Extended Reading
By dolce_vita78
@dolce_vita78 (8062)
Philippines
February 7, 2008 9:35am CST
Everytime I go to the bookstore, I notice that some people work their way to read the books in the bookstore. There are bookstores here in the Philippines that allow customers to sit back and relax while reading the books that are for sale. People can read the books for as long as they wish and go back to the store everyday to finish the book/s which they have started to read. I appreciate such gesture because they encourage reading among people and that those who could not afford to buy the books they want to read are given the chance to read the book without necessarily buying them. However, I can't help but wonder how bookstores increase their sales if books are read there by their prospective customers.
What do you think?
2 people like this
7 responses
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
8 Feb 08
I see those at Power Books and even National BookStore. Its nice since it accomodates for middle class people who still have interest in reading books, but can't afford them yet since they have other present expenses to worry about, which attracts upper class customers to a store that really radiates the book lovers-like atmosphere. Works both ways.
I had finished Bob Ong's "Alamat ng Gubat" in two days, short visits, at PowerBooks. Then later on see a copy of the book at home ^_^;
@dolce_vita78 (8062)
• Philippines
8 Feb 08
That's cool huh! Well, since you already finished reading the book, maybe you can give me your copy of the book as a gift. *winks*
1 person likes this
@polofield32 (346)
• Philippines
7 Feb 08
I think that this is a good strategy for bookstore owners. But they should also come up with policies with regards to this kind of strategy. Say for instance, while they allow people do extended readings, they may implement a maximum time allowed for these people to read the books. This will give the readers enough time to go over the books that they like then after that, they can decide whether to buy the book or not. Chances are, if they really want to finish the book then they will end up buying it.
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
8 Feb 08
I think it is good for a book store to allow people to read even if they do not have any intentions of buying a single book... everytime i go to a bookstore and i see the sign "Reading not Allowed"... i immediately leave... because i think that is just plain rude...
So i go to a bookstore that allows everyone to browse... read a little... and even have an area where they can sit all day and read anything they like... i bought all my harry potter books, 13 series of unfortunate events, and 4 chronicles of narnia in such a bookstore...
@wondericequeen (7876)
• Hong Kong
8 Feb 08
Yes I like it when the bookstores offer seats for people to read. It's good to kill time and also for people who cannot afford to buy the books. I don't really have the patience to read the whole book in the bookstores (would be a different story if I have hours to wait for someone), I usually read a few pages and would decide to buy the books or not. I think there would be tons of customers like me and that should not affect their sales!
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
8 Feb 08
I know that the bookstore here called barnes and noble they have a coffee and cake thing in it and they get sales through people sitting down there also if some people start to read the book like me I and I start to really like it I actually end up buying it. LOL!! have a nice day.
@angel_kaycee (1112)
• Philippines
29 May 08
i saw them too. i once went into a bookstore here in the philippines that allow customers to read books inside the stores. don't understand why. because definitely they will not earn from it. and in fact their sales must have big lost because no one will gonna a buy a book that he has already read. at some point it was not a bad idea at all. they had helped those who cannot afford to buy one.
@Myrrdin (3599)
• Canada
7 Feb 08
Simple, by giving the customers a taste of the merchandise they better hook them on it and there is a greater chance they will buy. Sure some will take advantage of the policy and abuse it buy never purchasing and only using the bookstore like a public library, but more will buy the book rather then continually returning to finish it. Not to mention the good will it generates and word of mouth of people talking to friends saying, "this bookstore is great they have comfortable chairs for you to sit in so you can read the book you are thinking about buying before you actually purchase it".
