The winter draws on.....done most of my Christmas shopping already ! Just hoping it doesn't snow too...
The winter draws on.....done most of my Christmas shopping already ! Just hoping it doesn't snow too soon.
Member since:04.03.2003
Reviews:123
Members who trust:42
This is a shop I never miss going into when I visit London, and I visit at least twice a month. Why do I never miss this bookshop? It's always got special offers on and mostly they appeal to me..I spend a fortune in here!
WHAT'S IT LIKE
All branches are a little bit different (but not much) and I'll focus on the one I visit the most just to give you a flavour. It's the one near Victoria rail station on Victoria Street.
When you walk in the feel of the shop grabs you. It's welcoming and the sheer number of books on the floor to ceiling shelves draws you in... Close to the entrance are the latest releases- easier for people in a hurry to pop in and grab the latest novel and pop out again. The bookshop places little comment cards on the shelf beneath some of the books- giving tips- perhaps recommending the book and where you might read it, what type it is and so on. These are quite useful.
Books are divided by topic, and there is a big range, from humour, to cookery, travel, crime, Sci-fi, childrens' books (a separate section) and lots of novels, from A to Z. The travel section
is a good one, selling maps, guidebooks, phrase books and so on and I have often bought a book about the next place I am about to visit from here. You can also get "self improvement" and business books here. MY latest was "how to work with people you hate"..it is a really good book, actually! There's a good poetry section as well, something not found in shops outside the big chains, I've found.
Greetings cards are arranged on a turning carousel so if the book you're buying is a pressie, you can get the card as well!
There are also special offer tables, with money off or doing 3 for 2 offers.
The sales desk is good ..books are piled vertically around the front so that you sometimes want to buy one of them when you are in a queue to buy somethign else..what a good sales technique..not been bitten by that yet..but I did buy a fridge magnet from the till area..it really made me laugh, and made my day..HOUSEWORK IS EVIL -IT MUST BE ABOLISHED! So yes, I was well and truly mugged at the till, but I was happy to be so.
OFFERS AT THE MOMENT 3 for the price of 2 on a lot of the latest paper back books out now. For example- just a few on offer: Porno Irving Welsh This is your life John O'Farrell Man and Wife Tony Parsons I don't know how she does it Allison Pearson High Society Ben Elton Babes in the woods Ruth Rendell These are all £6.99, so for £14 you can get 3 books..not bad, I'd say!
OTHER COOL THINGS
You can get signed first editions at branches of Books etc..so if you want to buy something that will probably be worth more in a few years, invest in one. The site lists the ones that you can get, and I'm a bit cross becasue I've just bought one of them from somewhere else and I didn't know I could have had a signed fisrt edition !!Damn!
The one I bought was the Six Wives of Henry 8th by David Starkey. The price is £20, but if this is kept in pristine condition in a few years someone would want to buy it an pay more! That's how it works anyway. I do have some first edition Famous Fives..but none of them signed by Endi Blyton..wow- that would be something brilliant!
So what you do is look at the site and see if there's one you 'd like and contact the branch that is named as having it. It may have been sold but it's a chance you take! Must be worth a go!
BOOK SIGNINGS Just like other bookshops, they get famous people to come along and sign books. It's worth looking at the site to see if there's anyone you'd like to see, or perhaps get a book signed by them..
Just a few examples that you might want to go for.. Murray Walker-Wimbledon 26 July Brian Clough - Cheapside 29 July Phil Tuffnell- Canary Wharf 7 August George Best - Canary Wharf- end of August
WHAT DO I THINK COULD BE BETTER? There's nowhere to sit and read. I like to take the weight off my feet and sit and look at what I've bought, or read a newspaper that has been provided. I know these seats take up space but they do encourage people to come in - perhaps it means that they are not shopping , but I think they should be compulsory!
Not much else- the assistants are really nice and helpful , and smiley as well. I have said it before but I 'll say it again..I could LIVE in bookshops and never come out!
Try Books etc..you won't be sorry.
website booksetc.co.uk A list of branches is contained on this site and you'll see what I mean about most of them being in London!
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Such a shame that they are all clustered in the same area...MANDXX
Collingwood21 02.08.2003 21:26
It is such a pity that this chain is based around London - you make it sound very appealling and I would love to have a browse. Can you get those first editions through the website, or do you need to contact the branches directly?
Jul 23rd, 2003
very helpful by (100%):
