In response to our post yesterday about Borders Books’ foray into the teddy bear market, one reader,
We apologize for forcing you to look at this nightmarish bear again.
Erick Pettersen, had a rather brilliant and hilarious suggestion for another way Borders might draw new customers: selling “refurbished” books. Here’s what Pettersen said:
Those people with e-readers bought e-readers for three reasons: convenience of carrying their library in one device, to save bookshelf space, and because they have the money. Borders should offer to buy all of those people’s left over books sitting on their shelves at higher prices than they’re valued at according to top used book stores and used book websites. Then, they turn around, and create a new customer base of those people who normally couldn’t afford a $20.00 book by selling “refurbished” books that are “Slightly used” or “Just like new” at prices slightly higher than the used book store down the road. Borders has the space to house more used books than most of those used book stores and they have the technology to catalog those books to make it easier for people to do their used book shopping their.
This might be a nightmare for small used booksellers, but it’s pretty damn funny, though also perhaps a lucrative idea for the big stores: should they get into the used book game? What do you think?
In my post above–subtract that “not”–either one but not both!
I meant to say–books are not particularly profitable
Used books have always had a higher profit margin than new books. New books cost a book store 55%-60% of retail in many cases–but can be returned. Used books can cost the store 15%-50% of what they retail it for whether inside or online and no returns. Some may not sell, but the ones that do more than make up for it. I’ve never been to Powell’s but thought I have heard that they have sold new and used forever or many years or just in the past? Amazon sells just about everything–books are not not particularly proftitable–they make the profits on the myriad product lines beyond books.
not only is B&N selling used books now – which is a good thing I guess- but what about the authors cut!!!! they have now made a toy store right smack in the middle of the store. They say it’s for kids to learn skills…please a pink doll with pink clothes, pink stove, pink shoes, etc. is not exactly…oh, lord, save us from booksktores turning into toy stores. My head! My Head!
Here in the SF Bay Area in California, Rasputin Music and Books has been selling used books for awhile, though buying has dropped as the economy has sunk. I fetl it was inevitable that the chains could move that way too.
As of this past May, several Barnes & Noble stores HAVE carried used books in their brick and mortar locations. They’re still testing the viability of the move, so we’ll see if it goes nationwide within the year.