Book Fair Elementary School (rant)

**mombottoo** · 12-19-2008, 09:42 AM

I must be getting old or something because I know that when my kids were in elementary school the books at the book fair were pretty affordable. My grandson's school was having a book fair last week and the book he wanted to buy was $35!!!! For one book, well make that 2, they threw in a free book if you bought the $35 book...he's in 2nd grade for heaven's sake.

My grandson is a saver (thanks to me) and he keeps his money at my house (I'm his bank lol) and he approached me about him spending $35 on this book from his school's book fair when I went to his Christmas program. I told him that $35 was a lot of money to spend on one/two books and that I would seach online and see what I could come up with, cuz I knew I could find said book cheaper. The book is Harry Potter #7...well I found a boxed set of books 1-6 & book 7 for $54.82, the boxed set was $35.84 for 6 books. So, he now has Harry Potter books 1-7 for $19.82 more than it would have cost him for one Harry Potter book at the book fair.

I personally think that having expensive books at an elementary book fair is just wrong. Now, he and I are going to have a discussion about how sometimes even when something "free" is thrown in, it's not always a good deal.

**Patty A** · 12-19-2008, 10:03 AM

Way to go, and that was great savings. It does seem awful to me that the book fairs are not what they use to be. They want kids to read, yet the prices of books are unreal. It just somehow doesn't seem right that they can't find a better price for the books at the school book fairs.
If you really want to see a mark up on books, check out a college book store, wow!
Those things are just awful!

**nvmommyx6** · 12-19-2008, 10:22 AM

A few years ago my son had an overdue book at the library, and he could not find it, we tore this house upside down because the notice I got was for the return of the book or $40.!!!
So, I asked her, what makes this book so incredible? It was a harry potter book to! I said, "Is it signed by the author, hardback and a 1st edition?!! She said no, that is just what it costs to replace it!
So I had her give me the SKU #, I looked it up on amazon and found it for $2.60..bought it, took it into the library and gave it to her! She tried to say it was not the same book and I said match the SKU #'s this is the same book that you had on file here and now I have replaced it!
So she was happy with that, bout a month later we found the stupid book!!!

**cmdarlin** · 12-19-2008, 10:26 AM

That's crazy. Its good for him that grandma can show him how to shop for a better bargin too!

Debbie

**homesteadmamma** · 12-19-2008, 11:24 AM

That's so smart in teaching your grandson that lesson. It's one everyone needs to learn. And yes that is a ridiculous price.

**guest002** · 12-19-2008, 01:09 PM

Was it a Scholastic Book fair? I spent quite a bit of money at our elementary school's book fair earlier this year. Most of the books are list price. A few are 'sale' books. I didn't feel bad about spending more on them because the profit goes to our PTA program and our PTA does so much more than any other I've been a member of. It makes my head spin. They actually paid for the PE teacher when the state of California decided they couldn't afford to fun PE anymore! Now, depending on where the profits go to would be how I would have made my decision.

Way to go on giving him a more affordable option.

**nancycg56** · 12-19-2008, 01:09 PM

I used to work the book fairs for my kid's school and we had a BIG range of books ~ from 99 cents on up and we had something for everyone

Books are the one thing I never said no to when my kids were growing up (actually I'm still that way, LOL) ~ especially book fairs since they benefited the school library and the library got tons of new books this way.

Kudos for finding another option

**TexasPeanut** · 12-19-2008, 04:37 PM

I agree on some of the books at elementary school book fairs being way too expensive. When my son was in elementary they would try to make you feel guilty for not buying something from the book fair to support the school (so they could buy more books and things), now keep in mind he attended a tiny country school with only 10 students in his grade/class so everyone knew everyone. By third grade, I had enough and said no more. There was no way I was going to pay $8.99 for Goosebumps book when you can go to the local bookstore and pay $4.99 for the same book, or even better I would buy them at the public library book sales for 50 cents. So I said my peace to everyone about the pricing of those books and left it at that. My kid would get a bundle of books (purchased used but awesome condition) all the time throughout the year while other kids were getting maybe 4 new books a year because that's the only place their parents bought books for them at. Such a shame.

**Cricket1** · 12-19-2008, 05:03 PM

We just had a Scholastic book fair at my school and there was a large range of prices--most of them averaged about $3.00. I was surprised at the number of pens, erasers and stuffed animals that they also had for sale--I didn't think all of that "stuff" was necessary.

**mombottoo** · 12-19-2008, 09:24 PM

Yes, it was a Scholastic Book fair. I understand the profits go to the school via PTA or whatever, but $35 books at a kids book fair is still ridiculous. With the economy the way it is parents are lucky if they have the money to put shoes on their kids and $35 will buy a couple of pairs of shoes if you shop smart. I'm sure the school would sell many more books if they had a top limit of say $5 for a book. I would give the grandkid $5 for a book, but $35 isn't ever going to happen...not unless they are in college.

**bumplett** · 12-19-2008, 09:34 PM

while I do understand your point about $35 being far too much for a book, I'd also like to remind everyone that it's a parent's choice to purchase such books.

I go to the bookfair WITH my kids - I don't just randomly and blindly send money in - think of those parents that DO!

Soooo, I guess what I'm saying is that it doesn't bother me that they have overpriced books.... simply because I wouldn't purchase it.... if someone else chooses to - that's their choice....

I personally LOVE the HALF price book fair in the Spring!!! Wow - you can get good deals at that one!

**MommyBliss** · 12-19-2008, 11:03 PM

That is why I just wouldn't buy from their schools when they were in public school. I could do better online and at half.com.

**HandyMom** · 12-20-2008, 01:09 AM

I remember there were some books that DD wanted that we couldn't find online so I bought them for her but they weren't nearly as expensive as a $35 book. She ordered a few things that she was disappointed in when she got them because they were cheap looking kits. I refuse to buy her books now until I look online first for them.

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 12-20-2008, 03:03 AM

Originally Posted by nvmommyx6

A few years ago my son had an overdue book at the library, and he could not find it, we tore this house upside down because the notice I got was for the return of the book or $40.!!!
So, I asked her, what makes this book so incredible? It was a harry potter book to! I said, "Is it signed by the author, hardback and a 1st edition?!! She said no, that is just what it costs to replace it!
So I had her give me the SKU #, I looked it up on amazon and found it for $2.60..bought it, took it into the library and gave it to her! She tried to say it was not the same book and I said match the SKU #'s this is the same book that you had on file here and now I have replaced it!
So she was happy with that, bout a month later we found the stupid book!!!

I have to step in on this. Even if the book had the same SKU, it is often a different BINDING. Library bindings are designed to take the abuse of many users over a short space of time. Even library bindings aren't always tough enough for popular titles like Harry Potter. Also, it's not just the cost of the book, but the processing of the book as well. The book must be ordered, cataloged, a bar code put on it, stamped, a security strip inserted and a plastic jacket put on it as well. this adds about $7.00 worth of supplies plus about $10.00 in labor to the cost of the book.

Also, was this a new book or used? Of course, a new book costs more than a used one (unless, it's a signed or first edition!).