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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
TheBride · 17/08/2011 13:29

There's no point in small independents trying to compete with huge chains and internet sellers on price. Anyone in business knows that you have to differentiate from your competitors on a point of strength, otherwise you just start a race to the bottom (and then lose).

The joy of independent bookshops is the browsability, the fact that they stock a better variety of books (I know Amazon stock everything, but how do you know what to look for?) and the knowledge of the staff etc. Moreover I'd happily pay the £2 extra not to have to set foot in the horror that is Costco.

There was a very good article the other day about how high street retailers risk becoming "showrooms for Amazon," and how we all expect other people to save the High Street.

Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:30

but Booy - they might end up marrying her instead of me, then I'll be left on the shelf without a husband, a home or children of my own
why would you do that to a person? whhhhyyyyyyyy?

OP posts:
Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:30

pming blether now...
(you won't like it though! Shock)

OP posts:
Pelagia · 17/08/2011 13:31

I would HATE people coming into my (hypothetical) shop doing that. We all know the big businesses have lots of clout and generally cheaper prices but no need to shout about it. YANBU.

I love proper book shops, but generally buy books from charity shops, being on v small budget, and not that fussy about what I read - theres always something worth a try.

Have you got a website Nickel?

ScrambledSmegs · 17/08/2011 13:32

Ah, it's always worth going to an independent bookshop, IMO. My favourite (Daunt) is flipping brilliant, and the staff are amazing at suggesting books that you would never have though of reading, but are instantly your new favourite book! It's what Waterstones try to replicate with their Staff Picks, but I've generally either read everything on their list or it contains far too many graphic novels.

It's pretty rude to loudly diss a shop when you're actually in it. Slap 'em with a ban!

BTW I'm a long way away from you, nickelbabe, but if I'm ever nearby I will definitely pop in. Your shop looks brilliant :)

Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:32

blether???? i meant Blather... Blush

OP posts:
BooyHoo · 17/08/2011 13:32

i think you'll just have to accept that aslong as you are offering something to the public, the public will talk about it and it wont alwas be good talk. you cant please all the people all of the time. just be satisfied that you are doing the best job you can with what you have available to you.

Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:34

pel - i have (i'm fully googlabel, because I'm not allowed to advertise on here. Grin )

OP posts:
jasper · 17/08/2011 13:34

Nickelbabe, YANBU.
I think shopkeepers often get treated badly/rudely

there was a thread on here ages ago about a mother complaining a shopkeeper would not let her and her kid use their loo.

Those owning shops came on to explain that people made a mess of their shop loos so they had stopped allowing passing strangers ( not customers) to use them. You would have thought the shopkeepers had been torturing puppies from some of the responses!

Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:34

I think i'll have the next MN meet-up in my shop.

I'll provide Pombears Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:36

jasper - that's awful! Shock

I've never had anyone abusing my toilets.
(sooo far)

There is one little kid though, they come in the shop about once a month, and every time they step in the door, the kid needs the toilet! Grin
It's really funny Grin

OP posts:
SomethingBlue · 17/08/2011 13:37

I don't think there's much you can do except silently seethe, but I make a point of buying books and other things in local shops, because I want them to keep going. I'd be gutted if they all closed because everyone had only been using them as a display service for stuff they buy off the internet.

sparkle12mar08 · 17/08/2011 13:37

I fear for the very existence of some types of high-street, in-town stores, I really do. And I know full well I'm part of the problem. It's particularly acute in those stores such as electricals and books where the online savings can be as much as 50%, yet one can browse for hours for free in a store, find exactly what you want and then have it delivered with 2-3 days for half the price. And in the current climate, who wouldn't? The economies of scale are such that small independents haven't a hope in hell of meeting them.

Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:38

I did only silently seethe.
that's why i love MN - it's the power to rant without having to rant at the "customer"
Grin

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Pelagia · 17/08/2011 13:39

Could you afford to refund people's parking? 'Spend over £5 and park for free' sort of thing. There is an evil supermarket near us that does that. But it does mean the car park ticket has to come in two halves so you leave a bit in the car and take a bit into the shop. If you tried it for a month it would be good ammunition for the council.

Ben10isthespawnofthedevil · 17/08/2011 13:39

Yes Nickel - have a Kentish meetup in your shop. I must come down as I'm only in the Medway towns and I like a good bookshop - esp one with tea Grin

Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:39

and sod, I've forgotten to release today's orders!
:( Blush

at least all the customer orders have been sent.

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 17/08/2011 13:40

And if everyone goes to Costco/Amazon there will be no independent retailers left soon...

tootiredtomakeupagoodname · 17/08/2011 13:40

I am surprised that most people are not aware before going into independant shops that they will pay a bit more. I love going into bookshops with DS and spending ages picking a book its not really the same sitting on Amazon, also I tend to get carried away on Amazon/Costco etc and buy loads more than I need so infact shopping local works to my advantage. All though I live in the Isle of Man and shopping locally is a very big thing here, few shops open on Sundays and we have NO 24 hour supermarkets, its great Smile

corygal · 17/08/2011 13:41

Nickelbabe - take heart, your shop has loads to offer (free) that Costo doesn't. You are a book boutique - Costco is a rather random hypermarketty arrangement.

Focus on what your shop does for the customer - eg the edit of new books, the reliability of your advice, browsing possibilities - and so on. And you are a lot faster than Amazon because people can actually take the book with them.

The customers who bawl about prices aren't your market anyway.

Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:42

we'll keep battling them.
We are lucky enough to be on the high street, where there is free parking for 20minutes (to stop commuters parking all day).
and sainsbury's refunds parking if you buy stuff there, which is also helpful for those who want to pop onto the high street.

OP posts:
corygal · 17/08/2011 13:42

Have you tried offering more of the type of stuff that Costco & Amazon can't? eg book clubs, literary quiz nights, signings, all that caper.

Look at successful bookshop "models" eg Nomad Books & The Village Bookshop (both in London.)

Insomnia11 · 17/08/2011 13:43

I think (hope) in the high street that the big chains will all go online only leaving the high street for small independents who offer something different.

Original poster
nickelbabe · 17/08/2011 13:45

i do have author events every now and then - usually small ones, because the big ones tend to only do chains - that's when I get the schools in to visit.

and I sometimes have the scouting and guiding groups in - like beavers and rainbows - they come in after the shop shuts, and i read to them for a bit, then we sometimes do a word activity, and they get a free biscuit (food seems to be my big draw...), and then their parents buy books.

a customer approached me about a book club he was starting - they're now underway (the Bookie Monsters, if you look under "reviews" on my website), andthey get a discount card, and publisher freebies, and a free Nickel bag too.

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Blatherskite · 17/08/2011 13:47

Why wouldn't I like the book? It looks brill. Very tempted to get it for DS for Christmas - Yes, I am thinking that far in advance already!