Waterstones - the end in sight?

[amateur51]

Browsing is one of life's pleasures.

Hear, hear!!

Should it ever become necessary, I shall nominate 'browsing' as one of my hobbies in Werhoo's Werhoo (as Michael Flanders used to say )

[vinteuil]

. All the second-hand shops have died except for Oxfam .

Oxfam has destroyed many second-hand bookshops. Its ability to obtain stock free, and often to have free 'volunteer' staff, totally skews the book market; they play on their charity status but are ruthless against competition. "Normal" secondhand shops who have to buy their stock and pay their staff can't compete.

It's all very sad - oxfam are a great charity, and one wants to wish them well in their main aims of long-term famine relief etc - but their current behaviour here is so destructive of something which I also cherish - viz second-hand bookshops....

[Anna]

Oxfam has destroyed many second-hand bookshops. Its ability to obtain stock free, and often to have free 'volunteer' staff, totally skews the book market; they play on their charity status but are ruthless against competition. "Normal" secondhand shops who have to buy their stock and pay their staff can't compete.

It's all very sad - oxfam are a great charity, and one wants to wish them well in their main aims of long-term famine relief etc - but their current behaviour here is so destructive of something which I also cherish - viz second-hand bookshops....

Do Oxfam have shops that only sell books? I know they cream off the best of donated and sell them on-line, although I have never bought any. Oxfam here have, compared to the other charity shops, increased their prices by a considerable amount and actually have less stock than before, I wonder if it is being diverted to online sales?

Our only secondhand bookshop is really suffering and relying on cheap cds and dvds and old-fashioned sweets in an effort to keep going. They do however provide a great service in ordering new books with usually a 3 day delivery time. I also love browsing in secondhand bookshops, my father used to have one and it takes me back to childhood, spending the day just browsing and reading. Will Kindle also be the deathknell of bookshops (personally it doesn't appeal to me, reading onscreen)

[teamsaint]

I would guess no new store planned in Camborne or Penzance!

don't think that is likely....!!
However, I think that Books plus in Penzance is a nice store, and has lots of stock.

Harbour bookshop in St Ives would also give you a good excuse for a nice day out.

Also, to be fair to Waterstones, Truro has been a great store over the years, really well run.

[Flosshilde]

Do Oxfam have shops that only sell books? I know they cream off the best of donated and sell them on-line, although I have never bought any. Oxfam here have, compared to the other charity shops, increased their prices by a considerable amount and actually have less stock than before, I wonder if it is being diverted to online sales?

Yes, they do - apparently 130 in 2009. Glasgow has two - one in the Southside near me, that also sells CDs & records, & one in the West End, plus a CD & record shop in the West End. Prices, compared with other charity shops, seem highish. I was in my local shop this morning & spotted boxes of books sent from other Oxfam branches.

They could have a negative impact on commercial second-hand bookshops, but then if their prices are at the same level they aren't undercutting them, & with second-hand books it's not a case of going to X shop to buy a book because it's cheaper than in Y; if you are looking for something specific, or even browsing, you would try them all. Obviously there are issues with the reduced rates (80% reduction) they pay, & the competition for stock with commercial shops.

[vinteuil]

Do Oxfam have shops that only sell books? I know they cream off the best of donated and sell them on-line, although I have never bought any. Oxfam here have, compared to the other charity shops, increased their prices by a considerable amount and actually have less stock than before, I wonder if it is being diverted to online sales?

try this for size -

https://www.spectator.co.uk/susanhill/5767413/bullying-is-bullying-whoever-does-it.thtml

[MarkG]

Amateur51,

Here is the bookshop

http://www.biggreenbookshop.com/

and this is their blog...

http://woodgreenbookshop.blogspot.com/

Mark

[amateur51]

Amateur51,

Here is the bookshop

http://www.biggreenbookshop.com/

and this is their blog...

http://woodgreenbookshop.blogspot.com/

Mark

Many thanks, Mark - what an enterprising group of people. I wish them all the very best & I'll be passing on their info to various book-loving friends in that area.

That's really cheered me up!

[Flosshilde]

try this for size -

https://www.spectator.co.uk/susanhil...-does-it.thtml

Interesting comment re Ottakers -
"Some years ago, when Ottakars, the bookselling chain, were behaving like thugs, they had a clever tactic. They visited a medium sized town and looked to see if it had a good, thriving independent bookshop. If it did, they opened down the street. Two people I know had to close their previously profitable shops as an immediate result."
It would seem that they were as ruthless as Waterstone's were, except they didn't go to the trouble of buying up their competitors - just put them out of business. When it comes to business & making a profit, there aren't any good guys - not even Oxfam.

[Frances_iom]

try this for size -

https://www.spectator.co.uk/susanhil...-does-it.thtml

I was heavily criticised on these forums some time ago when I pointed out that such charities were there for the benefit of their managers and that they are a business exploiting the goodwill and ignorance of the general populace - charity begins at home, best to stick to local run shops.

[amateur51]

Many thanks, Mark - what an enterprising group of people. I wish them all the very best & I'll be passing on their info to various book-loving friends in that area.

That's really cheered me up!

I've passed on the info to a devoted grandmother who is even now planning to take her grandchildren to the Gruffalo event in June, MarkG!

She's a major book buyer too with no access to Amazon, so she may prove to be useful to the guys at Big Green Bookshop too

[amateur51]

I was heavily criticised on these forums some time ago when I pointed out that such charities were there for the benefit of their managers and that they are a business exploiting the goodwill and ignorance of the general populace - charity begins at home, best to stick to local run shops.

I thought that the article was poorly thought through, a bit of a rant ( I've nothing against rants per se - I rant a lot myself It's why my complexion's so good )

If you don't want to spend a lot of money on over-priced books/CDs at Oxfam Bookshops then there is a simple solution - don't shop there.

Oxfam Bookshops will be a limited company, I guess, delivering its profits to Oxfam but a different organisation legally.

If I were running a second-hand bookshop and Oxfam Bookshop opened up near to me, I'd be thrilled to have the competition. I'd want to make it clear in my windows that I'm cheaper than Oxfam Bookshop, that I offer a wider range, that I'll pay you for your second-hand books, and that I'll do searches/keep wants lists for you. I'd employ knowledgeable attentive staff (me!) and I'd sell lots of attractive cards & paper at prices far lower than at Oxfam Books. I'd use the draw of the Oxfam Bookshop to act as a lure for my shop.

It ain't inter-planetary travel, you know

[vinteuil]

If I were running a second-hand bookshop and Oxfam Bookshop opened up near to me, I'd be thrilled to have the competition. I'd want to make it clear in my windows that I'm cheaper than Oxfam Bookshop,

ams - I agree she rants a bit - but I don't think you wd be 'thrilled' by the competition. Unlike oxfam, you wd have to pay yr staff, pay fr yr stock, pay 100% rates - could you really compete?

[Frances_iom]

ams - I agree she rants a bit - but I don't think you wd be 'thrilled' by the competition. Unlike oxfam, you wd have to pay yr staff, pay fr yr stock, pay 100% rates - could you really compete?

+ also Oxfam builds on the feelgood factor - doesn't tell its donors just how much the managerial stratum is being paid.

[MrGongGong]

why on earth do you object to Oxfam paying its management ?