Potter party eludes small booksellers

James Crisan — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:49:19 GMT

I empathize with the small booksellers in London; unfortunately, the same sad story is happening all over the U.S. as well. In my town, I bought the first five Harry Potter books at a little shop called the Book Nook. Everyone there knew my name and my reading tastes; they even had the requisite bookstore cat (a twenty pounder named Smoky). Alas, along came Borders, which joined Waldenbooks, Sam's Club, Walmart, et al., and the Book Nook is no more. It's just a shame.

Potter party eludes small booksellers

Harry Potter and the Lost Bookstore — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:54:35 GMT

This is just another example of our cultures’ deterioration because of our steadfast devotion to capitalism. We don’t always see the price of our materialism and greed until it hits us in the form of lost joys such as the corner book store and the like. As with everything else lost, so will this joy disappear into the winds of our beloved capitalism.

Potter party eludes small booksellers

S. B. Stein E.B NJ — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:20:18 GMT

It would be nice if the huge retailers (book or otherwise) wouldn't put a huge push to buy it early from them for a huge discount. There are advantages of dealing with a local store. A rabbi I know paid for it in advance from local store that would drop it off at his place after the book was allowed to be sold. For those observant Jews who are Harry Potter fans, the release date was problem. It was on Shabbat (sabbath), and business can't be done then. He was able to get it when it first came out and have a chance to read it before leaving the next day (Sunday) to visit his children at camp giving them the book.

Potter party eludes small booksellers

Rehan — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:36:15 GMT

I think that this story is kind of elitist. I grew up in a small town in Michigan where there was no bookstores. The only place to buy books was the local grocery stores or pharmacies. After age 13 I read all the science fiction and fantasy books in my local library.

I love these big retail bookstores that contain new authors I can read. Living now in Ann Arbor, MI, I tried shopping at some of our small bookstores, I found the selection limiting, although the service was nice and friendly.

I feel sory the Mom & Pop shops, they need to find ways to innovate. Instead of complaining offer something new. And if to stay alive that means buying Harry Potter for $10 at Walmart in bulk then selling them at your store, then that's what you need to do instead of complain.

After all the big retail chain are right now letting people everywhere buy books instead of those in big cities.

Potter party eludes small booksellers

Jeff Linder — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 20:00:55 GMT

If someone posts the location of this store, I will personally go there and purchase something when I go to London. In the US as well as the UK, its important to support the smaller booksellers when you can!

Potter party eludes small booksellers

Michelle M. Union, MO — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 20:08:29 GMT

I will try my hardest to no longer buy books from discount chains. We should do more to save these beautiful little book shops owned by and staffed with people that truly love books.

Potter party eludes small booksellers

joe, waxhaw n.c. — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 20:22:10 GMT

It is the small business owner that made usa great and with the death of them comes the monopoly of the large stores , who can then set the price today 10.00 bucks 10 years from now when no competion they can charge 50.00 and you will have no choice but pay it. books should be fair price no matter where it is sold if you carry it the fee is what the fee is. only discount books out of print

Potter party eludes small booksellers

Cameron, San Francisco, CA — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 20:46:51 GMT

I would think that the shareholders of the large bookstores and supermarket chains would be angry about those stores engaging in such a money losing proposition. I know they think of it as an upsell opportunity, but seriously, the people buying the last Harry Potter book on the first day out aren't going to browse around much for other stuff. They're there to get the book and go home and read it!

Potter party eludes small booksellers

Matt N-T — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 20:48:32 GMT

Ok, here is how I see it. Books are art and should be treated as such, and that is exactly how (in a odd sort of way) they are being treated right now. People just fail to realize it. Harry gained success in little shops and as a cult favorite first before being "discovered" and hitting it big. Just as an artist starts out in small local galleries with a cult following before getting a big break and being placed in larger galleries and in magazines etc. What small booksellers need to realize is that they sell atmosphere more than books and to make sales during release parties they just have to go the extra mile. Borders and other Chain stores have mediocre celebrations while small book sellers can go a little further, then the increased cost of the book is like paying for a ticket to a magnificent and magical event.

Potter party eludes small booksellers

Sarah Gallimore — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 21:31:05 GMT

I remember growing up in a small town and going to the book store downtown and it having books, stuffed animals, and big bean-bag chairs and pillows that lined the floors. They would special order any book for you, and what fun it was to sit for hours looking through the books and buying a few, but keeping a list of what I want next time. There is a bookstore just like it in Eldorado, Arkansas that I found and spent a whole day there with my boys. I loved the smell and softness and the sounds of children laughing and reading aloud. We spent way too much on books, but was so happy to let my children see what a real book store looked like. We cannot wait to go back. We have our list ready on what we are looking for.

Potter party eludes small booksellers

Biblio Phile — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 22:40:31 GMT

Small bookstores should start dealing in used books, too, especially good OP books. There are many more good used books than new books, and the lovely thing is, you're not really competing with one another. I much prefer a good used-book store to Barnes & Noble. B&N may have more volumes, but a good used book store will have more titles. Also, older books tend to have more meat in them--have you noticed?

Potter party eludes small booksellers

Toni, Central Valley, CA — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 22:46:58 GMT

I'm sorry. Sometimes I will pay more for an item when i know the quality is better, or if I really like the store, but more often than not, I'm drawn to where I can buy the best product for the best price. I am often willing to spend a few extra dollars for the convenience of not having to go into a big box store, but I live in the most depressed area of the United States (central valley of California), where wages are LOW and housing prices are not, so until I can get a better paying job in an area of the country where the wage to cost of living ratio is smaller, I will have to forsake the local businesses and purchase what I can for the price I can afford (and for those out there who think I'm a horrible consumer, I do not own lots of stuff, I don't have cable, I have old furniture, I have one vehicle for our family,--AND I have an education and a good job that pays crummy).