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Amazon expands presence on college campuses

Amazon is opening its first on-campus pick-up and drop-off center at Purdue University and its second online storefront. 

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John Terhune/Journal & Courier/AP
Lyles-Porter Hall is located on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.
  • By Molly Driscoll Staff Writer

Amazon is extending its presence on college campuses.

According to Publishers Weekly, Amazon has opened a second online college store with Purdue University, with the outlet opening on Aug. 12. In addition to the online location, there will be an area on the campus where students can pick up and drop off items, which according to PW will be available in early 2015.

“With the pressure on college campuses to reduce costs, this new way of doing business has the potential to change the book-buying landscape for students and their families,” Purdue president Mitch Daniels told PW.

Amazon teamed up with University of California, Davis previously for a campus program, but Purdue will be the first college to have a pick-up and drop-off location with staff on site. 

An unspecified percent of Amazon’s sales in the store will go to Purdue, according to PW. In addition to textbooks, the store will have Purdue clothing and other school-specific items, according to the website GeekWire. Students will qualify for free one-day shipping for textbooks going to the pick-up location starting sometime in early 2015 as well as students who are part of the Amazon Student program receiving free one-day shipping on other purchases that are going to the pick-up area.

Amazon rival Barnes & Noble is currently the second-largest company behind college bookstores, according to Reuters, and they announced a push in that direction this past May, planning to expand its 696 stores at the time of the announcement to 1,000 in five years.

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