I’ve always been a fan of social networks and I am part of a few. More than 14 years ago, I started a site that was similar to Facebook but I kept it in closed beta and only one school. It was killed because the technology just wasn’t there to make it happen like I wanted it. So, instead of being unhappy with it, I dropped the project and the domain name. It’s currently available if you want it.
Anyway, one problem I’ve always had has been the cost of textbooks for college. I’ve finally gotten to the point where I just can’t take it anymore. I’ve been pondering the creation of an open textbook project, but there are a few of those in the works and I don’t want to take any momentum away. Practicality suggests they won’t be adopted by any university or college short of one that wants to stand out of the crowd to gain good will amongst a few students. I applaud the idea though.
In the mean time, things like the fact that I paid more for a textbook after it was used than the original person who bought it [and I assume it was new at the time]. I’m not kidding. One of my MBA program books was purchased used, and I paid $10 more than the person who sold it back to the bookstore. How do I know that? Because I have the receipt and the textbook sitting on my shelf [points at shelf].
So, I’m starting a book exchange, trading, sharing, etc forum. It is called txtbk.co [yes, that is correct, no "m" there, it isn't a .com] which signifies that I’m cutting out the middle man and fluff. No more marked up textbooks for me or my cohort of students. There is no reason that a used book is sold back to a store on a campus for 10-35% of the original price just so it can be sold back at near the original price. Considering storage is at most, a quarter of the year, there is a known quantity purchased, and so many other knowns that students are put at a disadvantage 100% of the time. No negotiating power, no customer service [I was told I can look up prices online today because the person didn't want to go into the stacks, and they wouldn't let me go into the stacks because it was messy]
So, anyway.. enough of my soap box. Go visit txtbk.co in a few days and the forum will be up. You have to sign up because I don’t want spam, you have to use your school address so I know you are a student and not a spammer. Thanks for understanding.