Coop Says It Won't Give Rebate on Textbooks

The Harvard Cooperative Society will not offer its members any money back on their purchases this semester, according to Allan E. Powell, the Coop manager.

Last semester the Coop refunded 10 percent of the money students spent on textbooks, but offered no overall store rebate.

"The refund is very expensive to run, and we cannot afford to do it," Powell said. "It is not a profit center."

Last summer the Coop decided to institute the refund in lieu of a rebate, he said. In past years past, the Coop has given its members a rebate in the form of a percentage of the total amount of money each member had spent in a particular year.

Powell said the amount of the rebate depends on the Coop's profitability; as the Coop's profits have decreased so has the rebate.

The Coop rebate two years ago was one percent. Last semester, after announcing that there would not be a rebate for the 1993-94 fiscal year, the Coop decided to offer a refund on Fall semester books, Powell said.

"The rebate is important to the members," he said. "When the Coop is profitable again we will return [the rebate] to the members," Powell added.

Powell said his office has not heard any comments or complaints from Coop members concerning the absence of a refund this semester.

The manager also said that it is too early to determine whether the Coop will make a profit this fiscal year.

Student members of the Coop's board said yesterday the store was working to increase its profitability.

"The Coop's continually looking for new ways to be responsive to its members. The only thing the Coop is committed to in the long run is getting [back] the rebate," said Daniel N. Saul '95, a member of the Coop Board and a Crimson editor.

Many students said yesterday that they are disappointed that they will not be getting any money back.

"It's annoying," said Elisabeth L. Ritter '97. "I saved all my receipts and everything. I bought $300 worth of books. The Coop is just one big gimmick and they can't make up their minds what gimmick they want to be."

"I'm really angry about the Coop's policy on this matter. Books are really expensive and I buy them all at the Coop. I do not think the Coop has the student body's interest in mind," said Sarah E. Jackson '98.

"Highway robbery!" exclaimed Sarah E. Tuttleton '96 when told that she would not receive a refund on her books this semester. "I will buy my books at the Harvard Bookstore."

Tuttleton said the Coop should focus on customer service as well as profitability.

"The money's not really the issue," continued Tuttleton. "It's just the fact the service is so bad that there's not much incentive to shop there. Now that thereisn't a rebate, there's no reason to shop there atall."

Some students said the Coop might make up forits high prices with perks for shoppers.

"They should give out more goody bags ifthey're not giving us a rebate," said Hannah E.Schott '96, referring to the snacks andsample-sized household items that are given topatrons after they purchase their books.

Yesterday Coop shoppers could stock up on freesamples of Pop Tarts.

"Everybody likes the pop tarts," said JeffreyI. Zaref '96, who said he took six Pop Tarts,three in each hand

Some students said the Coop might make up forits high prices with perks for shoppers.

"They should give out more goody bags ifthey're not giving us a rebate," said Hannah E.Schott '96, referring to the snacks andsample-sized household items that are given topatrons after they purchase their books.

Yesterday Coop shoppers could stock up on freesamples of Pop Tarts.

"Everybody likes the pop tarts," said JeffreyI. Zaref '96, who said he took six Pop Tarts,three in each hand