How can the book people website be so cheap? Is it a club?

[crokky]

I want to buy my DS a set of books that costs £125 on the Waterstones website. On the book people, it is only £30!!!!

How can they supply these books so cheaply? Is it something you have to commit to like a club or are the books 2nd hand or seconds or something?

Thanks for any help!

[roisin]

They're not 2nd hand or seconds, and it's not a club that you commit to.

I've bought loads of books from them in the past and the quality is great.

Sometimes it's remaindered stock from a publisher, but often it's just a very special deal from the publisher.

I used to work in publishing, and it was great to get a title in a book club, because it meant you could do a far, far greater printrun, thus making the unit cost of your whole run much cheaper. Often you didn't make a great deal on the book club deal, but you increased your margin on every other book you sell iyswim.

Also Book People have their own publishing house Ted Sharp, and sometimes they actually do their own print run. (I don't know how this is handled financially, but they must use original artwork, as the only difference is the logo on the cover, barcode, and the title verso (one of the early pages with publishing info.)

Anyway, again, the quality is absolutely fine and many people don't even notice that some books have a different publisher name on them.

Go for it!

what are you buying?

[McDreamy]

It's great - take full advantage of them, there's no tricks or membership

[Seeline]

I have used the Book People loads of times - they are brillaint. The sets they do are great for breaking up to use as 'party bags' as they end up really cheap but great quality. Much better than sweets and other rubbish!! Go ahead I can thoroughly recommend.

[stitch]

nothing like that at all
i think they get books at the end of a run. sort oflike, when books become old, and the main bookshops want to move them off the shelves to make way for new ones, any extra copies get downgraded, so places like the book people can then sell them cheaply.
but beware, i have often gone on their website simply to buy one, may be two books, and forty or fifty pounds later......

[crokky]

Sounds great!

Wanted to get a set of Thomas books and put them away and give them bit by bit to DS and save some for Christmas and his birthday etc. Just couldn't believe the price!

[Chuffinnora]

I can add that there is no trickery what so ever. All the books are new and delivery is prompt and efficient. I love them and spend loads with them. They also have an office delivery service when the chap brings the books for a weeks approval and then returns with the books in his car so no delivery charge - excellent.

[elkiedee]

I love buying books there. Apparently they negotiate deals with publishers, and how cheap books are varies a bit but if your son loves Thomas it sounds like a good deal.