Does anyone go to bookshops any more?

I went into Waterstones on Princes Street in Edinburgh - the main shopping street - the other day. The queue was so long that I assumed there was a book signing going on. From the tills to the back of the shop, snaking back to and then out of the door and along the street. I was shocked, as I had been planning to have a nice leisurely browse for present ideas, but it would have been impossible.

I think bookshops will survive, though probably in smaller numbers. There are certain kinds of books that you are always likely to want to look at in person - children's books, things like cookbooks, many types of 'coffee table' or art books. My guess is that the bookshops that survive will incline more towards this 'books as attractive objects' part of the market.

I also wonder whether eventually we'll see a division again between buying content and buying binding (as was the case in e.g. the 17th century, where you often bought your books unbound and then took them to a binder). E.g. where you could buy the digital content of a popular book or one particularly important to you and pay separately to have it bound in a unique/personalised way. I can imagine you might go to a shop to choose the binding/covers etc in that scenario a bit like you do e.g. upholstery fabric.

Terrors - thank you!!! Have just returned a book. Amazing! I love my kindle even more now

flapperty go to the amazon webpage, on the horizontal navigation bar, there is a item called 'hello terror, your account'. Go to manage your content and devices. You should now see the books you've purchased. If you haven't bought the book for long, one of the actions available is 'return for refund'.

You can also set up a 'household' account to share content with you DH/DP or anyone you like really!

The only bookshop near me is a major chain in the city centre. Given that I live about ten miles from the city centre, absolutely hate it and avoid it all costs, then I don't need to tell you that I never visit said major book chain.

I do buy books occasionally from the supermarket, but the range is limited.

I have no independents near me unfortunately - wish I do as I think they're wonderful places.

Two little terrors - how do you return books on the kindle?!

We are in our local W*s often - that's where all my DC's pocket / birthday money goes.

Aside from that place, we like the Oxfam book shop. The nearest indie bookshop is in the next town, it's always heaving whenever we've been. (We use the library a lot, can't afford to buy all that we read.)

Apple isn't so good with returns so I'm not as keen with them.

MiddleAgeMiddleEngland how do you browse and sample? You get, I think, 7 days to return a kindle book on amazon. Better than a bookshop to sample. I return about 50% of the book I buy on amazon.

I have been buying all my books online since I got my ipad last christmas. Can't think of anything worse than reading a physical book. Sorry.

We lost our local bookshop earlier this year. They closed down, saying that they just couldn't afford their premises any longer, and didn't have enough customers using it. It seems I was probably one of very few people who ever went in there, and I bought regularly in there, especially for the DC as they had a brilliant children's section :(

I too love book shops! It is sad to see them gradually closing down, though my last couple of visits to book shops they were busy I think that's more to do with it being the week before Christmas and major delivery problems where I live.

I go all the time. We have a lovely one in our town with fantastic staff who will go out of their way to find what you want. I feel it's so important to support them, and am fortunate that I can afford to buy from them, not be looking for bargains on Amazon. DH was in there today (after casually asking me if there were any books I'd like for Christmas ) and said it was very busy. They can usually get books the day after you order them so quicker than Amazon anyway most of the time.

How do you browse and sample books if you can't actually handle them? Some of my best discoveries and favourite titles/authors have come from browsing in a real bookshop.

When we are away, one of the things we do is seek out the local bookshops and spend an hour or so in there. Imagine a high street or town without a bookshop

I've boycotted Amazon (fat lot of difference that'll make) so yes, I do go to bookshops, and yes, they are much quieter. I expect bookshops, apart from a few, to disappear in my lifetime and it makes me feel very sad.

Love going to bookshops, especially independent ones. Sometimes hampered because most of them in my nearest towns are closed on Sundays, which is often when I get to shop. Totally respect that, by the way, just means they don't always get my custom as much as I'd like.