Bookstore Disapoints Students Frustrated With High Prices,
By Samuel Wheeler ’08
News Staff Writer
The Prissm Management group has owned and operated the Choate school store for four and a half years. The store, located in the basement of the John Josephs Activity Center JJAC, has undergone drastic changes in the last four years. Mr. Herb Tryon has been the owner of the Prissm Management group during its tenure as the school store for Choate Rosemary Hall. Despite, Mr. Tryon and the Prissm Management Group’s effort to create a well-priced and well-established store, the students remail critical.
The Prissm Management Group owns and operates the school store for eight prep schools in New England. These schools include Choate, Suffield, Taft, Miss Porters, Kingswood-Oxford and NMH. Herb Tryon, the owner of the Prissm Management Group has made a commitment to the schools he is a part of and Choate is no exception.
Mr. Tryon stressed the fact that Choate’s school store is “probably the finest prep school store in New England”. According to Mr. Tryon, the school store went through a giant physical renovation last summer. Together with Choate’s Business Department, the Prissm Management group designed a school store to “mirror the college school stores.” Mr. Tryon noted, “The company and Choate spent a considerable amount of money on the store because the school believed it was the right thing to do”. The remodeling last summer, was the result of a two-year plan involving the Prissm Management group, Mr. Jim Yanelli, Director of Student Activities, and Choate.
Mr. Tryon reported that the store staff, which has been with him since the beginning of the Prissm Management Group’s reign over the school store, is responsible for the Choate paraphernalia, school supplies, books, and any other object for sale in the school store. Faculty and the different departments within Choate’s educational galazy, however, are responsible for ordering the textbooks sold in the school store.
Students Express Frustration
The textbooks have been the biggest frustration with the student body. Many feel as if the prices are extremely high and feel as if they, the student body, are being taken advantage of. Sixth former Brian McDermott was outraged by this year’s textbook prices. McDermott noted, “I am spending my life savings on these books. The prices are outrageous.” Sixth former Blake Gruber had a similar reaction, “I am happy I have not had to buy these books all four years of my high school career. If I had, I probably would not have any spending money for my own leisure. Something needs to be done about these prices.” Rebecca Marber ’09 said, “books are books; we need them no matter what. However, I still think the school store could lower the prices.” Mr. Tryon reported to the news that the Prissm Management Group has a 25 percent markup on their textbook prices. Mr. Tryon said, “We do not determine the price of textbooks. The publishers sell at net prices and we only have a 25 percent markup price.” 25 percent is not a high profit margin relative to other aspects of the commercial world. Name brand clothing, remarked Mr. Tryon, can have any where from a 60-100 percent margin.
Students Turn to Other Options
Textbook availability is another issue students have trouble with. Fifth former, M.E. Hawkins said, “Sometimes it is frustrating to go to the school store day after day looking to see if the textbook I need is in stock.” Mr. Tryon understands that the store cannot be perfect and commented, “we don’t get everything right, but the reality is that we are dedicated to the community.”
Some students have turned to Amazon.com for textbooks because of frustration with the school store. Tyler Maloney ’08 said, “I get most my books on Amazon now. It is cheap and reliable.” The cause of the unavailability is unknown. The school store is not responsible for the publishers and companies it places orders with. As Mr. Tryon mentioned, the school store orders textbooks that the faculty ask for. It is not in the hands of the faculty of the school store to make sure the orders come on time.
Mangements Profit is Unknown
With that being said, many students still believe there is some sort of conspiracy. Connor Goggin 08’ said, “the store has to be making huge profits.” The Prissm Management Group’s profit is unknown and Mr. Tryon declined to comment on his profits for last quarter.
Even thought the Prissm Management Group has reported one hundred percent commitment to the Choate community, students may still want change. Whether the students ever act on their opinions remains uncertain.
