Bsr Used Books

Dear Mr. Evans,



I am sorry that it took me until today to get back to you.



First, I am sorry that my husband was late getting to the store. My husband didn't have permission to put out that I have cancer, because I don't want to scare the customers. This is the fourth time for me, so most people worry. He has to take on extra things like taking me to appointments. I can't always control when I will get out of those appointments. I am sorry that I made him late. You are right, I should have had him post to facebook. It was a bad morning for me, so I forgot. It is difficult to think well right now.



You also mention that our books are higher prices than both second hand shops in Granite City. Salvation Army and Goodwill Store are not actually bookstores, and, we aren't a thrift store. So, we don't compete with them. We both do very different things.



We have to buy 2/3's of our books, and their books are donated. We are the lowest price bookstore in the St. Louis region. The Alliance bookstores are all higher priced than our bookstore. We spend on average between $.75 and $1.00 per book in our science fiction fantasy section. We spend between $.50 and $.75 per book for our mystery thriller section. And, we average about $.60 per book for all the books in the store. If all of our books were donated, then we would have lower prices. However, we can't sell at a loss, or we will have to close our doors.



Only about 1/3 of our books are donated or traded. We still have to go out and search and buy stock for the store to keep it well stocked. We are not making more than $.25 per book on anything in science fiction when it is sold for $1.25. We also spend about five hours per day shelving books alphabetically in sections. It's my understanding that the two stores you've mentioned don't have anything organized for their customers to find. The customers just have a luck of the draw on whether the store will have something in stock. We can find any book in stock in less than five minutes.



Thank you for letting me know that we forgot to update our web page last year about the trade policy. However, if you had read the trade policy posted in the store on the aisles (there were two postings stating that the buy one get one free can't be used with trade credit.) It's not a recent change, and it's been that way as long as you have come in; however, Bruce has been lenient on that and didn't charge that way.



I'm sorry that he hasn't charged the correct way all along; however, I informed him that we can no longer lose money on any of the transactions that we make. I informed my husband to enforce the correct policy because I want him to be able to keep the store open after I'm gone. If I don't survive, then he will have to be able to pay all the bills on the store and our apartment with just the sales from the store; therefore, he is not able to lose money anymore.



I blocked you from the Facebook page, not my husband. Since, we are not making you happy, I will gladly give you alist of other great bookstores in the area.



As for the trade credit you have currently, you may come in and recieve three paperback books, or one hardback book and one paperback without paying anything this one time. After that, I'm sure you will be happier shopping elsewhere.



Sincerely,



Stacie Pope

Today BSR lost a customer.

Changing trade policy without ANY notice WHATSOEVER in regards to store credit.

Before It was 50% of a purchase would be spent on store credit, so a $2.50 paperback would be $1.25 If you traded good quality books in. And Tuesdays were buy one get one free. I would trade in good books, wait for a Tuesday and add to my library. It was a little cheaper than goodwill if I did it that way($1.35 after tax for two paperback books). Now, It's store credit cannot be used on the B.O.G.O. Either pay full price for the deal or get one book with 50% store credit(which defeats the purpose of the credit). I find this out, Not from a sign, not from their website(as of this writing it's only got the old policy), but from the cashier, as I go to pay for my stuff.



And the hours of operation are unreliable. Showed up at a little bit after 10 this this morning, and they were closed, 10:30 rolls around, still closed. The facebook page had no notice if the store was closed, or would open late, I had to post on their wall.



In short: Unreliable hours, A lack of competitive prices now(Goodwill sells Hardcover books at a $1-$2, Hardcovers at BSR are $5, thrift store has them at the $1-$3 range), and changing policies without notices to restrict the use of store credit pushed me too far.



After bringing this up on their facebook page, It prompted Into me being blocked, rather than ANY discussion on why the changes were made in policy without Notification of any sort. Zero advertisement was made to even explain the change, or if there even was a change.



I have store credit there, but even if I decide to make another trip there, I'm pretty sure it will be worthless due to another change in policy.

Bruce and Stacie were great! Super friendly and knowledgeable about their stock. The cats are awesome (hope Juliet finds a home soon or else I'll be in trouble) and also helpful in "finding" books lol. I found some books I'd been hunting for years. I'll definitely be back