The college textbook marketplace is one of the most expensive and backwards industries students face today and we are a group of college classmates who think we’ve found a novel solution with our new company, Bookstoop.com.
Bookstoop is a new platform where students can connect with each other directly to buy or sell their textbooks, providing an opportunity to save a significant amount of money on their textbook purchases, while earning more cash back(consistently more than campus bookstore buy-back programs) from the textbooks they sell.
We just launched our campaign over on Indiegogo at: http://igg.me/at/bookstoop
To see just how bad the textbook marketplace is, check out this amazing infographic: http://www.onlineeducation.net/textbook-shakedown
The Bookstoop interface serves as a digital intermediary where students can connect, discuss pricing and set up a meeting time or make shipping arrangements. In addition, Bookstoop members can also buy, sell and trade other course-related items, such as class notes, PowerPoint presentations, exams and quizzes, study guides, lab reports and beyond.
In addition, there will soon be a Bookstoop mobile app for both iPhone and Android platforms. The app will feature an easy-to-use, fully-integrated book database, so students can enter a title, ISBN or the particular course they are taking and the system will list the book’s information instantly. The mobile app will also enable students to scan the textbook’s bar code directly, making it simple and convenient to list an item for sale or create a wish list of books and course materials they’re seeking out to purchase.
The app development and web upgrading process for us to reach 50 new colleges is expected to cost about $30,000. Since most of us are still in college, we need all the help we can get, so we've launched an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise enough funds to aid in covering these costs.
We just launched our campaign over on Indiegogo at: http://igg.me/at/bookstoop
We would love for you guys to pass this along to anyone you may know in college, or helping support a loved one in school.
Thanks!