Book Buying Addicts Anonymous discussion

Well, I've decided. After lots of talking and imagining with my husband, I've chosen to open my own used bookstore. My time frame of when I'd like to have this happen is five years from today. So, May 29th, 2016. I'm ridiculously excited.

Anyways, what I was hoping you could all help me with is just a short survey, to help with inventory/design/pricing purposes.

1. What are some of the pros/cons of your favorite used bookstores?
2. Big comfy chairs to read, scattered throughout the store - yes/no?
3. Mike (my husband) brought up the idea of internet. Would it be a good idea to have free wi-fi? Or should I charge $2.00 or so for an hour, if I provided a few desktop computers - sort of an internet cafe? I live in a populated area (outskirts of Oklahoma City), so I'm sure customers could find free wi-fi easily, which is why I'm leaning towards this option.

Any information/opinions you guys mention will all be jotted down in my new Bookstore folder on my laptop, so please, discuss away! Thanks so much everyone!

1. cheap prices on used books b) my bookstores in ct do not take stamped books to sell to their customers. (A used book is a loved book. they are not dirty just stamped)
chairs and wi-fi are a plus! I'm such a spoiled brat of events and coffee in bookstores. I miss Borders!

I was hoping to have events down the line, but that wouldn't be for a while, at least not for the first year or so. The prices will definitely be cheaper than you'd find at Borders or Barnes and Noble. It's just deciding on a price that won't make me lose customers, but will still keep the store running. If that makes sense!

Thanks so much for your input!

That's so exciting, good luck with everything!

1. The used bookstore I work for throws away any books that aren't in almost-new condition, which I think is a terrible crime. Even if they're ready to fall apart, I think there should at least be a bargain bin or something. Like 20p (cents?) for the totally battered ones.
But they do have seperate sections for everything, which looks nice.
2. Yes to big comfy chairs! The ones in the store I work in are always being admired. You just got to keep an eye on people who just want to come in for a quick nap, lol!
3. Free wi-fi would be a huge plus.

Have you got any writer friends or know any local authors? It would be cool if you could get some of them hanging around your shop. I know someone who used to work in my store recently got a book published, so she's going to spend the day there with a few copies of her books, talking to customers and giving out signed copies.

i love how my book store is always warm! lol and comfy chairs a must! i agree sell all books! i love a well loved book

Well, I think congratulations are in order. Making a big decision like that doesn’t occur every day! I will be happy to make some suggestions to make your dream a dream for everyone.
1.) Your bookstore should have cheap (secondhand books) as well as new, rare and possibly signed books. The last three categories should be fairly priced, as you should make a profit and a real book collector would see the value of the book in spite of the price.
2.) Books have a smell of their own. Nothing really compares to the new and old smell of a book. This smell shouldn’t be covered with the smell of dust and neglect. In other words, keep your store and books clean.
3.) A chair (or more) to allow clients a place to test your wares is a great idea but you shouldn’t forget about good lighting so they can read. Most stores prefer clients to move through their store, buy lots of what they see, pay and leave. You seem to want your customers to stay awhile. That is a new and possibly successful twist to retailing.
4.) I think someone mentioned coffee……that could also bring new customers back on a more regular basis.
I plan to make a trip stateside and to your neck of the woods (Clayton, Ok.) around that time and would love to drop buy and explore endless shelves of printed inspiration.

Congrats! Best of luck with it.
One thing I seem to have never found at a used book store other than Half Price is that it is well organized. Having the books seperated by genre and sorted by author and title is a big plus with me. I like to look for certain titles and having the books just thrown together in a great big mess is so annoying.

Thanks so much for all the congratulations and input!

@Batsap - Oh, I could never throw away books because they weren't in pristine condition! I'd definitely have a clearance section, and just sell those for less. If anything, I'd donate them. Someone, somewhere, will want those books. Unfortunately though, the only writer friends I have live back in New York (where I'm originally from) and are unpublished.

