I retired from bookselling 12 years ago and, far from being the newest threat to bookselling, showrooming had been going on long before that (Showrooming: the No 1 threat to bookshops, G2, 18 December). It particularly affected booksellers who attempted to stay in business by specialising. I had more than 500 titles – new and secondhand – about golf, and three shelves of golf course architecture books.
After the Open Championship in 2000, I sent 19 parcels to the US in a single day. By 2005, customers had learned that Amazon would not steal their credit cards and land them in trouble, and I sent only five. The discrepancy was accounted for by “customers” writing down the ISBNs of books they would like and, short of cutting off their hands, I couldn’t stop them. I had 37 lovely years bookselling, but would not like to do it in the current climate. Good luck to today’s booksellers – long may you survive on customers who only know that a book is “green and about this big”.
Margaret Squires
St Andrews, Fife
• As a lover of bookshops (and former librarian) I have every sympathy with booksellers. I’d never heard the term “showrooming”, but in case I’m spotted in a bookshop consulting a list, or scribbling details of a book in my diary, it’s because I’m checking for books on my “wishlist”, or making notes about a possible present. Amazon – who needs them?
Jill Bennett
St Albans
• In the fightback against Amazon, might independent bookshops consider creating bespoke bookplates? Especially when buying books as presents, I’d love to be able to slip inside the cover an “ex libris” bookplate with the name of the bookshop. It not only tells recipients that I value bookshops more than discounts, but also adds individuality to their copy. And gives work to local designers and printers.
Jenny Swann
Nottingham
• Is there a name for the opposite of showrooming? I check out book reviews and recommendations on Amazon and then order a copy from my local bookshop. Faster delivery, a chat at the till, and they pay their taxes too.
Helen Datson
Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
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