buying books
The bookshop is still breathing, and we constantly have interesting new books in stock every week. Business is ticking over nicely since November, but I remember this year's quiet January only too well. I have worked here part-time for over an year and a half now, and know quite a few elderly gentlemen by name as well as their buying habits. Moreover, I still don't understand why some customers come into the shop and ask, 'Can I have a browse?' Why, of course you certainly may have a look; it's a bookshop and it's open! Not only can you look around, you might as well take out your wallet and buy some books, instead of creating a mess on our bookshelves. Now and then we still have people coming in to sell their junk. I realised that the common misunderstanding is that second hand bookshops should gladly accept anything you sell them, because before I was involved in the trade, I too had no idea about the market, and what the hell is a first edition!? But now, hehe, I know a little better.