|
|
UD Bookstore sets software sales pace 2:55 p.m., April 14, 2004--The University Bookstore sold more software online than any Barnes & Noble store in the country in the last 10 monthsthanks to a unique program fashioned at UD to allow students to buy Microsoft products at less than half the regular academic price. UDs store sold $135,889 worth of softwarecompared with $45,160 for the number two store at the University of South Florida at Tampa. The program started when Leila C. Lyons, director of IT-User Services, wanted the bookstore to be able to make popular Microsoft products like Microsoft Office more affordable for students. The bookstore doesnt sell software directly because versions change several times a year and the store was left with obsolete versions, but Cosmo A. Olivieri, the stores general manager, went to work brokering a deal with Microsoft, the University and its online software seller Journey Ed. As a result of Lyons and Olivieris efforts, Journey Ed became a licensed and authorized Microsoft dealer, and the University Bookstore added a link to Microsofts Student Select program. That enabled students to click on and order four products at much less than the normal academic discountMicrosoft Windows XP, Microsoft Office Standards for PC, Microsoft Office Professional for PC and Microsoft Office for Macs. Now several other schools, including the University of Maryland, have adopted the sales program. Olivieri said the students are ecstatic that they can buy the software at less than one-fifth of the sticker price. Its funny. Weve had some faculty members call and say, Why cant I get it? Olivieri said. And we have to say, Im sorry, sir. Its called Microsoft Student Select. Its only for students. The pricing is fabulous. Olivieri won a first-place award for online software sales at Barnes & Nobles recent annual meeting. To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here. |