For a gift I ordered all three hardback copies of 50 shades of grey for my dearest sister who has already read the books. I ordered the books through Waterstones in their large store. When I got home I discovered had I ordered the books online I could've saved myself £9.99. This saving was from Waterstones themselves. For the cheaper price they would have delivered the books to my local store for collection. I pointed this out to the store manager and asked a simple question...? If I can save myself £9.99 why should I continue shopping in your store when I can simply use your online service. Sadly the store manager was just as confused as I was. I was told I could cancel my order in store and reorder online there and then and save myself £9.99 or simply pay the full price now. I so hope the bookstore manages to survive but alas I could not see this happening.
Rosa...where on earth have you got that info??
Doent mesh with my perspective that's for certain, lol. Also the new tax revealed in the recent budget will go some way to leveling the field in that sense.
Waterstone's problem is Amazon before all other and the online price was an attempt to lure you away from there though I doubt if they were near the Amazon price. Like you I love book shops but there aren't enough of us who like real books to make it worthwhile to companies like Waterstones to open just for us. W H Smith used to be competitive in the bookshop world but, in this area at least, they no longer hold any sway. Waterstones could go the same way unless they can find an answer to Amazon.
Having said all that, here we are all writing stories, novellas and novels and hoping to get them published in snug-fitting soft or hardbacks.
regards,
rosa.
lol. I don't think Waterstones is going to fold because of a little confusion over the difference between an in-store/online offer! They are pretty standard in retail.
Also the charity shops are inundated with those books. Could prob pick up all three for a couple of quid.