(no subject)

[geekchick]

I'm trying to register for a technical writing class at NVCC, but their online registration application tells me I can't enroll because I haven't taken College Composition I. Yes I have. Seventeen years ago. *ahem* I'm pretty sure that extremely expensive piece of paper sitting in the basement implies that I've successfully passed freshman composition (although granted, not at NVCC). Note to self: email professor tomorrow and ask for permission to do an end run around the registration software.

I used to work in a college bookstore and so I know the logic behind some of the store pricing, but $100 for a paperback is still just stupid.

Comments

[free-of-whip.livejournal.com]

From the other side of it (as an author), I can tell you that very little of the price of an academic book relates to the cost of producing the book. My book is now selling for $199.00. The cost of manufacturing it (even though it is a hardback) is about $10 or $15. I get about $20. Most of the rest consists of advertising costs. Because you have to spend so much to get a book noticed, and academic books typically don't sell that many copies even once they are noticed, the cost of advertising per book sold is astronomical.

[points.livejournal.com]

Huh. Makes sense. Thank you!

[geekchick]

I knew there was a lot of money for advertising built in, but I hadn't realized quite how much. Very interesting, thank you. It also puts some of those $150 100-page engineering texts I've seen into perspective. =)