The Dusty Bookshelf discussion

This is based upon something that popped up onto my radar today and I thought I'd get other people's opinions.

I was reading through comments on a blog post with regards to UK publishing & bookselling issues and what came up was a lot to do with how people preferred amazon book buying over Waterstones (their shops & online) as it had more selection and was less inclined to just hold the 'star' biographies. Asking a friend only confirmed these thoughts to be something 'everybody knows'.

Now, maybe I'm biased in my Waterstones love, but I've found that to be rather untrue & I'm always able to find books I want either online or in store. I prefer it to Amazon :(

Does anyone agree/disagree with me about this? Anyone abroad find similar situations/points of view about booksellers that don't quite fit into how you view it?

I shop exclusively at my local independent book store - Next Chapter Book Shop in Mequon WI. Well, not exclusively, because I sometimes buy books at two other indie book stores in my area - Boswell Book Company or Mystery One.

I know the book sellers. They make recommendations based on what they know about me. They give me free ARCs several times a year. They make sure I get a signed book when I'm not able to attend an author event. Patrons can even buy e-books from them (though not for the kindle which amazon has a lock on).

Waterstones is a UK bookseller only, that I know of, so have had no experience with their store.

I use Amazon.com, or it's used marketplace simply because I live in the middle of nowhere (in the USA) and they seem to have everything, and generally at an affordable price (many times below listed price). I do have a small locally owned bookstore but he seems to be very expensive (even if he is selling at cover prices). I've tried buying from Barnes & Noble online, a large brick & motar bookstore that went online, but have consistently had problems trying to buy from them, so quit. I even phoned and emailed customer service to be told the problem is on my end. I guarantee you it's not! Repeatedly their website refuses to recognize an account I've set up (even after I've had them send me my password so you know you're using the right one) and it has an option to allow you to check out anonymously without an account but it won't work! I don't care what their prices are or what sale they have, if I can't check out online, with or without an account, then I'm no longer ever going to buy from them! And their customer service's attitude was the last nail in the coffin. Since I've never had a problem ordering online from Amazon, back I went. I've got to admit I don't particularly care for some of Amazon's business practices but unfortunately feel rather stuck using them.

I havn't really used their used marketplace like I used to (most books being a penny plus $3.99 shipping) since I started using PBS (paperbackswap). That's helped.

I think I`m a bit old school. I tend to shop around and often buy directly from the publisher, particularly if it is a small print house. If stuck and the items weren`t at the bricks-and-mortar shop, then I tended toward The Book Depository. I`ve heard they are now partially owned by Amazon, so I`ve become wary.
Another thing I`ve done is go to used book shops as many of them can locate new and used books are discounted prices without going through big online shops.
While online shopping can be convenient, to me there is nothing like spending a few hours in a bookshop, especially if they are familiar with my interests.

I haven't been into Waterstones - mainly because its difficult getting about as I'm disabled. However, I buy ALOT from Amazon, they are cheaper and I've never had any problems. I also buy ALOT from their marketplace and have had some real bargains - hardbacks (and paperbacks) almost new for pennies! And I've not had any problems there either. I'm a big Amazon fan. I buy ALOT of music too - and quite often rather than buy to download to iPOD I'll buy the physical CD from the marketplace when they are priced at pennies (even with postage its cheaper!). As I said, BIG fan!

However, it would be nice to go into a physical bookshop once in a while - there's nothinglike it is there - that smell of books!

Book Concierge wrote: "I shop exclusively at my local independent book store - Next Chapter Book Shop in Mequon WI. Well, not exclusively, because I sometimes buy books at two other indie book stores in my area - Boswel..."


