I recently heard about Cengage offering a subscription based service. 120 and you get access to all ebooks and econtent like webassign etc. We're predominantly Cengage at my store and I do not see this going well. What do you all think? Google Cengage Unlimited for more info.
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If it is a print edition, it's a loose leaf book packaged with a consumable password. We're S.O.L.
When the publisher owns the rental book and in other cases publishers are replacing the print edition with an new edition e-book only, there isn't much meat left on the bone.
It's a known issue.
Electronic books are just as expensive when you factor in the programming. Since each title is unique and will require hyperlinks, festures, video, etc they will require unique programming and little to no cost savings.
With publishers low on cash they cant invest much to better the experience.
Sorry but i dont see a big shift happening in the near future.
The trend to digital will continue to grow each year. As soon as the publishers continue to make sure they are cheaper, students will buy them over physical. The cost for the publisher to print/bind etc are zero. And it also drys up the used book market. As we have seen cost drives textbook sales. Why do you need a middle man retailer for digital books?
Ebooks, from an old, college graduate perspective, would have been awesome. Index and search are automated. It's great. Today's students don't like them, however.
This is rubbish. Cengage must be desparate for cash. Its been proven that students in higher education just dont like electronic books and access codes are trash that dont deliver any significant value
Let’s examin. The publisher rep has one job. That job is to produce through cultivating relationships. The publishers have two or more reps on each campus.
The bookstore has a “manager”. Who’s not only supposed to produce but is sometimes the only person in the store, on conference calls, trying to order books, trying to get in touch with someone in GM, managing CT, managing the TB cycle, processing web orders, selling the basket of the week, being told to address payroll and the list goes on and on. The “manager” then realizes that it is really just not worth it because the executives just don’t really give a rats a$$ about them. And it just keeps rolling down hill. So the company gets rid of the unproductive manager and replaces them with less expensive help. When the less expensive help soon realizes that it’s not worth it...the company gets rid of them and the cycle continues. Until one day...there is no more help applying for the jobs because the word is out about what a hell hole this company is.
Current leadership has no clue on how to handle this. They are driving blind while clinging to outdated technology and business models. Really curious about what’s direction the new guy is going to take us. Only time will tell!
We do much more through Pearson. I've lost count this semester of how many students said their instructors are providing them links to buy their codes and digital texts direct from Pearson, leaving my bundles sitting on the shelf. Sales in my whole region are tanking.
Stores can sell it, but our profit margin on a 120 buck sub is not gonna make up the difference. I'm curious to find out what the Corp response will be
Do the stores get a cut at all?
The sages at the HO are on to it. They will have a brilliant, creative solution.