@Melanie - Note to self: Keep bookstore warm! Although, here in Oklahoma, we have plenty of warmth, lol.

@Thom - I didn't even think about having new/signed books! That's a great idea! Good lighting is also an awesome tip. You're right, I'd rather the customers stay awhile - maybe they'll pick up more books, or just introduce themselves so I can get to know their likes/dislikes for future recommendations. I'm excited for your visit, haha!

@Joseph - Half Price's organization is one thing I absolutely love. That would be something I'd strive for. Actually, I think you were the one who turned me onto Half Price!

Thanks again for everyone's input! These are all great tips and advice!

One thing about my local used bookstore that bugs me is how they do the book credits. If I trade in books, I get so much in credit to use in the store. However, I only get credit in kind. What I mean is, if I bring in romance novels, I can only use the credit on other romance novels, not on general fiction, scifi, biography, or kids books. If I want to buy mystery books with my credits, then I have to trade in mystery books. I would prefer, to get general credits for my books, so that no matter what I bring in, I can use it on anything in the store. Helps if you're buying books for others, or if you read alot of genres but don't always trade in all your books.

My used bookstore does have one shelf in the back for 25 cent books for really abused ones. They cut the corner off the cover so you can't get them confused with other books in the store but it's nice to browse the cheap stuff now and then. Discovered a few new authors in there.

I would suggest something like small baskets be made available to put the books you've picked out for you to carry around until you can get to the register. If it's easier to carry around a load of books, some may buy more. :)

Good luck.

Oh, one last thing. Hate to have you competing with me on books, lol, but the Hastings, NE (not that far away from you) has their annual friends of the library booksale every year in July. They sort and sell books by genre. Books are 50 cents each (used to be a quarter!). Friday night you pay $5 to get in early. Sat is open free to the public. Sunday is free and is the bag sale. All the books you can fit in a bag for $1. I'm sure dealers are there on other nights as well, but I've seen the book dealers on sundays bring a small trailer and tons of plastic totes and just clear off the tables on the last day. (I don't know if they get $1/tote the same as I'd pay $1 for a paper grocery bag, but even if it's $2 each, you'd get alot of books cheap.) I've seen dealers from the Dakota's come down for our annual book sale. Our local used book dealer won't go to the sale because she doesn't want to upset her customers by having them feel like she's taking away from them by competing with them for cheap books to stock her shelves, so it's defeatly a personal decision. I know alot of libraries are starting these annual sales. Check out what's in your area for a way to get cheap inventory.

http://www.hastings.lib.ne.us/events....
Scroll down until you see Book Sale and a video of last year's sale. They made $22k selling books for 50 cents a piece. That's how big our annual sale is. (I love it!!!!)

ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ wrote: "One thing about my local used bookstore that bugs me is how they do the book credits. If I trade in books, I get so much in credit to use in the store. However, I only get credit in kind. What I me..."

That type of credit system would drive me crazy! I could never do that, because I read many different genres, so feeling limited like that would be insane. Small baskets are a good idea though, thanks!

And I would absolutely love it if I could make it to that sale. Unfortunately, Hastings is roughly 8 hours from me. It did inspire me to look around, and I found there's a sale similar to that in Oklahoma City, but not until February. Maybe I can talk my husband into taking the drive up there in July...

The main factor for me is the price. I'm a waitress so my disposable income is very small. However I can never resist a good bargain.
I actually like it when books are arranged haphazardly because I have discovered many wonderful gems that I wouldn't otherwise have found this way, but thats just me! Chairs are a big thumbs up for me too.

Oh, and Congratulations!!!!!!!!

Good for you! I love comfy chairs and a pot of coffee for coffee drinkers (not me). The longer I hang out in a bookstore the more I am likely to buy and come back! Who knows what the big thing will be in 5 years. No decision on the Wifii because there may be something new by then. Lots of open space to browse, step stools to sit on and look at shelves, chairs a must.

