Textbook Ripoff!

Ripoff Publisher Interview

STUDENT is standing in middle of stage. Sounds of gunshots and a siren are heard. CEO--with a ski mask covering face and a paper sack in his hand--rushes in from stage right and stops by STUDENT.

STUDENT: What the ... ? Who are you?

CEO: I'm the CEO of OO Publishing, a leading publisher of college textbooks.

STUDENT: Uh huh. What's the OO stand for.

CEO: Well we tell people that it stands for our founders--Outland and Overstreet--but inside the company we all know that it means outrageously overpriced.

STUDENT: By the way, why are you wearing a ski mask?

CEO: I started out as a bank robber. Then I found out that I could make a lot more money by ripping off students instead of banks. But the publishing business can get kind of boring, so every once in a while I go out and knock off a bank.

STUDENT: How come textbooks are so expensive?

CEO: I'm glad you asked. I'm going to explain to you why textbooks are really a great bargain. Could I look at your wallet?

STUDENT: Why?

CEO: It will help me explain how the textbook business works. Let me look at it.

STUDENT hands wallet to CEO. Then CEO removes a $10 bill, drops it into the paper sack, and hands the wallet back to STUDENT.

STUDENT: Hey! Give me my money back!

CEO: Don't worry, I'll take care of it later. Right now I need it to help you understand how the textbook publishing industry works.

STUDENT: Well ... OK. More...

Fight Back Against Textbook Ripoffs!

Ripoff Publisher Interview