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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ban idiots who come into my shop

253 replies

nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 12:25

and tell their children at full volume in front of other customers that "you can get that cheaper in Costco"?

I'm fucking fed up the back teeth of people doing that!!

Why don't you just fuck off to Costco then, and stop trying to lose me the precious very few customers I get????

Shock

beggars belief. AngryHmmSad

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByATroll · 17/08/2011 13:14

nickel - I sincerely hope that your shop is not in a village - because then by calling people idiots you would be implying that they were the - village idiot -

SenoritaViva · 17/08/2011 13:14

PS I also loathe someone telling me what to do, I'd happily spend 4 hours in your bookshop (maybe in exchange for a cuppa and the use of your toilet since I'm pregnant) and say in my poshest voice (which is super posh, I'm a boarding school girl) 'Honestly, do you think I LOOK like a Costco kind of person? The value is so much better here simply from the expeeerience dahling'.

joric · 17/08/2011 13:15

nickel, Book shops are lovely for all of the reasons you have stated. Our local book shop is gorgeous but I'm told that the profit comes from the gorgeous gifts, small toys, stationary she sells nowadays - rather than from books. She also has an area for coffee and cake in one corner. I go often but never buy books there.... I'm afraid that the book people and amazon have won the war... I buy gifts/ stationary/ cards there though. I can see that independent shops are being pushed out.

BooyHoo · 17/08/2011 13:16

nickel where did i say it was a good plan?

i was saying that customers are giving you the chance to. you ae in business. a business with huge competition, competition tha you will probably never be ahead of. you will have to grow a much thicker skin, if hearing that another shop is cheaper offends you. really, didn't you expect stuff like this when you started up? it's par for the course. your customers are your bread and butter, if you think of banning every single one that sensibly compares prices then you may find yourself on significantly less bread and butter.

activate · 17/08/2011 13:16

I am amazed, and pleased, that bookshops are still around

I won't buy from independents I'm afraid because I prefer amazon / library and my budget won't stretch to that but I'm pleased you're still going and there are people rich enough to pay an extra £2 - £4 for a book

Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:17

it's like that programme they did on the changing face of the High Street - they did shops for each decade, and at hte end of the 60s, all these people were really upset that the little traditional shop had to close. They were all people who had shopped at the cheaper self-service shop instead, and they couldn't work out that they were the reason that lovely little shop had to close!

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sayithowitis · 17/08/2011 13:18

Actually, on an occasional basis, if you know that the book is available in Costco,(maybe because you bought it there yourself), could you not offer a small discount? Not enough to wipe out all your profit, but enough to save the customer the cost and time of getting there for example? I know that if a shop owner gives me a small, but worthwhile discount on an item, I am far more likely to go back in future and spend there again, even at full price.
example: a couple of weeks ago, i needed a couple of items for a hobby of mine. A small, local shop sells the items at around +50% of the price in Hobbycraft (so £3.75 in her shop vs £2.50 in Hobbycraft). I needed 3 items. She could see I was clearly working out the costs and offered to let me have them at a total cost of £10.00 still more than Hobbycraft, but the saving on time and car park fees meant I was actually only spending around the same. i got my goods and she has gained a customer, because I will go there first in future. And I won't expect a discount, it was just a nice 'goodwill' gesture.

Scuttlebutter · 17/08/2011 13:18

Nickel, as a small business you are never going to compete on price with the big retailers such as Amazon. All of the "value added" stuff is what differentiates you. Costco won't have book groups or make you cups of tea, but they will be cheaper for the mainstream big sellers.

We buy books from a variety of outlets, including Amazon, Tesco, Waterstones and independent booksellers, plus we like browsing at charity shops and enjoy a trip to Hay.

All you can do is make sure that your customers know about all those lovely extra services you offer. As a customer, they shouldn't be interested in your elecktrickery bill, you are not a charity, they should be interested in getting great service from you.

And depending on where you are, it may well be cheaper to shop via Amazon, as we find deranged Councils seem determined to drive out local shoppers by continually introducing high parking charges, restricted parking and weird one way systems. No wonder people go out of town or to online. I buy a lot of craft stuff, and have found this recently with one of our lovely local craft stores - it's almost impossible to park anywhere near there now thanks to the sodding Council. It's had a major effect on their business.

