
Store showed a net loss of about
$2,100.00 which can partly be
attributed to the addition of a
staff member. Mr. Pott does not
foresee a loss this year.
The year, the Book Store start
ed to use these funds to provide
scholarships. Every year they plan
to give four $500.00 scholarships
to too high school seniors in order
to encourage auality students to
attend UNC-A.
BY SUSAN ROBINSON
UNC-A has recently formed a
Music Qub. This new group is uni
ting individuals in the campus
community who play instruments,
sing, or are simply interested in
communication through musical
mediums. The meetings are very
informal and mainly consist of
casual jam sessions. We hope to
get together several guests to play
for the club and lecture about
their music, as well as give some
presentations of our own work. If
you are interested you are wel
come to attend (students, faculty,
staff) the meeting which will be
held each Friday evening from
5:00 p.m. onwards in the Cof
feehouse in the Lipinsky Stu
dent Center. We urge your sup
port to make this club a success.
Below, is the financial record
of the Book Store for the year
1977-1978:
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE
Student Stores Operation
Departmental Statement of Profit and Loss
For the Year Ended June 30, 1978
Textbooks
..Sundries
. Used Books..
$144,992.24
$46,373.28
123392.03
$169,765.31
45,949.13
$123,816.18
$15,538.98
$7,411.64
8,130.89
$15,542.53
5,743.21
$9,799.32
$15,945.29
$11,662.47
11,669.15
$32,331.62
11,041.30
$12,290.32
$6,568.97
-0-
4,339.65
$4,339.65
1,194.38
$3,145.27
$183,045.48
$65,4477.39
147,531.72
$212,979.11
63,928.02
$149,051.09
$21,176.06
$5,739.66
$3,645.97
$3,423.70
$33,994.39
14.6%
36.9%
22.9%
52.1%
18.6%
Student Store Sales
Inventory 7/1/77
Purchases
Total Goods Avail, for Sale
Less Inventory 6/30/78
Cost of Sales
Gross Profit
Gross Profit %
Expendures (nqn-departmentalized)
Salaries and Waj^es '. $27,211.00
Staff Benefits $4,982.41
Supplies and Materials $963.69
Communication $1,103.04
Other Current Services .' $488.07
Fixed Charges $311.31
Purchase of Equipment $1,645.54
Work Study Matching $191.55
Total Expenditures $36,905.61
Other Revenue
Vending Machines $76.50
Net Profit (Loss) from Operations $(2,834.72)
-$2,134.72
Add: Fund Balance July 1,1977 57,233.79
FUND BALANCE JUNE 30, 1978 $54,339.07