Next week buyback mania begins and the smell of disappointment is already beginning to fill the air. Zavelle’s bookstore, on Broad Street just south of campus, will continue offering an alternative to the long lines and anger filled Temple’s bookstore.
Because Zavelle’s doesn’t know all the books being used by Temple’s professors, “I buyback by gut feeling,” said Angelo Berganozi, the store’s owner. He added that it comes with experience and knowing the situation.
So far taking chances has worked well for Zavelle’s, but Berganozi is quick to mention help from students for his success. Some students each semester let him know if his prices for buyback are cheaper or just plain good. Student employees at the store also clue him as to what books are being used.
He also has gone onto campus each semester to try to get book orders from professors. Berganozi visits the different departments on campus to ask professors to order books through his store. Problems with Temple’s bookstore have increased the number of professors who order books through Zavelle’s.
Berganozi uses three different buying guides when it comes to deciding what prices to use when buying back books. The best price for the student is what Zavelle’s uses.
Berganozi said the goal is always to have as many used books as possible because that is where the students save. Prices of textbooks have soared in recent years and selling used books helps the students.
“If it’s in the buying guide with a price, we don’t turn away books,” Berganozi said.
Zavelle’s even takes the chance buying back books that are old editions. When the new IH 51 books came out, Zavelle’s bought back a lot of the old editions and ended up selling them all the next semester. It’s difficult for the store to know if professors are using new editions of books or continuing with older editions.
For buyback, some wrapped books, suck as Parkins’ “Macroeconomics” are accepted by Zavelle’s. These book sets usually include a workbook or CD-ROM. and are not bought back by Temple’s bookstore.
The philosophy at Zavelle’s is to buy it back at a good price or not at all. If for some reason Zavelle’s cannot give a deal, Berganozi tells the student to try Temple’s bookstore.
Zavelle’s has been the alternative to Temple’s own bookstore for 65 years. The store was located where Barnes & Noble is on Broad and Cecil B. Moore Streets, but was forced out to make room for the retail store. That created a significant drop in business, about 30 percent according to Berganozi. But with the explosion of Temple’s admissions, sales in the store have improved over business in the old store.
When it comes to book sales, Zavelle’s relies on used books, but when new editions are needed, any one of three wholesale vendors are used.
For pricing methods, Berganozi won’t say how prices are determined, but he does say he’s not interested in Temple’s bookstore prices.
“More books for your money, more money for your books,” Berganozi said.
The store that Zavelle’s now occupies is smaller than their previous location, but they still have room to grow, according to Berganozi.
Like Temple’s bookstore, during buyback and beginning of the semester lines can be expected but Berganozi said they are not constant.
One difference students will find in the beginning of the each semester is a three day wait for most books, not weeks. Some books can even be in store the next day because Zavelle’s is part of an independent chain and books can be shipped overnight from their other locations in New York.
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