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Comments on: What about all the competition in the book business? http://www.fairsfair.com/2008/07/10/what-about-all-the-competition-in-the-book-business/ "For Book Lovers" Fri, 18 May 2012 07:02:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: George Henderson http://www.fairsfair.com/2008/07/10/what-about-all-the-competition-in-the-book-business/#comment-32 George Henderson Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:44:40 +0000 http://www.fairsfair.com/2008/07/10/what-about-all-the-competition-in-the-book-business/#comment-32 Thanks for your comment John - I do appreciate it. No I am not down on people who are just trying to get by - that would include myself, most of the people on the face of the earth and my business. Most of us, in our private lives and in our business endeavors, face fairly similar obstacles, personal problems and financial pressures but one of the truths is "it isn't what you get, it's how you take it!" Even at that, there are good reasons people close the door on self employment and choose different paths. Yes, used books stores are getting harder to find - self employment is not something I ever wanted to do - I knew those people worked far harder than was my wont. Government regulations are always going to be considered onerous by anyone trying to start a business but there is little corporate competition in this particular field because it is very labor intensive. And landlords will always be landlords - some are avaricious by nature and some are decent folks who take a fair return on their investments. There are many good reasons people in the community do not support used books stores. #1. People who read constitute about 10% of the population. #2. Only about 10% of readers go into a used books store. #3. Over the years used books stores have not worked hard enough to overcome their image as "ratholes" - places that are kept less than clean, neat and well lit. Places that easily accumulate books but seldom find the time to separate the chaff from the wheat. #4. Used books stores are mostly operated by book lovers who think their inventory should sell itself and either can't or won't learn the principles of operating a retail business. #5. Used books stores operators know what they are doing is of great service to the community but don't seem to understand that Location! Location! Location! will never mean "Low Rent!" Low rent means you have a less than desirable location and need to do everything you can to draw people to your location - short of burning it down! Usually this costs a lot of money - so wouldn't you be better served by paying higher rent and getting a better location? #6. Book buying is mostly done by impulse - so if you aren't where the customers are or known to be a usually reliable source for the item they might be thinking about - why should they go out of their way to support you? We all have our own opinions and prejudices - and I certainly have had my own experiences with some internet sellers - some of them good - and the masters they serve. As for people making a good living selling books - I have not met many of those people - this does not seem to be a pathway for people seeking financial rewards. Thank goodness we don't all have the same view of the universe. Thanks for your comment John - I do appreciate it.

No I am not down on people who are just trying to get by - that would include myself, most of the people on the face of the earth and my business.

Most of us, in our private lives and in our business endeavors, face fairly similar obstacles, personal problems and financial pressures but one of the truths is “it isn’t what you get, it’s how you take it!”

Even at that, there are good reasons people close the door on self employment and choose different paths.
Yes, used books stores are getting harder to find - self employment is not something I ever wanted to do - I knew those people worked far harder than was my wont.
Government regulations are always going to be considered onerous by anyone trying to start a business but there is little corporate competition in this particular field because it is very labor intensive.
And landlords will always be landlords - some are avaricious by nature and some are decent folks who take a fair return on their investments.

There are many good reasons people in the community do not support used books stores.
#1. People who read constitute about 10% of the population.
#2. Only about 10% of readers go into a used books store.
#3. Over the years used books stores have not worked hard enough to overcome their image as “ratholes” - places that are kept less than clean, neat and well lit. Places that easily accumulate books but seldom find the time to separate the chaff from the wheat.
#4. Used books stores are mostly operated by book lovers who think their inventory should sell itself and either can’t or won’t learn the principles of operating a retail business.
#5. Used books stores operators know what they are doing is of great service to the community but don’t seem to understand that Location! Location! Location! will never mean “Low Rent!” Low rent means you have a less than desirable location and need to do everything you can to draw people to your location - short of burning it down! Usually this costs a lot of money - so wouldn’t you be better served by paying higher rent and getting a better location?
#6. Book buying is mostly done by impulse - so if you aren’t where the customers are or known to be a usually reliable source for the item they might be thinking about - why should they go out of their way to support you?

We all have our own opinions and prejudices - and I certainly have had my own experiences with some internet sellers - some of them good - and the masters they serve.

As for people making a good living selling books - I have not met many of those people - this does not seem to be a pathway for people seeking financial rewards.

Thank goodness we don’t all have the same view of the universe.

]]> By: John Preston http://www.fairsfair.com/2008/07/10/what-about-all-the-competition-in-the-book-business/#comment-31 John Preston Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:49:47 +0000 http://www.fairsfair.com/2008/07/10/what-about-all-the-competition-in-the-book-business/#comment-31 Ratholes!! Your pretty down on some people who are just trying to get by and are now forced out of business by high rents. Maybe you should consider these people as people not rats. They have have left your community now they are most likely selling on-line because the community did not support them. That is what happens. I used to love having lots of little bookstores around now they are hard to find. They usually had a lot of treasures and really low prices. Most did not have a stench literally or otherwise. 20 years, you should open your eyes and quit being such a snob. You might consider it a better world when all the small businesses are crushed under government regulations and corporate competition. I don't I guess we owe a debt of gratitude to high rents so all the homeless can be out on the streets where we can all see them and look down are noses at them too. I think you should reconsider your statement on internet sellers. People will always prefer to sell locally if the market is there. What about smaller communities where it is simply not possible to make a good living doing what you love without selling online. People are free to sell to anyone even tourists who might even take the books out of the community. The people of the community are also free to buy where they please. Ratholes!! Your pretty down on some people who are just trying to get by and are now forced out of business by high rents. Maybe you should consider these people as people not rats. They have have left your community now they are most likely selling on-line because the community did not support them. That is what happens.
I used to love having lots of little bookstores around now they are hard to find. They usually had a lot of treasures and really low prices. Most did not have a stench literally or otherwise. 20 years, you should open your eyes and quit being such a snob.
You might consider it a better world when all the small businesses are crushed under government regulations and corporate competition. I don’t
I guess we owe a debt of gratitude to high rents so all the homeless can be out on the streets where we can all see them and look down are noses at them too.
I think you should reconsider your statement on internet sellers. People will always prefer to sell locally if the market is there. What about smaller communities where it is simply not possible to make a good living doing what you love without selling online. People are free to sell to anyone even tourists who might even take the books out of the community. The people of the community are also free to buy where they please.

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