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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Books / Retail Bookstore Sales

Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 4:28 PM

Down 13% in November.

Preliminary figures from the U.S. Census Bureau show that sales dropped 13% in the month, falling to $1.05 billion. Sales for all of retail were off 10%. For the 11 month period, bookstore sales were flat at $14.8 billion, while sales for the entire retail segment fell 0.7%.

I don't know if I want to know what December's sales were.

Comments (23) RSS

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I just finished reading Quantico by Greg Bear. Very good bioterror thriller.

Now I'm reading "Blue Blood" by Edward Colon.

I bought my books at Powell's in Oregon -- not the main one, but a smaller store in the SE. I love the style of that store -- book dense, and no frills, just wooden racks of books, and a long cafe with wifi.

They definitely keep the quality high, as my friend brought in a crate of books and they only bought 3 or 4 of them.

Posted by You Can Call Me Books on January 14, 2009 at 4:38 PM

I bought books in November, even more in December, and I went completely crazy this month -- I think I've bought more than twenty books, from all over -- the UK, Amazon, Alibris, B&N, U Bookstore, Third Place (both of them), Wide World Maps, and Santoro on Greenwood. I'm doing my part. Mrs. Fnarf is perturbed, but as long as the door still closes all the way I think I'm getting away with it.

Posted by Fnarf on January 14, 2009 at 4:43 PM

I'm doing my part as well, but we're just a couple-three drops in the ocean. No one reads, and those who do are buying their stuff from Amazon exclusively. Did you notice that Horizon Books on 15th is closing its doors? That's the final death knell for that local chain. And it's not looking pretty for plenty of others.

Posted by Gurldoggie on January 14, 2009 at 4:52 PM

i bought cliff mass' book & 1 other in december. so the industry should be ok.

Posted by Max Solomon on January 14, 2009 at 5:03 PM

Everyone's going to the library or buying used books.

Didn't you get the flash?

Posted by Will in Seattle on January 14, 2009 at 5:05 PM

Oh, I spend a lot of money in Horizon. Well, I probably spent ten times as many hours as dollars, but I liked that store. Didn't they have one in the U District many years ago, way up high on the Ave?

Uncouth Buzzard on Greenwood closed a couple of months ago.

I left one off my list -- we came out of Magus with an armload the other day. And the SAM shop as well, I bought something there as well. I'm out of control.

Posted by Fnarf on January 14, 2009 at 5:07 PM

I haven't been doing my part, but I've been reading about five books a week from the library. Have been spending my money on knives (mostly) and guns instead. Oh well.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty on January 14, 2009 at 5:13 PM

You keep away from me, 5280, with those knives and guns. Don't make me hurt you.

Posted by Fnarf on January 14, 2009 at 5:27 PM

I cleaned out my bookshelves before Christmas and Magus bought 4 milk crates full of novels, history, philosophy, literary essays and comics. ($470!) What are the chances that Fnarf bought one of my books?

Posted by Gurldoggie on January 14, 2009 at 5:42 PM

Aw, Fnarf, you're too much of a pussycat to hurt anybody.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty on January 14, 2009 at 5:53 PM

The University Bookstore has textbooks and their 25% markups to help them get through these slow times. The small independents are screwed.

Posted by Book Dorkus on January 14, 2009 at 6:09 PM

I didn't buy any novels, history, philosophy, literary essays and comics, Gurldoggie. Well, I bought some Thorne Smith, those are novels. The rest was all Australian Aboriginal art. Oh, and Mrs. Fnarf picked up some sweet 1960s insect flashcards.

5280, I'm warning you, I've got poison gas.

Posted by Fnarf on January 14, 2009 at 6:14 PM

Stay away from those bean burritos, Fnarf, and you'll have fewer problems with flatulence.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty on January 14, 2009 at 6:18 PM

The bookstore I work at (Tattered Cover in Denver) laid off a significant number of people and cut back on the hours we're open. 5280, support your local bookstore.

Posted by Matt from Denver on January 14, 2009 at 6:19 PM

5280, I eat kidney beans raw by the handful just for the protection. En garde!

Posted by Fnarf on January 14, 2009 at 6:29 PM

Matt, I've been shopping at the Tattered Cover since Joyce opened the original store (little hole-in-the-wall on, I think, Second Avenue). That was a long, long time ago - maybe even before you were born, so don't get all preachy on me.

Fnarf, thanks for the warning. Will make sure I use the Barrett .50 BMG so I can take you out without getting in range. (And yes, I actually do own one. But at 12 pounds, it's not something I'd be in any hurry to tote around for any amount of time.)

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty on January 14, 2009 at 6:41 PM

Those bullets better be silver, or they won't stop me.

Posted by Fnarf on January 14, 2009 at 6:47 PM

Didn't know you were a werewolf. Or is it a vampire? I don't know, I get confused. Yeah, sure, I make my own - that can be arranged. Thanks for the heads-up. (Interesting anecdote: I made up six .45 Colt rounds in silver for my Peacemaker a while back, a la The Lone Ranger. Pretty cool stuff, though they're way to light to be practical for much of anything.)

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty on January 14, 2009 at 6:55 PM

@6: Horizon had another location on Roosevelt that closed about a year ago.

I am sad that things look grim for the one on 15th, but I have got plenty of good stuff thanks to that 50% off sale which has been going on in some form or fashion for over two years.

Posted by Luke on January 14, 2009 at 8:16 PM

5280, I'm WAY older than you think, buddy. I wasn't being preachy, just responding to what you wrote. But I think I'll preach now - read for context and you won't make incorrect assumptions.

Posted by Matt from Denver on January 14, 2009 at 11:38 PM

@11 - you obviously haven't been to the U Dist recently - most of the reduced prices is due to that textbook store that opened across the street from the U Bookstore.

Posted by Will in Seattle on January 15, 2009 at 10:21 AM

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