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04/25/2005: "Competitors and Compatriots"

Recently I heard the sad news that one of my compatriots in the book business, Altamont Books, will soon be closing. Many people have come to me and said, "You must be happy! You'll be the only bookshop in town!" Actually, nothing could be further from the truth.

In 1993, when I first started in the used book business, Altamont Books was Goodenough Books, and then-proprietress Susan Mayall congratulated me on entering the book-world. She made it clear she did not think of me as a competitor, and she even bought one of my rare books as a gift for a relative. In turn, I did part of my Xmas shopping in her store.

When you're bookseller, it's important not only to know other people in the book business, but to maintain a good relationship with them. If I don't have something that a customer wants, I always refer them to someone else who does. It's the Macy's-Gimbel's relationship, from Miracle on 34th Street. Most of us in the book business know each other, and there's an unwritten rule that if you don't have what your customer needs, you share the customer. Besides being good manners, it's only fair to the customer, and it introduces them to bookshops they might not know about. Almost every bookseller I've ever known has stuck by this time-honored custom, and the results have always been good.
Those who are mean-spirited & highly competitive tend not to last long very long.

The prospect of being the only game in town means people will expect more from me. Not just having the right book, but knowing automatically what they're talking about, especially if they don't know the title or the author. I already read the New York Review of Books, and keep up-to-date on the latest publications, but somehow I think there will be more that I'm unaware of. I'll keep your posted.

By the way: If there's anything that you think I should have here at Book Oasis, let me know! As Livermore's only bookshop, I want to serve you as best I can.

Also, don't forget: Our Heritage Sale will be this Saturday & Sunday: Rare Books, 20% off! Softbacks, 30% off! Hard covers 50% off!