UMass Amherst’s deal with Amazon strikes up an array of feelings. Students with less than a quarter in their pocket are celebrating free Amazon Prime accounts. Skeptics are not so quick to cheer. What will losing the Textbook Annex really mean for students and staff alike? What is motivating this merger?

Amazon, in the eyes of broke college students, does a lot of nice things. Free shipping over $25 on eligible orders and cheap merchandise, what more could you ask for? In one click of a button, you can order books, CDs, DVDs, toys, anything your heart desires for less money than the shop down the street. You can have it at your door overnight. Amazon’s customer service is top-notch to boot. Didn’t receive your item? Amazon pays you back. Defective item? Amazon reimburses you. The company “takes full responsibility for your Amazon experience.”

An experience. When you put it like that, who would want to miss out? No one wants to miss experiences!

But what UMass, at least physically, will miss next year, is the Textbook Annex–the on-campus option for textbooks and supplies.

Granted, not many students were enthusiastic about the Textbook Annex. The over priced books are certainly unappealing, but it is a convenient place for last minute textbook purchases. Not to mention, you could always return your books at the end of the semester to make a quick $5. Year round, binders, pens, paper, notebooks, and more are available for purchase. Instead of waiting a day, you can buy them on-demand.

What really is being lost here is a choice, no matter how bad that option was. Teachers will either have to use another bookstore in town or use books only available on Amazon. Students will be automatically signed up for Amazon Prime which could collect personal information they would rather not share.

With that being said, we also must consider why this loss of choice must be made. What is UMass getting out of this deal? Amazon? Will the money UMass receives benefit students activities and tuition? Will Amazon pose any restrictions on teachers or students i.e. force teachers to offer their books on Amazon?

If a sacrifice must be made, we must ask what benefit we get out of it. We must also wonder if the university’s and Amazon’s intentions mostly benefit education or financial gain.