1.Price things very well. If a bookstore has good prices, I'll definately be coming back, but I won't be paying too much money for a terrible condition book.
2.I love having chairs to sit in and read. The local used bookstore has no chairs, and it kind of sucks, but it's whatever.
3.Yeah, Wifi would be great. If you need to, charging for computer use would probably be fine.

Another thing to consider is maybe making some coffee? I don't know what it is, but coffee and books go together so well :) I mean it doesn't really have to be world class coffee.

Also, make sure to keep things neat! The local used book store here literally has piles of books on the floor and places, and you have to walk around it.

Don't smoke or allow smoking in your bookstore, because the smell can really repel customers sometimes.

I hope this all helps!

Thanks Colberto, Sandy, and Hannah!

@Hannah - I was a waitress for about four years, so I remember how broke I was. I'm going to try to have the cheapest possible books, but make sure I'm still able to pay the bills. I was also thinking of coupons and stuff every so often.

Sandy - I totally agree with you - the more time I spend in a bookstore, the more likely I am to revisit!

@Colberto 0 I can't allow smoking even if I wanted to. I'm severely asthmatic, and even lighting up in the same room as me, then going outside to smoke, will send me for my inhaler immediately. So no worries there!

Coffee seems to be something a lot of people agree on, so there's a good chance I'll have some sort of coffee served.

I agree with those who like the books organized by genre. They are easier to find, but I also recommend a section for antiques. It is very interesting to browse the shelves that are full of only old titles. Our used book store has this section right up front.

I am having a wonderful time just reading all the posts on this thread. I love the comfy chairs & coffee. I definitely like theme-sections. I always look for a stores antique section. It makes me so happy that even if I don't buy any of those books, which I rarely do, it seems to ensure I buy something elsewhere. There's something to me achingly beautiful about those old titles & if I can't or don't want any of them, it's like I just have to appease that ache with something.

Good luck with it all. I want to retire and spend my older years cruising bookstores throughout the country.

Be sure to have bargain tables or bins for old retired schoolmarms such as I will then be!

I don't shop used bookstores very often (weird phobias), but there have been a few I've dealt with and liked, and some that weren't so great.

I'll chime in with what I've seen, good and bad:

Store credit. I really hate store credit! I like Half Price where they pay you (not much) for used books. They're getting stock at a fraction of the cost, and I can turn right around and spend that money on something else in the store. We had a local store that only gave store credit, which was unusable when their store burnt down! They rebuilt -- thank goodness -- but as they'd lost their store records in the fire, you were out of luck if you had unused credit there. (I was one of those unlucky people.)

Jumbled aisles and narrow doorways. This seems to be a problem with some shops. I kind of get it -- it's quirky and non-corporate -- but it can be difficult to navigate if you're carrying books/baby carriers/etc, or if you're a larger person.

Kids section. One of the local shops near me keeps toys for the kids to play with in the kids section. YUCK. I know it seems like a great idea, but it just isn't (IMO). The kids are dying to play with these toys, and there is no way I can let them! (weird phobia, remember?)

But yes, yes yes to comfy chairs. I will not buy a book without paging through it first, and I hate sitting on the floor to browse. I'll walk out of the bookstore with $100+ per visit -- easily -- but only if I'm able to really look through the books I'm thinking about buying.

I think coffee is a great idea, too. I'm not really sure how that works, though -- would you have a cafe? Or just a pot of coffee? I'm not sure if you'd need some kind of food certification or something to do that? Just something to think about.

Free wi-fi is nice, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. I'm sure there are others who live for wi-fi, though!

My husband's writers' group meets in a separate room at a local bookstore. I'm not sure if it generates much income for the store, but I think it's a great idea, if it's at all possible. Maybe you could do something like that, and combine it with gallery space? Become a little arts mecca down the road!

I'm so happy that you're able to pursue this dream -- I'm in Dallas, so OKC would be a drive I'd be willing to make to check out your store once you're open! Best of luck to you!

