The cost of textbooks is oppressive. I don't understand why some new textbooks cost $175.
OK. Then get educated on why they cost so much. Colleges are for learning, not for wallowing in stupidity while learning how to steal. Lets assume we are dealing with a lengthy engineering text with a moderate sized printing
Skilled Engineering Author $70,000 per year.
Technically literate engineering proofreaders $50,000 per year
Publishing Editor $60,000 per year
Grammar and spelling proofreaders $40,000 per year.
Cost to typeset, print and bind 500 page textbook = $30.
Number of copies printed = 6,000
Shipping costs $2
Publisher markup (profit, overhead, marketing costs) = 50%
Bookstore markup (profit, overhead) = 50%
Content creation costs = Author * 3 years + Eng Proofreader * 1/2 year + Editor * 1/4 year + Proofreader * 6 mos = 210,000 + 25,000 + 15,000 + 20,000 = 200,000
Sales price = ((((270,000/6,000) + 30 )* 1.5 )+ 2) * 1.5 = $171