Comments on: Bookstore seating, pros and cons http://cvillewords.com/2007/07/26/bookstore-seating-pros-and-cons/ Reading and writing in the heart of Virginia Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:34:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Catherine http://cvillewords.com/2007/07/26/bookstore-seating-pros-and-cons/#comment-9176 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:44:09 +0000 http://cvillewords.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/bookstore-seating-pros-and-cons/#comment-9176 Footpad kerosene preproduction pigeon gram intertribal parry to you!

]]> By: Kempis http://cvillewords.com/2007/07/26/bookstore-seating-pros-and-cons/#comment-4703 Sat, 28 Jul 2007 19:20:40 +0000 http://cvillewords.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/bookstore-seating-pros-and-cons/#comment-4703 The JMR library rarely has the book I want to read and if they do then if it’s popular there is a long wait or fee associated. It’s been that way since I was a kid so I’ve always purchased my books.

I used to check out Daedalus Bookshop They always had a great used selection, but that was when I worked nearby. I find now it’s just a bigger hassle than it’s worth to do anything Downtown.

I haven’t heard about Bookmooch- I’ll have to check that out.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://cvillewords.com/2007/07/26/bookstore-seating-pros-and-cons/#comment-4682 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 23:10:11 +0000 http://cvillewords.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/bookstore-seating-pros-and-cons/#comment-4682 When I want a book, Barnes & Noble is my first choice only if I want the book today and it’s one I might want to keep. Otherwise, I look first at the library (including interlibrary loan), then post it on Bookmooch or order it online.

The clerks and B&N always offer to order the book for you if you ask for one that isn’t in stock, but I can do that for myself, and usually cheaper.

Also, why does Borders have the computer kiosks where you can look up the availability of a book, and B&N does not? Not that the Borders computer is very accurate anyway, but I can look up the book I want faster than a clerk can do it for me.

]]> By: Kempis http://cvillewords.com/2007/07/26/bookstore-seating-pros-and-cons/#comment-4681 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 22:53:38 +0000 http://cvillewords.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/bookstore-seating-pros-and-cons/#comment-4681 I don’t like the layout of the B&N in Cville it’s too cramped and you are absolutely correct about the waiting room aspect of the chairs (and their set up). No way I want to use any of them.

Frankly I’m at the point where I’m considering giving up the local bookstores (all three of them) all together. At BN today I found books by two authors. Their covers advertised a different title by the same author (“Bestselling Author of insert title here”) I go to the shelf and guess what- neither of the titles sited on the book jackets by either author are in stock!

I’m liking Amazon dot com much better lately.

]]> By: Extra P. http://cvillewords.com/2007/07/26/bookstore-seating-pros-and-cons/#comment-4663 Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:31:48 +0000 http://cvillewords.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/bookstore-seating-pros-and-cons/#comment-4663 I used to live in Denver, and they have a local store called Tattered Cover. It was one of those cozy type places, and while I like having, say, a 1/2 hour or so to sit and look through a few things before I buy them, it really irritates me that others will blow it for everyone by moving in and acting like they’re at home. It’s amazing to me the liberties people will take just because they can.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://cvillewords.com/2007/07/26/bookstore-seating-pros-and-cons/#comment-4662 Thu, 26 Jul 2007 21:50:43 +0000 http://cvillewords.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/bookstore-seating-pros-and-cons/#comment-4662 It seems to me that, true, you’re always going to have to deal with a few obnoxious people. But that’s retail — there’s no retailer that I know of who doesn’t have to spend a certain amount of time dealing with problem customers (or in this case, non-customers). But anything that gets people to linger in the store and *pull things off the shelf* will lead to more sales.

For instance, I work in a store which is so crammed with products that there is simply no place to set a chair. But when a recent customer wanted to take some time to browse through our books, the owner fetched a stool for her. The customer was in the store probably an hour, and ended up selecting several books to buy.

Other things we do — offer to hold bulky merchandise for a customer, offer them a shopping basket, suggest products to go along with the products they’ve selected, engage them in conversation about their needs, offer to place an order for them, provide a play area for kids, etc etc etc — these are simple things, but the result is that customers spend more time in the store browsing, they are more likely to find something they really like and are willing to spend their money on, and their experience is friendly and comfortable overall.

Putting out chairs — pish, that’s relatively easy! It’s not like the clerks at Borders are falling over themselves to help you. So what if they have to replace them every few weeks? I bet every chair they buy pays for itself twice over.

]]> By: Gerry http://cvillewords.com/2007/07/26/bookstore-seating-pros-and-cons/#comment-4661 Thu, 26 Jul 2007 21:35:24 +0000 http://cvillewords.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/bookstore-seating-pros-and-cons/#comment-4661 I agree with you! Even if I don’t buy a book this time, a comfortable and positive experience will make me come back (at which time, perhaps I’ll be ready to buy!). It gets me into the habit of going to B&N. Plus, I almost always buy some coffee from the bookstore cafe. I do wish they had more seating, though. I often find myself wandering the store, looking for a place to park.

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