Libby is procrastinating
RUBS
7 months ago
The Reston Used Book Store is quite possible may favorite place ever.
How to own a used bookstore
It made me 
"After working in a used bookstore for 2 years, I have decided that this is not what I want to do. "
How I did it: I got a job at a used bookstore that was a public company. As much as they didn't try to force feed the image of a big box corporation, they were a big box corporation.
People tried to sell us books that were obviously moldy or smelled an awful lot like animal piss and tell us that they were perfectly fine.
Also, having worked in a public library for years, I was saddened at peoples' selfishness at times when we didn't have a book. We couldn't order anything because we were used and people would throw fits because, "Barnes and Noble can order that for me." It would have been rude of me to tell the to go to B&N.
The company didn't like to keep records of our inventory because it would take too long, despite the obvious financial reward whenever we would do inventory, we would know how much was stolen.
Often there were customers who would try and bargain the price of the book further because of how old the book was. For example, a woman wanted to buy a book that was originally priced at $39.95, we had it priced at $6.98, the standard price. But she wanted it even lower because it was originally published in 1997. I told her no.
Lessons & tips: Carry an inventory on databases.
Encourage people to use the library.
Some customers are not worth the money.
Resources: I worked at Suburban Bookstore for two years.
People doing this are also doing these things:
Entries
cozynblue is suffering from insomnia at 3:00 a.m.
Untitled
19 months ago
I have swapped over 150 books through my bookclub ‘Paperbackswap.com. Check out the site and tell them cozynblue referred you so I can get a free credit. You can too. You list ten books you want to swap(trade) and you trade books with other members. Everything is free!! Awesome site!!
I really want to know. I would love to own my own store but what is the first thing that you have to do to get into the biz?
I sold 4 books this weekend.
3 years ago
4 books is a new record! I really enjoy being around books and sharing books. Maybe I should have been a librarian.
What a great way to spend the summer
3 years ago
I think it would be a great way to spend the summer at the beach. What better place is there for people to spend time reading books but out on the sand? The perfect place would be a storefront close to the shore with an apartment upstairs where my wife and I could spend our summers. It’s a great little fantasy if nothing else.
8 weeks ago....
3 years ago
8 weeks ago I set up an account on Amazon to sell used books. I have sold 4 out of 25 listed. I made a few cents on them after shipping costs. I can’t figure out what kind of used books people want. I’ve tried non-fiction, self-help, new age,
antique, paperback mysteries. Maybe I need a gimmick like a bobble head toy to sell, instead. It could be that I am not cut out for retail.
Book Readers and Sellers!
4 years ago
Please let me know the fool-proof books that are guaranteed to be in demand and easy to sell.
Modeern Romances? Western Lore? Political Intrigue? Medical mysteries? True Crime? Non-Fiction? Health and Fitness, Cooking, Woodworking? New Age?
Any guesses?
Untitled
4 years ago
I’d love to have one of those old, slightly worn-around the edges places to keep a store; just a small place where you know half of the clientele by name, where people can find that one old book they’ve been looking for for years, and everyone shares one commonality: a love of books.
Used book store
4 years ago
I would love to own my own book store of used books so that I could work my own hours, innovate my own ideas and pass along a love of reading to others.
