Taking the piss...

[Yesyoudoknowme]

I totally get that Covid has screwed many businesses and that some have to try anything to survive. However one business has now lost my custom forever. It was a second hand bookshop. A big one. VERY big. Their books are all donated (except the vintage ones possibly). Prior to lockdown they had a huge warehouse and they had hundreds of thousands of books (literally). They were £1 each. (except vintage which in general were £2). Went back recently and due to the requirements of SD the layout has changed, so far fewer books on the shelves they are now in the warehouse and you have to look up on a computer what you want, fill out a single form for each book with their reference number on it - give it to them and they will find it and bring it out. (I had 20 and it took about 10 mins for them to get them, so not a long wait). All fair enough - until I realised that every book was now £2! A 100% increase! Vintage books are now £4.
I used to spend a LOT of money there, but no more. I wouldn't spend £2 on a book from a charity shop, why would I from this seller? AIBU? Is 100% price rise acceptable?

£2 is still bloody cheap for a book. Have a word with yourself.

£2 for a secondhand book sounds incredibly reasonable to me... But I guess YMMV.

But you know the answer... If you don't like it, don't go again. No one is dragging you there. It's a free world, and all that.

Still incredibly cheap - and likely reflective of the fact that they are selling far fewer books.

You can shop wherever you like but this isn’t a reasonable strop.

Its still very cheap for a book and most places are passing on at least some covid costs.

Don't cut your nose off to spite your face

It's hard to find books for £1 even in the local charity shop

Can you send me the name of the shop, it sounds like my kind of heaven, I love 2nd hand books.

Where is this bookshop BTW, my husband loves books so this sounds amazing for him, is there a link?

Still very very cheap for a book. Couldn’t get worked up about this tbh.

Get a grip OP , it’s still really cheap and they are having to do lots of extra work to get you the book . I hope their other customers are a bit more understanding .

Is this a reverse?

If not, you really don't think all the faff of having to look for a book for you amongst thousands isn't worth a POUND?

I bet you are a bad tipper as well.

I’m always sniffing around secondhand bookshops and charity shops (or was back in the Before Times) and agree with everyone else that £2 still seems amazingly reasonable to me! By all means, vote with your feet if you don’t like it but I don’t reckon you’ll find a better bargain elsewhere (and, if you do, please come back and share).

Your choice where you shop
I doubt they made the decision lightly

@iwannascream

Can you send me the name of the shop, it sounds like my kind of heaven, I love 2nd hand books.

Me too please!

Are you on glue?

How many books were you buying with that "I used to spend a LOT of money" when books were a pound 😂

It's very reasonable price. Costs rise every year with wages, rents, rates. Have a word with yourself. This is why we have sweatshops and low wages.

They must be spending way more on staff costs if they are fetching books for the customers. And selling far fewer books. And have been paying costs with no revenue for months.

Can’t imagine why prices have increased...,,

I’d guess it’s much easier to work in round figures than have to worry about pence, just as some books will be overpriced and some a bargain as they’re all selling for same amount.

How many books were you buying with that "I used to spend a LOT of money" when books were a pound 😂

Good point!

You used to spend A LOT of money there? At £1 a book. 🙄

Sounds like heaven to me too But if you aren't happy OP you are free to shop elsewhere

It's still affordable but not the bargain it was. I guess they don't want to deal with tricky amounts like £1.25 or £1.50 a book. They have lost money and probably have higher overheads now so you can support them going forward or try finding what you want for the old price elsewhere.

Is this the Bookbarn in Somerset? You know they are losing money, right? And were even before Covid?
Show the poor sods some love, 2nd hand books are never going to make anyone rich even if you've got a bazillion of them to sell!

I need to know where this earthly paradise is too!

@Yesyoudoknowme if you’re being serious you’re an entitled selfish moron

Are you joking? £2 a book isn't a fortune, and yes, businesses will do anything to survive. There is also now extra work involved, presumably with staff having to look things up on computers, manually find them, move things around the store to space out etc.

I thought from the beginning of your post would were going to talk about some atrocious customer service, not the fact the price of a book has gone up £1.

I reckon Bookbarn. I should open a tea-stall for you all - I live up the road! They do have a cafe already though...
www.bookbarninternational.com/