Are You An “Aggressive” Bookseller?
I love how ideas for posts just pop into my head!
I was chatting on Twitter about two instances this weekend when I “sold” two books in the kids section of Barnes & Noble. Let it be known: I am not a paid bookstore employee. In case number one, three mothers were looking at 14 Cows for America
Situation 2, same bookstore (we were there for a while!): A boy, age 11, was looking for a book along the lines of Harry Potter. It was just his luck! I just recently finished a book that fits that criteria: Bran Hambric by Kaleb Nation! I know for a fact he purchased that book, because just a few minutes later I spotted him outside in the mall, sitting in an armchair, absorbed in that very book.
If I see someone picking up a book that I loved, I have no problem in rushing over and commenting about the book. I find I do this more often with children’s books. I, admittedly, get very excited about great kids books. Perhaps this is due to my son’s reluctance with reading (and his new-found love of reading!).
So, are you an aggressive bookseller? And when I say agressive, I don’t mean physically. Perhaps it should say “enthusiastic/extroverted”? Do you walk up to complete strangers and recommend a book to them? Do employees at certain bookstores give you the evil eye when you enter a bookstore because they know your “history?” Or would you just prefer to be left alone when browsing through the stacks?
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I would love it if someone recommended books to my in the store. I don’t very often talk to other people in the book store, but I have in the past and it’s always been a positive experience. It’s fun to tell people about a book you’ve loved…which is probably why we all blog, right?
I haven’t “sold” any books in stores, but there are a few people in my extended family who have come to me for recommendations. (It’s a nice feeling.)
Aggressive booksellers approach! Who wants to spend all that money on a book and have it turn out awful? There should be a kiosk.
Twitter: novelwhore
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YES I am an enthusiastic/extroverted suggester of books! I’m always the one on the subway awkwardly trying to see the title of your book or read a few sentences, and if it is a title I love I can’t help but talk to you about it. If we have similar tastes in books I automatically like you a little bit more.
I am exactly the same way! I will also ask people if they’ve read a book and what they thought of it.
Yup, I am. If someone’s ever glimpsing towards I book I read and liked in Borders I’ll let them know who good I thought it was. Sometimes I chicken out though. But usually I’m all over it!
I’m a bookstore introvert, although I will answer when spoken to.
Actually if there were a person truly knowledgeable in a particular genre, and he or she saw me browsing there, I would love recommendations. One of the Borders I frequent has some sci-fi buffs, and they regularly leave little annotated recommendation cards all around, and I really, really appreciate it!
If I see people browsing a book I loved I will definitely mention that to them!
I am a great one for trying to see what you are reading.. I love to mention books to people even if I don’t carry that book… I love going to book signings and meeting new authors and new people.. I am a romance reader… I venture a little ways away and I try new things but there are so many old favorites that I keep running back to… my Fav Author series is Cedar Cove by Debbie Macomber, then I like Robyn Carr, Fern Micheals,Diana Palmer, Rachele Lee, etc…There is a new book always waiting around the corner I am reading Last Kiss at the moment..
Oh I do this too. I love offering my unsolicited 2 cents … and I find most people are thankful for the advice. You should get a commission!
I’m not usually aggressive with strangers — I sort of like being left alone when I’m browsing books. But I am aggressive with friends/coworkers/family. If people complain about not having something to read or start talking about books, I love to suggest titles I’ve read or books I’ve read on blogs I think they might like. I suspect it’s a little annoying, but I don’t mind
Yes, I talk to strangers … I get it from my mother
I suggest/(talk about) books to people I know (and don’t) all the time, and usually bring a book or two to lend when I meet a friend for coffee.
I actually am a bookseller, in a children’s section and I will hammer books into people’s carts and hands in the blink of an eye. I have my favorites, Frindle by Andrew Clements, and newly discovered loves, plus classics (Mixed Up Files, Bridge to Terabithia). And I will do that to strangers too!
Yay, Jenn for being an enthusiastic book lover! How can you not share, when there is an obvious opportunity? I’m an independent sales rep, and therefore, I’m in bookstores a lot, and I love to engage customers in conversation. Having been a bookseller in my younger years, conversation is something that happens naturally in bookstores, and usually, an enjoyable experience is had by all.
I actually search for people looking at books I loved. If someone asks the bookseller for recommendations, I’ll chime in if I have anything to add. I love talking about books. I’ve had great conversations with strangers about all kinds of things and it all started with suggesting a book. This year I have sold multiple copies of The Elegance of the Hedgehog, just loved the book and love telling people about it.
Yeah, I’m aggressive. I mean, I want to talk books and recommend books if the person’s a reader, but if they’re like, What’re you reading? and it’s a chick lit book and the person asking the question is some dude on the bus, then I’m like, Why do you care? Otherwise, I’m all about, OMG you HAVE to read (fill in the blank)!