Volunteers from the local Oxfam have, naturally, popped in to gloat (I mean wish me luck of course).
One of them, after asking about my debts, where I was going, how I would sell books etc etc: told me, that the local Oxfam shop felt that I was going bust because I took my dog into the shop with me, and that some people didn't like dogs. Oxfam opening a bookshop and trying to take over the world of books had nothing to do with it at all.
Hmm.
Which reminds me - they rather showed their colours over the closure of the Rochdale Oxfam Bookshop. The assistant manager explained to the local press "Rochdale is too poor a town for Oxfam to consider viable for a continued presence" He went on to comment that it wasn't part of Oxfam's businness plan to support poor and underpriviledged parts of this country.
Nice !
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Final Days
It is very nearly the end of the shop now. The shelves are almost empty, and virtually no sales over the last few days (no stock !)
There has been a rush of people trying to sell though. This suprised me, until one man was quite insistent that I should buy his books.
I explained that I was closing down, so wouldn't be buying his books. He said he knew that I was going, and that's why he had come quickly, as he wanted to get rid of his books before I went.
Having said to him, that with closing the shop, I probably wouldn't actually need his books, he just looked amazed. "But I don't want them" he said. "you MUST buy them."
I didn't
There has been a rush of people trying to sell though. This suprised me, until one man was quite insistent that I should buy his books.
I explained that I was closing down, so wouldn't be buying his books. He said he knew that I was going, and that's why he had come quickly, as he wanted to get rid of his books before I went.
Having said to him, that with closing the shop, I probably wouldn't actually need his books, he just looked amazed. "But I don't want them" he said. "you MUST buy them."
I didn't
Misconceptions
A chap phoned up to sell some books recently.
He told me that he expected we would be paying more for books at the moment, as with the recession, second hand books must be in more demand.
If only !
He told me that he expected we would be paying more for books at the moment, as with the recession, second hand books must be in more demand.
If only !
Description is everything.
I have had to enter into a "Customer Dispute" with Amazon this week. My first ever - it is very exciting.
Having sold a Proof copy of a book to a customer, I got an email from them. They told me that they had ordered a hardback and got a softback copy. It then said that they wanted to know "What I was going to do about it"
Suprised that I would send the wrong book, I checked the description. This was clearly for a softback proof - and even said "I must stress, this book is a softback proof copy - not a hardback" - Fairly clear I thought !
I replied to this effect, and so was suprised when I got a dispute from Amazon. They have told Amazon that the description didn't match the book, and they want to know what I am going to do. They also request compensation as well as a refund in their email.
Pah !!
I have always given refunds for any reason, without quibbling. But on this occassion - for the first time - I have decided to fight my corner. This person is clearly wrong. Why should I lose about £20 in postage and costs to make up for their cock up.
Having sold a Proof copy of a book to a customer, I got an email from them. They told me that they had ordered a hardback and got a softback copy. It then said that they wanted to know "What I was going to do about it"
Suprised that I would send the wrong book, I checked the description. This was clearly for a softback proof - and even said "I must stress, this book is a softback proof copy - not a hardback" - Fairly clear I thought !
I replied to this effect, and so was suprised when I got a dispute from Amazon. They have told Amazon that the description didn't match the book, and they want to know what I am going to do. They also request compensation as well as a refund in their email.
Pah !!
I have always given refunds for any reason, without quibbling. But on this occassion - for the first time - I have decided to fight my corner. This person is clearly wrong. Why should I lose about £20 in postage and costs to make up for their cock up.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Hollow praise
If another person who I have never seen before, walks in, and tells me what a tragedy it is that the shop is closing - then walks out again, I reserve the right to kill them.
Slowly
and Painfully.
Slowly
and Painfully.
Not getting the point !
Chap walks in..
"I have some books to sell you..."
"I'm sorry sir, we are closing down in a few weeks."
"But I want to sell you these books..."
"We are closing the shop down"
"wont you buy these before you go"
"we are closing down, I have 35,000 books - why would I want to buy some more"
"But I want to sell them"
"We are not buying sir"
"Well you are a second hand shop - you should buy them really"
I gave up at this point.
"I have some books to sell you..."
"I'm sorry sir, we are closing down in a few weeks."
"But I want to sell you these books..."
"We are closing the shop down"
"wont you buy these before you go"
"we are closing down, I have 35,000 books - why would I want to buy some more"
"But I want to sell them"
"We are not buying sir"
"Well you are a second hand shop - you should buy them really"
I gave up at this point.
The End is Nigh
Well the closure is looming.
In about three weeks, Ellwood Books will be no more - or rather, the shop will close and we shall do all of our work online and at bookfairs.
This doesn't seem to stop people from attempting to sell me absolute rubbish en masse. And I mean this literally.
This week (and it is only tuesday) we have had two kind donations of books - black sackfulls of them.
Sadly - the first turned out to be newspapers and colour supplements. The second was mainly school text books and notepads (the sort of text book where you practice your handwriting etc) of course - they were all filled in.
So effectively, these generous souls, couldn't be bothered to go to the dump with their paper rubbish - and thought they would dump it here instead.
Thanks !
In about three weeks, Ellwood Books will be no more - or rather, the shop will close and we shall do all of our work online and at bookfairs.
This doesn't seem to stop people from attempting to sell me absolute rubbish en masse. And I mean this literally.
This week (and it is only tuesday) we have had two kind donations of books - black sackfulls of them.
Sadly - the first turned out to be newspapers and colour supplements. The second was mainly school text books and notepads (the sort of text book where you practice your handwriting etc) of course - they were all filled in.
So effectively, these generous souls, couldn't be bothered to go to the dump with their paper rubbish - and thought they would dump it here instead.
Thanks !
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