Alligator Online
By JESSICA RIFFEL
A UF student launched a Web site Sunday that allows students to buy and sell textbooks without the middleman.
"The whole process is free," said Foley Ma, fifth-year computer engineering student. "There's no commission or anything."
Ma designed the Web site, swampboard.com, so students can buy or sell textbooks with complete privacy and get better prices than they would at a traditional bookstore.
"I hope that no one has to rely on buybacks at the bookstore anymore or buy online," Ma said.
However, the director of UF Bookstores warned students to be cautious of the condition and edition of books for sale.
"When you don't have a store behind it, it's kind of hard to see what you're getting," Lynne Vaughan said.
Swamp Board allows sellers to list the condition of the book and describe if there is any highlighting or damage.
"It's based on trust," Ma said.
The manager of T.I.S. College Bookstore, Pam Suminski, refused to comment.
Ma began planning the program after he received only $68 from a seller who paid $80 for his used textbook through half.com, the online bookstore affiliated with eBay.
He noticed the buyer was from Gainesville, but since the book was already sold through the Web site, he wasn't allowed to arrange a meeting.
"I was forced to ship it to him, and I was charged the $12 commission," Ma said.
Ma avoided future commission and developed the idea for his Web site, from which he does not make a profit.
The site began running Sunday, and as of Tuesday afternoon there were 62 registered users and 66 books listed.
To get a strong response, Ma has been posting fliers on campus. He also handed out fliers on Turlington Plaza on Monday and Tuesday. He said unlike most people who hand out fliers on campus, he has received an enthusiastic response.
"There's some cases when they come back and get more to hand out to their friends," Ma said.
Some of the prices offered on the Web site are lower than competitors' prices.
A textbook, "American Government: Readings and Cases," is offered for $25 on Swamp Board, but the same book, also listed in good condition, is being sold for about $10 more on half.com and at T.I.S. College Bookstore. But prices aren't always better at Swamp Board.
A psychology textbook is selling for $18 more than the highest listed price for the same book in "like new" condition at half.com.
"If you're shopping for books, you should try to get the best price, and if that's not here, go to www.half.com or a bookstore," Ma said.
UF student Molly Aubry said she liked the idea of Swamp Board.
"I think it sounds smart because you'll get more money for your books and buy them cheaper," Aubry said.