I think you can easily have both expensive and very cheap books. I don't mind paying 30-40 dollars for a rare book, but it's also cool to get a lot of cheap ones that aren't in super condition.
Maybe tea or non-messy cookies for cold weather?
You could maybe sell bookclub bundles with the same titles, of have some monthly bookgroup reads?

Yeah, the credit system by genre drives me crazy. If I trade in a classic, I can only use it on another classic. Kids for kids books, romance for romance, etc. I don't mind store credit instead of cash but I'd like general store credit I can use on any book!

I don't know about other used bookstores, but mine generally sells books at half the cover price listed on a book. Depending on the book, that's not what I necessarily call cheap. Some older less popular books (like Louis L'Amour westerns) our local store sells (at their mimimum for a regular book) of $1 but that's rare for her. There is a discounted section (with a corner cut off each book) for a quarter a book unless specified. I got Dan Brown's Angels & Demons for 50 cents that way but the paperback had water damage with waffled pages. (Still read just fine.)

Needless to say, although I like my used bookstore and occassionally find a few things in it I like... I prefer to use PBS or browse thirft shops as they are still cheaper and on a fixed income, money is tight for me.

Danie wrote: "Well, I've decided. After lots of talking and imagining with my husband, I've chosen to open my own used bookstore. My time frame of when I'd like to have this happen is five years from today. So, ..."

I think internet would be terrific but if you are going to make it like an internet cafe - have the cafe as well. Limited menu but I don't like to stop to find a place to eat and would DEFINITELY eat at the bookstore. Best of luck with this. Having your own business is EXTREMELY exciting. I highly recommend it. www.joeicarlton.com Joei

Have you decided on a name yet?!

Danie wrote: "I was hoping to have events down the line, but that wouldn't be for a while, at least not for the first year or so. The prices will definitely be cheaper than you'd find at Borders or Barnes and No..."

$3.00 for paperback and 7.00 for hardback.

Danie wrote: "Thanks so much for all the congratulations and input!

@Batsap - Oh, I could never throw away books because they weren't in pristine condition! I'd definitely have a clearance section, and just sel..."

maybe have books not in great shape in colored bins by the front of the store.

For those that don't drink coffee, maybe have an established tea pot time, perhaps once a day so that regulars can come by for tea instead.

I agree on the organization. We have a used bookstore here that frustrates me for the same reason. They at least have genres separated but then all the books are just scattered around in that genre.

What they do do that you might want to think about is rent out a small back room for small theatre or local cabaret productions (lots of fun). And one time they turned into a non-money casino (fake money, etc) as a fundraiser for local causes - get known in the community for hosting groups and literature for good causes. They poster their entire front window with local events, live music flyers, etc. It's like a neighborhood hub as a result.

My local used book store has the store divided up into Genres, and then shelves them within each genre alphabetically by author and every so often, has a card with the letter poking out of the shelf to help you find your way around. (Not sure if they do ever letter, or just every 5 letters or something. Probably depends on how full one particular genre is.)

i'm going to set up a table at a tag sale amd sell some books. it's 10.00 a table, but if I get rid of some books why not. I could also list on craig's list.

Danie wrote: "ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ wrote: "One thing about my local used bookstore that bugs me is how they do the book credits. If I trade in books, I get so much in credit to use in the store. Howev..."

as you have intentions of getting bookshop in 5 yrs february nit so far

lea in regards to credits- you could just be given vouchers confirming the amounts and use when you want

re the kids area or toys sorry lea but I think its a great idea most people I think would love their kids to be occupied whilst they look in peace - however you can always clean toys regularly


you could have story time once a week- whist someone reads the parents can browse. me get the parents to sign up to a friends of the store and occasinally send out coupons to encourage visits and thank for loyalty?

ஐ Briansgirl "Book Sale Queen"ஐ Just wanted to say I have ALWAYS wanted to go that book sale in Hastings!! Maybe this is the year to do it :) I believe I'm 4 hours away...panhandle of Neb. Thanks for the link!!