I’m taking the Community Education photography class at UCA this fall. I’ve only had one session, and I really liked it. I think I’m going to really enjoy this class. But that’s not what this story is about.

I paid my tuition ahead of time, and also noted that there was a “materials fee” that would be paid separately. When I got to class, I discovered that the “materials fee” was for a brand new book, not mentioned in the registration information for the class, that they were having everyone buy for $24 from the UCA bookstore. (Which, even including tax, is above the cover price. They round up to the nearest dollar for your convenience. How sweet!) About two minutes later, I was regretting my purchase (although at the time it seemed like I didn’t really have a choice), knowing that there was surely better price, and possibly even a used book, available on the internet.

When I got home I checked Amazon, and surely enough, the brand new ones were $14.96, and they had lots of used ones starting at $3.99 (plus shipping). I was mad! Not only was it a waste of my money, but it seemed very wasteful of resources for me to consume a brand new book when I could re-use someone else’s. I really thought that they should have announced the book ahead of time, giving students the opportunity to find a used one if they so chose. The only problem with ordering a used one at this point was that I would need the book immediately to read the assignment for next week’s class, but fortunately I was able to borrow Casie’s until mine comes in. So I ordered a used one—easy—and returned the new one to the UCA bookstore—not so easy.

For starters, not having been a UCA student myself, I had to find the bookstore. Nowhere on the UCA bookstore website does it say where the bookstore is, so I called the main line to find out, then I studied the online campus map to try to figure out where the building was. So I headed over there after doing a couple of other errands, then drove around campus for 15 minutes looking for a parking place with my nap-deprived baby who happened to fall asleep right as we parked, causing me to unload the monster stroller that holds the carseat in hopes that she would stay asleep rather than just carrying her in the Snugli like I’d planned. (She woke up anyway.) It was right at lunch time, and there I was, a 32-year-old mom dressed in khaki shorts and a polo shirt pushing a baby stroller through the crowds of 20-year-old college students, feeling a bit out of place. As I whiffed the cigarette smoke, I was reminded of my Hendrix days: “Save the environment! Stop pollution!… cough… gasp… hey, have you got a light?” Once inside the bookstore, the return itself was tricky because of the way the Community Ed. people had done the sales, so it took 3 people to do it. One guy seemed a little annoyed at first, but in the end they were all very gracious and friendly. I expressed my appreciation and went on my way.

I’m satisfied that I did the right thing, and I guess sometimes reducing waste just takes an hour of your time. I wonder how much gas I burned up driving around UCA looking for a parking place? Well, let’s not think about that. :-)

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