While Schoenhof's is praised for its variety of literature, many bemoan the high prices of its imported books.
Pescosolido Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures Franco Fido says he can buy Italian books for half the price in his native Italy. But Fido adds that Schoenhof's must charge these prices to survive financially.
Leyenson says shipping charges and currency exchange rates increase the prices of the books.
The bookstore, in reselling merchandise to universities, must give discounts that in turn hike up the prices that other customers must pay, Leyenson says.
"The more expensive the book, the closer our price is to what it would cost in the original country," Leyenson says. "We make more money on cheap paperbacks."
Burgard questions the inflexibility of the prices.
"It is slightly pricey," he says. "But the prices don't fluctuate with the exchange rate."