BooyHoo · 17/08/2011 13:19

"what i don't like is people telling other people to go elsewhere to buy their books"

according to your OP,it was someone telling their children thatbooks were cheaper in costco. not the same as telling your other customers to shop elsewhere.

Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:20

Senorita - i love you.
I would give you the best biscuits (the chocolate hobnob ones)

my favouritist customers arethose who say "you're so much better than Smith's" Grin

Booy - not the point I'm making, and I think you know that.
It's like someone looking at you and telling someone in your earshot that this other woman down the road is prettier than you. It might be true, but it's not pleasant.

OP posts:
Blatherskite · 17/08/2011 13:21

A Lego book with pieces in it?

And an MN discount you say?

And free postage?

DS loves Lego :)

Blu · 17/08/2011 13:22

Sympathies, OP, and it is very rude to do say that out loud, even if they are thinking it.

I but books from Amazon, I buy books from Independent bookshops. Amazon is only any good if you already know what book you wnat. No good for browsing.

Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:22

sayithowitis - if I buy from wholesalers like that, I alsways give a discount, because they are aimed at discount prices.
I also buy lots of "remainder" books, which means that I can do a Buy-one-get-one-free offer.
Really, the prices in my shop are suitable for everyone - I have nice, presentation editions for those lookign for lovely gifts, and I have cheap, sale items for those just looking for something cheap to read.

OP posts:
ThePrincessRoyalFiggyrolls · 17/08/2011 13:22

There is always the bargain wiggle, but if you have people coming in and definitely not going to buy something and saying things like that then what is the point of offering it to them, they aren't going to purchase anyway. If she had come in and said, actually I think costco do do it cheaper but I can't be bothered to go up there so perhaps you might think about a couple of pennies off then perhaps nickel would have thought about it. I would also be in her shop for a particular style of angel cake that comes from a local bakery Wink

Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:23

Blather - you don't get the cup of tea if you do it by distance. Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:23

although, I do still have a couple of chocolate bars (galaxy dark) that are reserved for special customer orders Wink

OP posts:
Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:24

and i'm part of the shop local scheme, where you have a little card that you can present in shops.
Mine's the best offer of all of the shops, cos it's valid every day.

OP posts:
bonkers20 · 17/08/2011 13:25

I just looked up where your shop is and it's too far for me to swing by to browse your books and have a hobnob

Next time I'm passing though.....

If this thread turns into a proper bun fight maybe you will make the news and then EVERYONE will come to your shop.

Is it like the travel book shop in Notting Hill?

IslaValargeone · 17/08/2011 13:26

I can't believe that people can say lower your prices, yes because it's really that simple isn't it Hmm

rebelwithoutababy · 17/08/2011 13:26

Where is your bookshop of joy?! It sounds great!

Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:26

oh, yes, I do somestimes do bulk discounts too - I normally offer a shop local card to anyone who spends over £20, and I have these lovely Nickel cotton bags that are free to anyone who spends over £25.

and I sell eggs from my own chickens.

OP posts:
BooyHoo · 17/08/2011 13:26

it's not the same at all nickel. your shop is a business. commenting on your prices is not the same as telling someone that a girl down the road is prettier. that is personal, and no-one can help how they look. yes your business is personal to you but to your customers it is just a nice wee shop where they can wile away an hour and get a cuppa,theyare getting a servie and are entitled to comment. myface is not providing any paying customers with a service so their opinions on it have no place in my hearing. the comparison doesn't work.

ThePrincessRoyalFiggyrolls · 17/08/2011 13:27

Bonkers, just like that one!

Blatherskite · 17/08/2011 13:28

Alas Nickel, you're way to far away from me for me to pop in but I'd appreciate a linky to that book. PM me :)

Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:28

Scuttle - i'm part of the local retail associaition, and i've been trying to tell the council that they should give free parking, and they keep trying to tell me that people won't go otu of town for the sake of 60p an hour. I have tried and tried and tried to make them see that's not true, but they don't believe me!

OP posts: