Few weeks back, I was trying to get rid of some old books. Not really old, just second hand. My books are still in good condition, no matter how many years I have had them! So I called a few second hand book stores to ask if they would take my books.
Guess what? All said they do not accept second hand books! Now what is the purpose of a second hand book store if it does not take in second hand books? I was told their books are all new, and the reason it is called a second hand bookstore is because they rent the books, then the customers return the books and others rent them again. Or else the customers can have the option of buying the book at a lower price.
Hmmmm... is there no market for second hand books here? It is not like America or England, where second hand books can be sold to online retailers like Amazon. Even the local online bookstores do not take in second hand books! Is that why people here do not read and buy books per se, because they find no value in them and cannot be encashed?
Then it is a sad thing, is it not, if people count everything in dollars and cents. Reading should be an enjoyment, and not because of whether it can be encashed later. Having said that, I do feel the "second hand" bookstores are being a tad inflexible in not buying second hand books, even those in good condition.
Why is it they can buy new books and rent them out, yet they are not willing to buy second hand books and rent them out? Some of the books I have seen in those bookstores are in even worse condition than my old books! All come back dog eared and with some pages folded! I do not even treat my books this way!
Guess what? All said they do not accept second hand books! Now what is the purpose of a second hand book store if it does not take in second hand books? I was told their books are all new, and the reason it is called a second hand bookstore is because they rent the books, then the customers return the books and others rent them again. Or else the customers can have the option of buying the book at a lower price.
Hmmmm... is there no market for second hand books here? It is not like America or England, where second hand books can be sold to online retailers like Amazon. Even the local online bookstores do not take in second hand books! Is that why people here do not read and buy books per se, because they find no value in them and cannot be encashed?
Then it is a sad thing, is it not, if people count everything in dollars and cents. Reading should be an enjoyment, and not because of whether it can be encashed later. Having said that, I do feel the "second hand" bookstores are being a tad inflexible in not buying second hand books, even those in good condition.
Why is it they can buy new books and rent them out, yet they are not willing to buy second hand books and rent them out? Some of the books I have seen in those bookstores are in even worse condition than my old books! All come back dog eared and with some pages folded! I do not even treat my books this way!
0 comments:
Post a Comment