There are many different reasons why people go into Second-hand Bookstores. For me, a reader, they are an adventure, where hidden gems are waiting to be uncovered when they were neglected some time ago by a precious owner. But as I rummaged through the piles in Brunswick St (careful to not get too excited in front of Ben when I saw Sex and The City novel for only $11.00, yet not so careful when he pointed out ISBN-10’s just to get me excited) I wondered why normal bookstores haven’t gone out of business because of so many Second-hand Bookstores around. But as I looked further I realized that if you aren’t careful, those hidden gems aren’t as polished as you think.A few examples:
I’m trying to drive myself to read more literary works, particularly those that challenge the way I think, feel and see the world outside my own. I know that many books out there do that, but I think I need a little more boost to my comfortable reading system. So I decided to look for another Helen Garner book. I’m reading The First Stone at the moment but I wanted to get a fiction to change it up a bit. So I found two versions of Monkey Grip and thought “oh jackpot” but realized…one of the copies was $20.00 and not even the correct book. In fact it was a proof, a copy or ‘practise run’ of what the interior of the book might look like. Proofs don’t even have covers, they’re meant to be free things to give to booksellers to market the story before it's released. Perhaps some people might find this a gem, a rare, but obviously special piece…but $20.00 for something that used to be free? That just didn’t seem right to me!
So I kept looking. I then came across a literary reference book I ordered in from my bookstore a while ago but was intrigued as to how they would price this gem. The book is called Usage and Abusage by Eric Partridge, and I ordered the Popular Penguin Classic. I picked up the third edition and was flicking through to see the differences in text when I noticed the pencilled price, $15.00. I immediately shoved it back on the shelf and felt sorry for some people that just don’t do their research. If some poor soul wanted to buy that, without noticing its an older edition and much more expensive than the $9.95 one, then they’d be wasting 5 bucks and maybe only realize AFTER they purchase it what a mistake they made.
But whose fault is this? Who decides the price of a second-hand book? Really, I would love to know! Is it the bookkeepers job and they are just naïve to the fact that its cheaper elsewhere and in Monkey Grip’s case, not the book at all? Or is it part of the adventure to find the deal as well as the story?
When I got home from my fantastic day in Brunswick St I had bought two books. One is Monkey Grip, for $11.00 which I’m thinking (and hoping) is the cheapest I can get without consulting Book Depository. The other, which Ben bought for me (because he’s awesome) is The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick for $22.99 from Brunswick St Bookstore. Yes, an independent bookstore. And I couldn’t be happier with my choice. I figured after searching and enquiring in any second-hand bookstore I visited these holidays (which was A LOT) for ANY Philip K. Dick books, I wasn’t really missing out on a bargain. Though in some cases, bargain can be the wrong word.
When I came to class yesterday for first week back I voiced this to my classmates and one said that it happened to her at one of those Dirt Cheap Books outlets. One that is notorious for cheap books!
Do your research people, if you are as tight with money as me (I’m a student I’m allowed by the way) you would do the ground work before you spend $20.00 on a free book.
On a side note, my five faves of the week (which I haven’t really been doing but feel very in the mood) are:
- Zucchini Slice
- Pipsqueak Cider from Little Creatures Brewery in Brunswick St
- Tuesday nights like tonight when Ben comes over
- Chewy chocolate chip cookies. Sometimes the simplest cookies are the best!
- Sex and the City boxed set. I’m still only up to Season 4! But I must watch them before the second movie comes out.
What are your five faves of the week?
Yours,
Jinx xx
Interesting post, however I must disagree.
ReplyDeleteI would in a heart beat pay more for an original book.
First edition or second edition, hardcover, if it has that lovely old book smell - any one of many qualities that make old books so wonderful are completely worth the money.
The Popular Penguins undercut *most* (if not all) other editions of the same books. They're supposed to be cheap, no frills.
If you're only after the actual book, then fine, but if I was on the hunt for the best edition I could fine, I'd spend more money on the second hand copy!
If I was searching for a good cover, for example then I wouldn't even go into a second hand bookstore I would just order it over the internet at work.
ReplyDeleteMy point was that if you go into a second hand bookstore to get a cheaper version of a title to save money, it is deceiving because it is not always the cheapest you can find. That is why I prefered my cheap, no frills Popular Penguins book because it's cheaper to get it brand new and updated.
I wasn't saying 'original books should be cheaper', because I don't think that, I would pay any money for a first edition. Rather, my point was something that is notorious to be cheaper, should be cheaper. Otherwise, what is the point of a second hand bookstore? Without this perk, would it only exist for the first editions? And if that is the case then all good and well but don't advertise for cheapness if you don't do it.
What second hard bookstores advertise cheapness?
ReplyDeleteI certaintly don't go into a second hand bookstore expecting it to be cheaper.
I guess re ordering at work, however what if its out of print and you can't find it on out of print sites?
Don't get me wrong - I love Popular Penguins. I have stacks of them.
As we both said, they're cheap, no frills.
And that's why they're great.
But books I really want etc I'll buy an actual non-Popular edition of.
If you go into second hand stores to find books cheaper - as you said - than thats fine, but I go in there to find random, old editions and discover books that I might not know about (because they're random and old).
Well each to their own, I suppose. I'm sure there are people out there that share both our views
ReplyDelete