Extended Reading

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".

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.

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^_^;

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...

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.

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!

thats really a nice idea. Here in Germany most of the books in bookstores are sealed in plastic foil so they dont get damaged and so you have to buy the book as is most of the time without having had a chance to leaf through it to see whether its really interesting for you.

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.

that's real nice for people who enjoy reading there. i personally had rather read at home w/my cigarettes & a good ol' glass of cold sweet tea, greeting from tennessee.