BOOKSHOPS CLOSING

[goosegirl]

You are all used to the headlines about yet anothor small bookshop closing. Lets even things up a bit.

Waterstones is closing 30 of its stores.

Borders are closing all its 71 stores in the uk, to go back home.

I feel sorry for the people who work there, I liked both the bookshops myself.


But being a bookseller of a small bookstore, I just needed to tell some one the news.


Goosegirl.

[mazza]

Blimey GG!

Is this true? I am v upset about Borders Bookshop - i like their stores and browsing in there :( .

How nice to see you back by the way! :D

[Eeyore]

That's terrible, I love books and bookshops

Any ideas why GG?

By the way, how is your bookshop going? :D

[Crazy Dog]

As with most retail outlets book shops are under huge pressure from the internet. These days the only advantages a real life book shop can offer over Amazon are the ability to browse and buy over-the-counter and, in some, expensive coffee and snacks. The coffee and snacks are cheaper at home and the books are always cheaper bought online.

[er 59]

Hi gg
Its a shame that they are being forced to close down
lovely to hear from you again hope your buisness is doing well :)

[sp54]

Must admit I haven't heard of Borders, but we have a Waterstones, and even though I occasionally buy from Amazon, you just can't beat browsing, especially if you are not exactly certain what you want and need to have a good look at what's available first. Shame :(

[coppernob]

It is awful when a bookstore closes but sadly,its a sign of the times :( Slightly O/T but our council is laying off quite a few librarians this year.The march of the internet and technology has its good and bad points.

[rb2002]

That's so sad. You cab't get a booksigning or meet the author on the internet, nor the distinctive smell you get in a bookshop. I love them and am sad that so many are closing :(

[Beth]

Hi GG nice to see you :)

I think its sad when any book shop closes, and even more so when the smaller shops do as they cant compete with the biger boys :(

[tortoise]

That's terrible news. I love bookshops, especially second hand bookshops.

The smell and feel of a book is lovely, especially when you pick up a really old book that you know has given people pleasure over the years.

Very sad news, but I hope yours is ok GG.

[c1rcle]

We have 2 Waterstones here in Peterborough & nothing can beat a good old browse through the shelves, even when I'm not planning on buying I still enjoy a good old nose through the books.

[goosegirl]

Hi every one,

Its nice to chat to you all again. The reason Borders gave, was that their US store is struggling so they need to close its 71 stores in the UK. Some people suggested a Francise of the stores, and the Borders name being kept. Who would have the money to do that? Waterstone & Hmv are closing 30 Waterstones stores to improve their merger of shops.

Woolworths is making space for more books.

I thought Borders books were cheap, but a bottle of orange a mini wrap and 2 pieces of cake cost us £14.00 quid. A large fresh ground coffee & biscuits costs under a £1,00 in my bookshop.

Just Books is closing down too.

I sell on the internet as well. But like one of us said people like to feel and look at a book before buying. Also not every one has a PC , or feels safe shopping online.

Goosegirl.

[Crazy Dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(goosegirl @ 25th March 2007 - 2:36 PM) 246370</div>I sell on the internet as well. But like one of us said people like to feel and look at a book before buying. Also not every one has a PC , or feels safe shopping online.[/b]
In my retail experience I found that people would come into my shop, discuss items, try them out, talk to other customers, then go buy their choice online. The online suppliers, of course, didn't have the high-street overheads I had so were able to offer lower prices. Many of my customers were happy to buy grey imports from the Canary Islands and other tax-free places.

Some even had the cheek, when things went wrong, to expect me to honour guarantees on items they'd bought abroad - and they'd get seriously upset when I explained that I couldn't do that because the manufacturers would not honour any guarantee, with me, on grey imports. If I couldn't organise something 'as a favour' on items without traceable serial numbers or manufacturing codes all I could do was suggest that they take or send the item back to their supplier after checking up on their rights wherever they bought it. On one occasion I was even reported to Trading Standards because I refused to exchange a SCUBA diving computer that hadn't even been released in this country when it was brought in to me! TS laughed about it, but it still cost me time and trouble to clear it up with them.

Not quite the same situation with books (defects are rare) but it all adds to the battering UK retailers are taking from the internet and cheap international travel.

The whole nature of retail is changing - and not necessarily for the better. I enjoyed what I was doing, but I'm glad I'm out of it and I certainly don't ever want to be responsible for a bricks-and-mortar shop again.

[c1rcle]

I'm wondering is this also an indication that people just aren't reading as much as in the past?

[Planet 24]

I'm wondering is this also an indication that people just aren't reading as much as in the past?[/b]
I think that could be true, the only book my nfh had in their house was the one keeping the back door open and that was a Gideon's Bible - probably pinched from a hotel room!