To ban idiots who come into my shop

[nickelbabe]

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????

beggars belief.

here's my facebook page

oh, they do that - I used to work in ottakar's, and lots of people would just take books into the coffee shop to browse.
it's not too bad, because costa pay part towards the rent and the facilities.
and for as many people who just do the read on their lunch break, you'll get just as many who buy the books.

Oh, Oh Nickel - what's wring with artemis fowl?

Despite being perfectly able to read for years ds (almost 11) has never read a novel. He likes us to read to him, or he'll read books about cars. Not children's ones - I mean the stuff geeky grown up petrolheads read

But this last two weeks he's been ploughing through artemis fowl on his DS (so sorry, not even a proper book). I mean hours at a time. For the first time. Ever.

I've not read it myself - is it utter shite then?

my DD adores Mr B's, somebody lovely bought her time in the little tiny reading room, where they bring you biscuits and she said it was what heaven will be like :)

nickelbabe your shop sounds great and I hope you continue to succeed.

Ignore those posters who are pretending to give you business advice on lowering your prices and catering for customers. I bet they loudly whinge in shops too. *

Some people resent you making any profit. It's the way they are. If you offered it to them free they'd probably want you to pay them to take the stock off your hands.

Apart from tortoise* that is, who asked a reasonable question in a polite way.

ps If I lived near you I'd definitely be in. You find the best books - most things really - by browsing and asking advice from people who care just as much about giving the right product as making a sale.

I couldn't like Artemis. He was a rotten, rotten creature, and I just hated him
It was personal

Blatherskite - you darling! :)
DH has just posted your parcel
(hope the chocolate doesn't melt....)

I ran a specialist independent bookshop for two years. It was a very lovely job in a very lovely shop but eventually the owner had to close. It just wasn't sustainable. Even when I worked there, I wouldn't have paid full price for a 'pre-browsed' book when I knew Amazon was less - why would we expect our customers to?

nickel, your shop sounds great and well run with lots of added value and therefore successful. But, as you know, most people are very busy and cash conscious and won't have time to spend browsing, or have the ability to buy more expensively when they know they can get cheaper elsewhere. Truthfully, whenever I go into independent bookshops I try to buy something from them, but it's never anything more than a few pounds worth because if it was, I'd get it online for less.

It's rude of them to say it out loud, but I don't think you should resent them for thinking it. And, yes, as someone said further up, they're your customers, the electricity bill isn't their concern, so accept that or you will end up very bitter indeed [been there emoticon].

thank you limited - lowering prices is unfortunately something that can't happen, but the bogof offer is very popular, so that keeps the bargain hunters happy :)

Lemon - that's why i'm glad i'm the owner - if i want a specific book, i can buy my own, and take it home at full discount (don't tell DH, though, I only give him 10% family discount )
if i were staff, that couldn't happen.

I don't expect people to buy loads - I want them to enjoy the experience, and hopefully see that I'm part of the community.

And i'm hoping the joy of getting the book there and then is worth more than the extra £1 they save and having to wait for 3 or 4 days (or longer if they're not in when it comes!) to get their book. :)

I shall "Like" your FB page as soon as I get home :)

Am pretending to work right now and my boss will notice if I start Facebooking during working hours

Ooh, I will look forward to it's arrival :)

It seemed only fair to get it from you seeing as I wouldn't have known about it otherwise.

and all the goodies will make up for the price

They sure will although I may get the others in the series from Amazon

okay.

and a family has just come in - entering with the words "ooh, i love this book shop"

Let's hope they've got lots of stamps!

Had no idea where Sittingbourne was. Not local to me unfortunatly. However I have liked your FB page and now found your website.

We have a local run bookshop in town which has been here since I moved here about 13 years ago (just did the maths, bloody hell I've been here a long time!) called Coles. I love it, the staff are just so...so nice and they care. When I was in school I used to beg on a regular basis to work there, but they had no positions. DH and I use them frequently, despite there being a WHSmiths just across from them. Coles every time!

I wish I lived closer, I love independent book shops. And toy shops. I was so sad when the little toy shop in St Albans closed :(

I'm on your website now trying to find the lego book. The search button doesn't work- is it on the site already or too new?

it's not on the site, i'm afraid. it is indeed too new.

I'll add it there today, though.

(it'll probably be in the Gift Books page)
:)

no, i'm putting it under toys and games

I haven't forgotten you have that book I want. Have actually been meaning to ask you about some others.

Small businesses need supporting and I bet you have a better range than any supermarket or chain store!

I'll do you a review when mine arrives if you like you

i've added the first one - there are others in the series, so i'll add those too over the next day or so. :)