Double Wow, A "What's New" Article on the BYU Homepage

The BYU Homepage had a "What's New" article mentioning the Bookstore Sellback AND the Bookexchange. I couldn't believe it.

Things are just amazing. I didn't do anything to request that. I need to find out who it was that got the approval for that and send them a HUGE thank you note.

Wow, a University Communications Email

So, I woke up this morning, came to campus, and saw the email from University Communications. I couldn't believe it. In the past I've had to work with various people to get an email sent out. This time I didn't have to do anything! It just happened!

What's next? Well, I'm working on getting a link on Route Y. In order for that to happen, this whole program needs to be supported by someone besides me. Right now the Dean of Students Office is going to take on the project.

The OTHER thing that needs to happen is that if people call OIT with problems, they need to know who to forward the support calls to (and who to charge). Yeah, it costs money when you call IT. The problem with that is I can't pay for support calls, you don't want to pay for support calls, NO ONE wants to pay for support calls.

To remedy that problem, I hope to put up a forum and a detailed FAQ this coming summer. Hopefully students will use the forum before calling IT :-)

Bookexchange, Politics, and BYUSA Elections

Many of you may received an email from me (Nathan Given) on Wednesday around 2 pm (I received my own email at 2:01 pm).

Here is the full text of the email:

Dear Nathan Given,

It's now time to make any necessary changes to the Bookexchange and I need your feedback!

If you have something that you liked or didn't like, let me know. I'd like to hear your ideas! (Hopefully I'll be able to make any changes ;-) )

Also, BYUSA is currently holding elections for BYUSA president. Elections this year could have an impact on the Bookexchange.

Be sure to check out the candidates' platforms and vote!

http://elections.byu.edu

Thanks!
--
Nathan Given
Bookexchange Developer
http://bookexchange.byu.edu

PS Questions? Concerns? Ideas? Respond to this email and I'll see what I can do.

Now, here is the story:

I spoke with Jason or J. (I can't tell them apart) on Tuesday evening. I asked, "What do you think about the Bookexchange?" His response went along these lines:

The Bookexchange is great! But not enought students know about it. We need to increase advertising and get the word out. (And not compete with the Bookstore).

After he talked to me, I told him who I was. He asked me for my phone number and I gave it to him. End of conversation.

I also spoke with Adam. I asked the same question, "What do you think about the Bookexchange?" His response went along these lines:

I think the Bookexchange is GREAT! Students know about it, they use it, it is a great service. I think BYUSA needs to now spend their money on other things.

I thanked him for his time and I went home. I thought about what Adam said, and I stewed on his words....

Thoughts and Flashback

I thought about how I have been the person in charge of the Bookexchange for 3 1/2 years. BYUSA had dropped "The Hub" (hub.byu.edu) and they didn't have time to convert the Bookexchange. I told the Web Consulting team that I would take it on as a project (December of 2001).

I worked on the Bookexchange for a year and came out with an "okay" version by December of 2002. Many people used it, but it didn't link in with your Route Y, and if too many people logged on the thing would start having major bugs.

At that time, also talked with BYUSA Web Consulting about long term prospects of the Bookexchange. They said it needed to be in ColdFusion if it were going to live after I graduated. So, I spent July 2004 through December 2004 (6 months) programming the latest version of the Bookexchange. I dedicated time every Friday throughout the semester to produce what you see now. I've invested HOURS and HOURS of time into this thing.

So, back to Tuesday Evening... I thought about how I have a responsibility to myself to make sure this thing stays alive. I also thought about how I have a responsibility to all the Bookexchange users. People that email me have become my friends. They say, "Thank you for doing this", and "This has been the greatest thing that has happened to BYUSA". I'm grateful for the emails, and I worry on their behalf about the Bookexchange fizzling out.

Why would the Bookexchange fizzle out? No support from BYUSA. You see, I'm placing myself in a position to hand the Bookexchange over to BYUSA. That has been the plan... but if BYUSA doesn't advertise it and get the word out, then the Bookexchange could fizzle out. I thought about what the candidates said to me, and I got worried.

Action

So, I decided to email all the Registered Users and Buyers on the Bookexchange (about 2200 people). I told them my understanding of the truth:Elections this year could have an impact on the Bookexchange.

The way the elections are running and what the candidates have as their platforms and based on what they said, that statement is true.

How to Fix the Problem

Here is what I think. I think the Bookexchange should be removed from politics. Either BYUSA advertises the Bookexchange or they don't. No Bookexchange issues as planks on candidates platforms.

Why? Because, the person in my position can wield the power of a potentially large special interest group. The more people that use the Bookexchange, the more my position will be able to inform people about platforms and what candidates have said. If all the Bookexchange users vote in the same manner, that could possibly change election results.

This potential problem could be solved if the Bookexchange were removed from politics. Bookexchange users could vote on other things besides the possible survival of the Bookexchange.

In Closing

I've appreciated all the feedback I have received from people. Most have been positive, a few have complained about the email (which is understood).

I just think people should know what was going through my head and the involvement I have with everything. BYUSA didn't build this version of the Bookexchange. I did. I programmed every line of code (right now it is sitting at 4,700 lines). I was key in obtaining approval from the Associate Dean of Students and the Director of the Bookstore. It has been done under BYUSA's name, but the truth behind the Bookexchange is that it has been my project, my code, my devotion.

I don't want my efforts to be for naught.

More Savings Information

Okay, here is what I have found...

On a sample 250 books SOLD on the Bookexchange
Average New Price: $93.56
Average Used Price: $70.17
Average Selling Price on Bookexchange: $52.08

Savings:
From New Price: $41.48 (44.35% savings)
From Used Price: $18.09 (25.78% savings)

If you apply the savings percentages from those samples to ALL of the books sold on the Bookexchange (757 books)...

Total Savings:
From New Price: $15,109.55
From Used Price: $8,786.03

So, depending on how the ratio of how many students get their books used as opposed to new (at the Bookstore), the Bookexchange has saved BYU students between $8,800 and $15,100.

Bookexchange a success!

Well, I think it was a success. Running some queries, it turns out the Bookexchange was able to save BYU students an average of 44.35% per book purchase (I know, I know... to some of you that is similar to saying the Bookstore buys back your books at 60% of new book price).

But hopefully most of you feel the Bookexchange saved you money :-)

Added Functionality to Book Management

I spent some time yesterday programming additions for Book Management.

Sellers can now see how many buyers want to buy their books and they can see the buyer contact information.

Buyers can see which books they have requested and whether the seller has deleted the book.

In the future I plan on adding functionality so sellers can see which books they have deleted. They will also be able to change the reason why they deleted it (this is so I can track the success of the Bookexchange).

Blog setup

I thought I would set up this blog... we'll see how much I use it ;-)