Online textbook retailer BigWords filled its last order and “”succumbed … to the powers that be,”” according to an explanation posted on its Web site on Oct. 20.
Like many other online retailers, BigWords has encountered financial difficulties that have ground its operations to a halt.
The announcement makes matters difficult for college students across the nation, including UCSD students. Students who wish to return their textbooks or request a refund directly from BigWords will be unable to do so, given the company’s untimely failure.
The UCSD Bookstore is offering a solution to students. John Turk, UCSD Bookstore director, has decided that the Bookstore will accept receipts from BigWords and honor book returns as if they were from the Bookstore.
“”We feel it fills our mission to be of service for the academic community, particularly the students, who are caught in the middle by circumstances beyond their control,”” said David Wilson, course materials manager. “”It’s purely a service mission on our part.””
The bookstore’s new policy is designed to help students who purchased textbooks for the fall quarter from BigWords and later dropped the class or wished to return their books.
Students who would not have been able to obtain a refund for their BigWords books can return them to the Bookstore for full credit. “”It’s not a give-away, exactly,”” Wilson said. “”We do get the book. We’re just giving [students] credit. It’s not as if we’re saying, ‘Whatever loss you suffered from BigWords, we’ll cover.'””
It is difficult to speculate how many UCSD students have been affected by BigWords’ closure, and how many will take advantage of the Bookstore’s offer.
“”I hesitate to say whether it will be half a dozen or 20,”” Wilson said. “”It’s not just the number of students who ordered books from BigWords — it’s only the ones who had a problem and did not get it resolved.””
Students with a BigWords textbook they wish to return should bring it and its original receipt to the customer service area of the UCSD Bookstore by Nov. 11. The book must be in mint condition for a full credit. Otherwise, a 75 percent credit will be issued.
For more information, please contact David Wilson at (858) 534-3771.
