Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Jul 01 '00 (Updated Jul 05 '00)
"Hello Alma, we have some recommendations that you might enjoy." We have heated discussions at our local webmasters group about Amazon.com. Half of the group HATES that they know who you are, what you like and track your tastes in everything! I belong to the other half of the group that likes coming to a site that remembers that I do not read Daniel Steele books, I like to crochet and I was able to pre-order the 4th Harry Potter book months ago. It reminds me of the dress shops where clerks knew your tastes, likes and dislikes. That is a rare thing!
Amazon also knows I am usually on the lookout for interesting books on drinking water issues. I purchase non-fiction books like "Your Body's Many Cries for Water","And the waters Turned To Blood", "Deadly Feasts", "The water Wizard", "Don't Drink the Water, "Water The Shocking Truth", "A Civil Action" and more. Amazon knows that about me. I love the one click ordering. It so easy and the books usually ship in 24 hours. Occasionally I request a book out of print. Amazon will try to find it.
I keep a Wish List on Amazon of books I want to purchase in the future. To keep my credit card in check, I try not to immediately order everything. Categories like "Share Your Thought, "Email a friend" "already own it? Rate it." Make you feel wanted and important. I never got that feeling from Barns and Noble and I was talking to them in person! Something very wrong here. Perhaps it is all an illusion like the "talking walls" in Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451". Are we approaching that point?
Barnes & Noble
I wandered into Barnes & Noble several months ago looking for pattern books for my daughter-in-law's new hobby. Of course, the best thing about bookstores is that you can stay for an hour(s) and just browse and read. The Oprah Tables are very popular. In fact, that is when I purchased "Seat of the Soul" by Gary Zukav.
(Read my review http://waterfilter.epinions.com/book-review-746E-6569203-3959AA67-prod1.
I also paged through the crochet pattern books. Those are not easy to purchase on the web, unless you are familiar with the types of patterns presented. That is one of the reasons I wrote reviews on many of the crochet books in my collection. I checked out the alternate health and environmental sections. It was an OK experience. I spent money and they were happy. It certainly was not like the Center Street Library that I visited as a child. No body knew my name here or my tastes in reading. In fact, not everyone was familiar with where the books were that I was looking for. A book was not in stock, so I asked if they would ship it to me when it came in. That was received like a foreign concept and I cringed when she told me the shipping price. Nevermind. I ordered the book from Amazon.
HALF PRICE BOOKS
Half Price Books has a "Way Different Atmosphere" than B&N. With books stacked everywhere in the process of going on the shelves, you get the feeling that these people might actually know and love their books. The selection varies, since they purchase both new and used books, CDs and videos. They have a great variety and I never walk out without purchasing something.
Half Price Books is a supporter of environmental and literacy causes. More than 12 million books have been recycled through Half Price Books, saving approximately 300,000 trees. Thousands of books are donated to organizations all over the world.
Books By The Yard
Half Price Books offers a unique product to interior designers, retailers and individuals. Approximately three linear feet of books for $17.50. Four different categories of books are available. These include:
1. Law Books. These books give any room a distinctive, scholarly, upscale look.
2. Readers Digest Condensed Books. Compact and a nice 'faux' antique look, some with gilt print on the spine edge. These can be combined with other styles for a variety of looks.
3. Reference Books. Primarily encyclopedia volumes, these also provide a 'faux' antique look in a larger format size.
4. Mixed Books. Generally about 85% fiction, 15% non-fiction, great for when you need books to just look like books.
Although you cannot order inventory from their web site as yet, http://www.halfpricebooks.com they do have links to several of their locations.
Conclusion
I shop and purchase the majority of my books from Amazon.com because I love the prices, ease and comfort of the experience. I enjoy the savings, value and atmosphere of Half Price Books Stores. I go to Barnes and Noble only if I happen to be in the neighborhood.
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Epinions.com ID:
aawehr
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 - Top 1000 |
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Location: Wisconsin
Reviews written: 149
Trusted by: 110 members
About Me:
Close to retirement --- but not there yet! Grandmother of twins and five others.
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