INFOSYS 213 - BESS Survey Results

Group: Shirley Chan, Susanne Eklund, Mary Trombley

1. Survey population

Number of responses: 17

12: 1st year SIMS student
4: 2nd year SIMS student
1: Ph.D. SIMS student

2. Do you ever buy used textbooks?

17: Yes
0: No

If yes, when do you buy used textbooks? Check all that apply.

17: When the books are cheaper
15: When books are in good condition
11: When it's convenient
3: When I can buy from someone I know
2: Other Whenever they are available (1); When they are available, always (1)

3. Have you ever resold your textbooks?

13: Yes
5: No

If no, why? Check all that apply.

5: Like to keep my books
3: Too much hassle
5: Didn't think it would get a lot of money
0: Books were out of date
0: Books too damaged
2: Didn't know how to find a buyer
0: Other

4. If you were selling a book, how would like to be contacted? Check all that apply.

3: Phone/voicemail
18: Email
2: In person
2: Other - ICQ, BBS (1); No contact, I'd like to initiate in person on my own. (1)

5. How important are these features to sell a book? Check the appropriate column.

Feature	Not important at all		Somewhat important		Very important
	raw	percent	raw	percent	raw	percent
Privacy	8	47.1%	9	52.9%	0	0.0%
Fast to list a book for sale	0	0.0%	5	29.4%	12	71.6%
Easy to list a book for sale	0	0%	1	5.9%	16	94.1%
Quick sale	0	0%	7	41.2%	10	58.8%
Selling to someone with a SIMS affiliation	12	70.6%	4	23.5%	1	5.9%
Selling at the price I choose	0	0%	11	64.7%	6	35.3%

6. How important are these features to buy a book? Check the appropriate column.*

Feature	Not important at all		Somewhat important		Very important
	raw	percent	raw	percent	raw	percent
Privacy	9	52.9%	7	41.2%	1	5.9%
Listing of required textbooks for each class	1	5.9%	5	29.4%	11	64.7%
Easy to find out contact for buying a book	0	0%	1	5.9%	16	94.1%
Comparison between list price and used price	0	0%	3	17.6%	14	82.4%
Buying from someone with a SIMS affiliation	8	47.1%	9	52.9%	0	0%
Buy at a price below the price for a used book at a bookstore	3	17.6%	6	35.3%	8	47.1%
Not having to wait for a UPS book shipment	2	11.7%	7	41.2%	8	47.1%
Selection	0	0%	9	52.9%	8	47.1%

* One participant wrote that "no highlighting" was a very important feature.

7. Any comments on other exchange sites that you have used (like eBay or Craig's List)?

• I like Craig's List. You get a sense of community to some degree. I would think a SIMS site would be even more so.
• Have done extensive buying and selling via newsgroups, but for some reason, I have not used a web-based exchange site.
• I hate them all.
• I hope I can see the picture of the used book before I buy it. I want to make sure it's in good condition.
• Not tried any of these.
• Most of the sites I know are slow to deliver, and that's their main problem.
• Don't know Craig's List. Don't use eBay.
• EBay, Amazon ZShops

8. Any other comments on this project?

• Most excellent. Wish I had thought of it, and would be happy to help test, and eventually use.
• SIMS community is too small for this to be worthwhile.
• How about readers as well?
• Place to list condition, highlight, comments, marks, etc.
• I like convenience above all and local businesses are my primary target for support.
• Except that it sounds interesting!
• I like Ned's. I like Powell's and go to Bookfinder.com to compare prices (but rarely find what I want).
• Go for it!