Students are receiving more than textbooks for their money this semester when shopping at Gainesville bookstores.
In the competitive textbook-selling business, many local bookstore owners are trying to give their stores an edge by offering incentives to students.
Kenneth Roberts, owner of Orange and Blue Textbooks, said because many of the books his store sells come from the same publishing company that competing stores use, the bookstore must find a way to attract customers.
"One way is to sell used books, but this doesn't resonate as much to students as giving them something for free that they actually would want," Roberts said.
Roberts said many of the bookstores that were previously owned by individuals are now owned by large conglomerates, so incentives are used to provide a competitive advantage.
OBT is offering promotions such as a certificate for a deal at Happy Go Lucky Boutique when purchasing two or more textbooks. It is also offering a Gator Cinemas movie pass when purchasing three or more textbooks, according to its Web site.
Nandy Ferguson, general manager of the Florida Book Store, said incentives give a reason beyond low prices for students to shop at a specific bookstore.
The Florida Book Store's incentives this semester include coupons for a free Chipotle burrito and a giveaway of tickets to The Real Big Deal music, camping and arts festival at the Alachua County Fairgrounds, according to its Web site.
