Why Bookshops will die
October 9, 2003My friend walked into this shop, looking for a particular book that he had read about. This bookshop (spread over multiple floors), is typical of its kind - rows and rows of shelves, stacks of books, generally classified into broad topics (Fiction, Science, Art, etc.). Customers wander into the relevant section, and search for their book, bring it to the counter, and pay for it.
He couldn’t immediately find it, so he asked the sales personnel to help him. They in turn asked him for the exact name of the book, the publisher’s name, etc. - all information that my friend didn’t have. He had just read about this book (either in a magazine or on the Internet), and since it was of interest to him, he thought he’d buy it. He didn’t think that he’d have to bring in so much information just to find it!
Well, he didn’t get the book, so tried in another shop, with similar results.