I'd love to have undependent booksellers near me but there aren't any - I've never lived in an area where an independent would thrive (not necessarily because of big chain shops either, just lack of custom - if ya know what I mean ;D)

I guess I just love the feel of Waterstones (yes, Briansgirl, I know they're UK - hence why I asked for people who live abroad from me for their opinions on their own booksellers :D) and seeing as they've always been so good for me - both brick & mortar as well as online - I can't see past the fact that my favourite one has 3 LARGE floors of books for me to hide in ;)

I should try amazon again but both times they've had terrible cust service & I've lost money so until I feel rich enough to do that again I may avoid it :S

I definitely share your feelings on this, Hailey. When living in Ireland (I know it's not UK, but it did have Waterstones), I had several problems with Amazon. I think the most frustrating problem was that Amazon.uk would not ship to me in Dublin, so I had to go to Amazon.fr, which often did not have the books I needed...
As for Waterstones, there used to be a big one on Dawson Street, right outside the gates of Trinity College, and conveniently located just opposite the equally-popular Hodges Figgis bookstore. It was so handy: whenever I needed a book for school, they were just a short walk away and, between the two stores, they were almost guaranteed to have any of the English-language books I needed... It was definitely a sad day when Waterstones closed. :(

A question from "across the pond" ...

I live in the US in New England and am a regular at my local public library (both in person and online). I was wondering how useful the library system in the UK is?

Also, a former public librarian for 2 separate libraries! ;o)

I'm a B&N girl. I've been buying both in their store and online for many years now. I have a B&N membership. It costs $25 a year, but I get 10% off in the store (on everything, even sale items, and would even include the Starbucks if I ever had anything there), and free shipping on online orders, so I more than make up the membership fee. I also participate on the B&N book club forums. I've heard complaints there about their customer service, but I guess I just never have any issues that I need to contact them about. Except for once when I realized as soon as I had placed an order that I sent it to a different address than I had intended, so I called immediately, and the woman said she had changed the address, but apparently didn't.

Yes, Chimney, I have never had any problems with B&N service in the store itself, when I have had to return items (even if bought online), etc. I think the complaints are about their online/phone customer service, especially regarding the Nook (which I don't have). But I have also heard that the in-store Nook customer service is excellent.

Yes, my B&N problems were all about their online site and problems ordering. My nearest store is 90 miles away so I only get to them once a year.

So am I going to get run out of town if I say that I'm a kindle junkie? I used to get books exclusively at my library unless they were too long or hard to read in 3 weeks. (that's why my shelves are full of really long books that I haven't read yet LOL) I love Amazon. I get all my ebooks there and now that I'm a book blogger I will buy books at an independent bookstore in Salt Lake City when I go to book signings. It's no fun to get an ebook signed :D I guess my book buying habits have changed a lot. Amazon has always been really nice to me.

Jessica wrote: "So am I going to get run out of town if I say that I'm a kindle junkie?"

I think I'm becoming an eBook junkie so we're both in trouble if that's so :S

I think that's another thing with my WS love - up until late last year they stocked Sony eReaders (what my Mimi is) and so the eBooks are compatible with it :)

This has definitely changed book buying for me - I would now rather have most books (unless they're special to me) in eBook format so it's easier to take around with me.

B&N is the bookstore around here - most others have closed. I enjoy wandering the aisles - books stores have always been a magical place for me. I'll find a comfy chair & compare NOOK prices & dead tree book prices & shop. I will do Amazon but I still prefer a building crammed with books. And the people at B&N have always been wonderful.

Hayley wrote: I think I'm becoming an eBook junkie so we're both in trouble if that's so :S

Yay! I'm not alone! I love typing notes on my ebooks while I'm reading. It makes writing reviews sooo much easier! And I can lug around big fat books where ever I go and look up all those big words I don't understand :)

I love a building crammed with books too, especially the sale tables! However, my little locally owned bookstore here in town where I live seems to be so high priced I buy maybe one book a year there (or every two years). I'd like to support them more, but lately have only purchased bookmarks there for a bookmark exchange. They either are too small to carry what I want to read, or too expensive. My boys do like their parrot "Dickens" though, although he's so shy he doesn't talk when they're around. This store used to have wonderful midnight launch parties for each Harry Potter book as they came out.