The online vs offline tussle between the bookstores is on a exponential rise in India!
Frankly I was never a book reader and didn’t even like going to book stores forget buying books 🙂
My first purchase at flipkart was a book (ironically)! That was just a one of case because I wanted to read more on PR and Marketing and I did not get this book anywhere in the city. Someone recommended it…turned out to be a real dud, never buy it, the book was – The New Rules Of Marketing And PR. Just one of case.
I started buying gadgets from flipkart and that’s how my true relationship with flipkart started,
Anyways, online book buying phenomena started, again ironically, while we were in landmark! Yes, while my wife was surfing for books [I was at the DVD’s section btw :)] she called me saying she is at the cash counter and has selected 5 books! Just for the heck of it, while standing in the q, I started searching flipkart to check how much these books are for on their site. And boy did I see what I saw!! More than 35% discount on few and at-least an average of more than 25% discounts!!
Now you tell me why should I buy from a book stores for a higher price? [I convinced her NOT to buy it there that day and since then I buy books from flipkart only]
BIG DISCOUNTS are obviously the best thing about buying books online (the trend catching up in India now) but the book reviews are are BIG PLUS there.
Let me tell you how I see online book buying scenario…
Book Reviews: While am surfing for a particular book, there are multiple reviews available right there for me to read what others have to say about it (those who have read it, in addition to the back cover reviews), in the book store scenarios imagine 20 people surrounding you as soon as you lift any book from the shelf, dying to tell you how they felt about exactly that book when they read it, be it a 3 years old thought or a fresh one, all available for you to listen!!
But in reality what do you get, the store is for you to search what you want, no reviews, no one to tell you more about it, no one to tell you “people who read this book, also read…” Suggestions for me….nothing, it’s just me and the book! How UNCOOL!!
Of course you do NOT get the instant gratification of buying it off the shelf but I think that’s a very small thing to worry about, what do you say?
I have also been to Sapna Book Store, Koramangala and I find it very boring. The staff do not have much knowledge and the same problem of no suggestion, no help. If I know everything I buy and go else get lost!
Disclaimer: Landmark also has an online store but I have never used it, the logos in this blog post have been used to give a comparison of the online book store and an actual book store.
I have also been to Sapna Book Store, Koramangala and I find it very boring. The staff do not have much knowledge and the same problem of no suggestion, no help. If I know everything I buy and go else get lost!
Disclaimer: Landmark also has an online store but I have never used it, the logos in this blog post have been used to give a comparison of the online book store and an actual book store.
The only reason I prefer buying books (or even movie CDs) online is the ability to search for items which in a brick and mortar store is a nightmare. The nightmare is compounded by the rather clueless sales people manning these shops.
true, last Friday when I was there and as expected every sales person was clueless on what I was looking for, I wanted to buy 'MY' kind of books, explained what I meant when I say 'MY' kind, but they were still clueless! Then I asked them (about a book)is this is good read? Are you selling more of it, what kind of reviews you are getting? Your guess is as good as mine, he/she left me alone as they had no answers to my questions!!