Australian Politics Forum - Are bookshops disappearing in your area?

bogarde73 Gold Member Offline Anti-Global & Contra Mundum Posts: 18443 Gender:	Are bookshops disappearing in your area? Dec 17^th, 2014 at 2:00pm Chatting to the guy that runs a pretty large online 2nd hand bookshop in my region, I was surprised to hear that maybe 12 bookshops had closed in the area in recent times and that he thought his was about the last one left. Have you noticed a similar trend where you live? Are people not reading anymore?
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John Smith

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Re: Are bookshops disappearing in your area?
Reply #1 - Dec 17^th, 2014 at 2:21pm

they've just about all closed down ... but the shopping centre nearest me just opened a new bookshop, in the same location where another went bust a little over a year ago. To cover the rent they need to charge $30- $40 a book, online I get most of my books for under $10.

Bookshops are history .. although a few niche ones may survive

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Black Orchid

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Re: Are bookshops disappearing in your area?
Reply #2 - Dec 17^th, 2014 at 2:35pm

It's such a shame. Most people are now reading books on their iphones or tablets. Most Angus & Robertson stores closed down a few years ago and they trade online now.

Many have closed in the areas around where I live but there are still a token few left. I guess they will disappear soon too.

I am constantly reading and I prefer my books to be made of paper and be able to hold them. I get enough eye strain using the computer for other things without having to read a book via a screen. In a few years we will end up with a generation of people with very bad eye sight.

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greggerypeccary Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 137354 Gender:	Re: Are bookshops disappearing in your area? Reply #3 - Dec 17^th, 2014 at 2:47pm Yep. All closed down. We just have a Dymocks in the CBD now.
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Black Orchid Gold Member Offline Posts: 5812 Gender:	Re: Are bookshops disappearing in your area? Reply #4 - Dec 17^th, 2014 at 2:55pm We still have a Dymocks in the CBD and a few remaining local stores. Borders stores closed down some years ago too
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Annie Anthrax

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Re: Are bookshops disappearing in your area?
Reply #5 - Dec 17^th, 2014 at 3:08pm

There are bookstores here. Some of them are old school, some have new books at heavily discounted prices. There's a lovely secondhand bookshop not too far from me.

I love secondhand bookshops, especially poorly lit ones with towering piles of dusty books all jumbled up in loose categories. Heaven.

My favourite painting is The Bookworm by Spitzweg. The reason why I love it so much because I identify with the subject. Note how he is reading with a book between his knees and under his elbow etc, oblivious to everything in the world. It will always be paper books for me. If you haven't seen the painting, I recommend looking at the Wikipedia file pic. It's enormous and the detail is excellent.

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issuevoter Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 9200 The Great State of Mind Gender:	Re: Are bookshops disappearing in your area? Reply #6 - Dec 17^th, 2014 at 4:42pm Where ever I have gone in the English speaking world I have sought out second-hand bookshops. By that I don't mean the pulp exchanges. A website that links many of them is AbeBooks.com It is a wonderful resource if you have something particular in mind. I am not allowed post links.
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Annie Anthrax Gold Member Offline Take the plan, spin it sideways Posts: 7057 Gender:	Re: Are bookshops disappearing in your area? Reply #7 - Dec 17^th, 2014 at 9:47pm I wanted to buy my husband a book that one of his ancestors had written and the only place I could find a copy was Abe's. They're excellent for rare and valuable books.
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bogarde73 Gold Member Offline Anti-Global & Contra Mundum Posts: 18443 Gender:	Re: Are bookshops disappearing in your area? Reply #8 - Dec 18^th, 2014 at 2:24pm http://www.abebooks.com
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bogarde73

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Re: Are bookshops disappearing in your area?
Reply #9 - Dec 18^th, 2014 at 2:31pm

I have been buying my 2nd hand books for so long through Leura Books at Mittagong NSW, that I hadn't noticed the disappearance of so many small dealers.

But I was surprised to learn that one of my old haunts - Berkelouw at Berrima NSW, known as the Book Barn - had gone all upmarket. Apparently they now only sell expensive copies and antiquarian books. I used to enjoy delving among their shelves of 19th century historical works. All gone now, given away or landfill.

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Dnarever Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 58454 Here Gender:	Re: Are bookshops disappearing in your area? Reply #10 - Dec 18^th, 2014 at 2:32pm Are bookshops disappearing in your area? Too many books on magic will do that.
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cods

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Re: Are bookshops disappearing in your area?
Reply #11 - Dec 18^th, 2014 at 3:27pm

bogarde73 wrote on Dec 17^th, 2014 at 2:00pm:

Chatting to the guy that runs a pretty large online 2nd hand bookshop in my region, I was surprised to hear that maybe 12 bookshops had closed in the area in recent times and that he thought his was about the last one left.

Have you noticed a similar trend where you live?

Are people not reading anymore?

the second hand book business is disappearing I think.. one I used has not long gone...small business we cant expect much else really......I read a lot but to get my grandkids to pick up a book....is like asking them to make their beds.....wont happen...

I think along with books going so will writing essays and little stories or even poems..

the inclination isnt there the seeds are not being planted anymore....

even newspapers are having trouble selling.....

if it isnt on a screen of some sorts the new generations dont want to know......me I hate reading anything much on the computer....I read magazines from the back to the front....always was bloody different... Wink

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miketrees Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 6490 Gender:	Re: Are bookshops disappearing in your area? Reply #12 - Dec 18^th, 2014 at 5:20pm Its not just book shops. Petrol Stations, retail nurseries ,corner shops, brothels,,, yes brothels . Well technically they are not retailers tho
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Black Orchid Gold Member Offline Posts: 5812 Gender:	Re: Are bookshops disappearing in your area? Reply #13 - Dec 20^th, 2014 at 4:57pm In the past I often thought about starting a small bookstore one day. I could relate to Meg Ryan's character in whatever that movie was? You've Got Mail? No point now. I will just make my own library with floor to ceiling shelves and a moving ladder.
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issuevoter

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Re: Are bookshops disappearing in your area?
Reply #14 - Dec 21^st, 2014 at 10:48am

It is regrettable, but it is not just the internet and ebooks that are causing the demise of book shops. Running a book shop was always a matter of slim margins. In the heyday of bookshops, people wanted less, had lower expectations, were lucky to drive one car, did not insure half a dozen aspects of their lives, and did not give their children telephone accounts or expect to send them all to university. The bookshop owners I have known either subsidised their interest or were poor as church mice.

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