follett operated a retail shell game. They'd use the cost of acquiring a new store to offset the costs of existing stores. They'd heap re-model costs, management costs, training costs on the the new contract All of the labor came in the form of high priced senior staff from other area stores. The donating stores were relieved of their high priced salary for a few weeks a year. If there was a log retail plan, follett's business model worked.
Students found better deals online. They found online buyers for the used books. They learned they weren't captive any longer. They also learned that even if the professor wanted the newest edition of text, the older texts would still work. They discovered torrenting books worked. They found solutions to the skyrocketing cost of education. If gasoline prices increased at the same pace education and educational materials costs increased, we'd have found many alternatives to the gasoline engine by now.
Originally posted by @4hqv+1700WZ6A.