Josiah Ryan/Collegian
Tyler Winn (L) and Carl Lucas, founders of the Hillsdale Book Exchange, show their successful website.
"I think every student, at one time or another, has complained about bookstore prices," junior Tyler Winn said.
An economics major, Winn was inspired to create the Hillsdale Book Exchange-a service through which Hillsdale College students can buy and sell textbooks-after taking various economics and business classes and reading numerous business and entrepreneurship books this summer.
"I think it's something students have wanted for a really long time," Winn said. "And competition is Hillsdale all the way."
Winn said others have had the same idea, but "usually a student board of some kind sets it up."
He wanted something professional, but knew nothing about setting up web sites, so he called junior Carl Lucas, an English major who transferred to Hillsdale last year from Michigan Technological University.
"He's a genius," Winn said. "I told him what I wanted, and he set up a database. We put a lot of hours into it. I could not have done it without him."
Lucas said there will be a number of improvements to the site before next semester.
"Tyler has a whole host of ideas, as do I," Lucas said.
The HBX system is fairly simple: Buyers and sellers create accounts with the HBX by using their Hillsdale user names. Sellers can post as many books as they wish, including details about their books' conditions, and they can set their own prices. They only pay a fee when a book sells. Buyers do not need to register to browse books, but only to buy.
The day after a book is purchased, a seller visits the drop-off location and gives the book to Winn. This semester, Winn had a table set up outside the snack bar from 2:30 to 3:30 every weekday. Two days after a book is purchased, a buyer visits the drop-off location and exchanges a check for the book.
Freshman Joe Patten said he saw a flier in his lobby for the HBX and used the service to buy a book. He said he would probably use it again.
Sophomore Brandon Muri also used the HBX to buy a book and said he too would likely use the service again.
"They have the books that I want," Muri said. "It's a cool system for the students, and it worked pretty smoothly."
Winn said the HBX has an advantage over online textbook sites.
"It's cool to know that you're buying from other students," he said. "With me, if you come in and you bought a book and you don't want it, you don't have to keep it. You have a chance to look at the book and see if you really want it or not."
Winn also said students tend to sell reasonably.
"What's so cool about it is everyone wins," he said.
He said next semester he will likely make the HBX more public, but for now he is "relying mostly on word of mouth."
"I have a lot of high hopes for it," he said.
Junior Talitha Brauer, who bought one book using the HBX, said she will use the service again.
"I wanted to save money," she said. "And the Hillsdale Book Exchange had really good prices. You get to see the book ahead of time, which is good. I plan to sell stuff on it, too, when I get my act together."
As far as competition goes, even with the good response, the bookstore isn't worried.
" It [the HBX] doesn't concern us as far as business goes," bookstore assistant manager Angie Barry said. "We've always been here and we'll always be here to help the students."
The HBX closed last Friday for the semester. The site had over 500 unique visitors, and about 150 people created accounts. 150-200 books were posted, and over 40 books were sold.
More details can be found at http://www.HillsdaleBookExchange.com.