Brock University Campus Store student employee Trevor Szaniawski stocks the shelves with books for the fall term.

The Campus Store at Brock University is taking more steps to lower the prices of textbooks and be more competitive with online stores such as Amazon.ca.

After introducing a book rental program last year that was well received by students, starting Aug. 18 the Campus Store website will show shoppers a range of textbook prices including new and used options, e-book pricing, rental costs and even the Amazon.ca price. The move to a dynamic pricing model, which includes lowering prices on many of the hundreds of textbooks offered by the Campus Store, supports a commitment to provide affordable options for students.

“It is our goal to ensure all students find an option that suits their budget,” said Campus Store Director Dan Lewis. “We will be actively reviewing Amazon.ca prices and setting our prices accordingly.”

As publisher prices of textbooks continue to rise, tremendous pressure has been placed on bookstores across the country to make strategic decisions regarding how they operate their textbook departments.

“This is the right move for Brock University, our students and loyal faculty members,” Lewis said.

Dynamic pricing will be released with the fall booklist on Aug. 18 on the Campus Store website at CampusStore.brocku.ca. Students can price compare directly on the site and if they prefer the Amazon.ca prices, there will be a link to take them to the Amazon checkout.

“We are extremely excited about this initiative, ensuring students have the tools to succeed in the classroom at prices they can afford,” said Lewis.

The Campus Store is a Brock University-run operation with revenue supporting student services. The store will carry more than 400 textbooks for the fall term.