Oxfam Bookshops Are Killing Real Used Bookshops
The charity bookstores, or thrift stores, run by the charity Oxfam are killing small independent secondhand book shops.
Will anything stop their relentless expansion and what can ‘proper’ bookshops do to survive when they move in ?
I suppose the general book buying public could care less where their books came from really, and in fairness that’s commerce so why should they, but competition is one thing - being completely hamstrung by a rigged playing field is another !
I heard today from a fellow bookseller who has successfully run a great bookshop catering to the reading public and students alike. Things had been ticking over nicely for some years until Oxfam moved into the same street - now they’ve had to close !
They get free stock, free labour, no taxation and preferential rates and rents.
They also get the bonus of the buying public thinking if the spend £5 then £5 goes to save someone starving - well think again, they have one of the lowest percentages of actual money that gets to the front line from donation of any major charity.
Don’t Think This is Just Your Usual Charity Shop
Because of the nature of thrift shops it’s easy to presume that when you buy books there you are getting a bargain - in this case nothing could be further from the truth.
I was in the Oxfam Bookshop in York (though subsequently I have been informed there are now 4 of them !) the prices were astronomical. Dearer than bookshops in the West End of London !
Simply priced straight from internet websites such as abebooks with no understanding or account of condition or indeed actual ‘real’ retail value.
What Should Be Done ?
I think used bookshops are deserving of some preferential treatment, they provide knowledge, entertainment and culture to the communities in which they operate. Everybody knows and understands how books enrich life, education and culture. Even the government sees this and levies no VAT on book sales.
Business is business but surely councils could give some consideration as to where Oxfam open their bookshops - indeed possibly the charity itself could be a little charitable themselves and give book dealers a break and not move in next door.
Charity does begin at home after all !
To the Book Buying Public Out There
Give your local independent bookshop some support.
Also box clever, if buying collectable books beware !
They are being sold by amateurs and are not necessarily cheap.
And Finally
Remember, once your local bookshop has gone it is unlikely to return.
New booksellers are not coming into the trade, once lost they are gone forever.
So if buying books, spread it about a bit, give others a break.
How do you feel about these outlets?
Any experiences yourself?
Where do you buy your books?
Please Support Your Local Bookshop !
Witches of Eastwick said,
August 5, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Rod,
We’re only really familiar with the one vintage bookshop whose owner goes to a lot of trouble to window dress the business regularly and offers friendly advice to the expert and novice alike. Are these other owners making the most of their premises? In a world where attractiveness counts big time, do these shops look boring? There are programmes on tv that focus on why businesses are failing and then go on to turn them around with new layouts etc. The one thing that we cannot dispute is ‘when it’s gone, it’s gone’, same thing goes for our local grocer so we try to support them as much as possible. Good luck to all one-man bands out there.
WoE
Rod said,
August 5, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
WoE
you can tinkewr around the edges of a bookshop but much depends on local trade, is there enough, or if you have visitors, daytrippers or tourists.
Granted some shops have missed a trick or two but …
Few actually survive on their own as thriving businesses. Few are run be a younger generation, many rely on second incomes.
They’re disappearing at an alarming rate with many places unable to even support one outlet.
Charity shps and car boot sales etc have driven prices down to a point when they simply become unviable sadly !
Like most things in life, many take them for granted and will only miss them when they are gone
Best
RC
A Retired Bookdealer said,
August 5, 2007 @ 4:57 pm
Here is one for you to think about then. A couple of years ago, I had a phone call from a Charity Bookshop. Would you believe a member of the public walked in off the street and left them with a
First Edition Hobbit in a dust wrapper and a First Edition set of
The Lord Of The Rings in dust wrappers, plus other items.
” You got it someone had tossed away thousands “.
If they are daft enough not to go to their Local Bookshop or Specialist Bookseller and get a proper valuation or cash offer ….. well you know the rest, makes my blood boil, especially in this heat.
( The Lord Of The Rings = The Fellowship Of The Ring + The Two Towers + The Return Of The King = ££££ )
George said,
August 13, 2007 @ 2:24 pm
Hello everyone,
We operate 4 used books stores in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and have been in the business for 19 years.
We are not familiar with the Oxfam stores of course but have been in business long enough to have lived through many of the vagaries which plague the small business merchant.
In hope that it may be of comfort to someone out there - I would suggest that there are always going to things going on outside yourself to make your situation a little less pleasant than we would like.
About 5-6 years ago, when our business seemed to be having a particularly hard time of it, I came across not one but two different books that had the same message - the gist of them was - when difficulties and/or hard times come into your life - welcome them!
It seems the natural yearning for mankind is to attain a state offering some sort of peacefulness or equilibrium even though we see all around us that that is not nature’s way - things are either in the process of growing or preparing to die.
Difficult times invariably present an opportunity to shake ourselves out of our slumber and reassess our situation. What we do when difficulties arise determines who we are to become. Our greatest opportunity for growth occurs when we are forced to really dig deeply within ourselves searching for the answers to overcome whatever challenges we face.
Like everything in life - it is simple - but it ain’t easy.
How to combat a charity bookstore?
WORK YOUR ASS OFF!
George said,
August 13, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
Comb the shelves of every book venue in your area for the books you know your customers will buy.
Don’t be afraid to mark them up to cover your costs and your time.
Do not price your books to try to entice the bargain hunters - you don’t want those customers!
Organize your books and genres to make it as easy as possible for you and your customers to find them quickly.
Continuously expand and improve your inventory - customers will not frequent a store that is stagnant.
Simple - but not easy.
Good luck!
Rod said,
August 13, 2007 @ 4:49 pm
Hi George
there’s much in what you say. many book shop owners have been their own worst enemies. Sitting there waiting for the public to bring you stock them just putting books on the shelf is no onger enough.
Bookselling is a real business now and unless real business ethics are followed they will go to the wall.
As the billionaire Ross Perot once said when told how lucky he was:
I find the harder I work the luckier I get !
Cheers
Rod