Comments on: Are Handsellers in Bookstores as Rare as the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker in Arkansas? http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/ Cranky critiques by Lynne W. Scanlon P.E.A. (Publisher/Editor/Author) Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:31:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Jane Doe http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-42753 Jane Doe Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:46:28 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-42753 I also agree with the article on handselling, however, re Cathy Jesson/s comments, but I think the main concern shop owners should be dealing with is retention of long term employees. Handselling is a skill and an art, and improves with time practice and knowledge of store stock. If more attention were made to retaining staff that were knowledgable and skilled in this art, then there would not be any need to worry about staff " more interested in discussing their weekend activities." However, that is not the case, turnover is allowed to be high, and in this booming economy it is going to be increasingly difficult to replace these staff with knowledgeable well trained people, hence the decrease in handselling- this will be to the detriment of the customer , the store's reputation and the bottom ledger line. I also agree with the article on handselling, however, re Cathy Jesson/s comments, but I think the main concern shop owners should be dealing with is retention of long term employees. Handselling is a skill and an art, and improves with time practice and knowledge of store stock. If more attention were made to retaining staff that were knowledgable and skilled in this art, then there would not be any need to worry about staff ” more interested in discussing their weekend activities.” However, that is not the case, turnover is allowed to be high, and in this booming economy it is going to be increasingly difficult to replace these staff with knowledgeable well trained people, hence the decrease in handselling- this will be to the detriment of the customer , the store’s reputation and the bottom ledger line.

]]> By: Cathy Jesson http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-22231 Cathy Jesson Thu, 10 May 2007 18:34:07 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-22231 I agree with the Handseller article. I was in Berkely recently for the first time and was excited to visit a bookstore there. <strong>I was looking for eager handsellers, but witnessed staff more interested in weekend activities than any of us who were in the store.</strong> After a half hour of wandering I left saddened by my experiment at wanting that handselling experience. I came back more intent on working and encouraging this with my company. [Handselling] can be the key to success, or the way to closie doors. We need people who love books and love to share that passion. It is not for the money or we would all be doing something else. So let's share that passion. Cathy Jesson Black Bond Books Surrey, B. C., Canada I agree with the Handseller article. I was in Berkely recently for the first time and was excited to visit a bookstore there. I was looking for eager handsellers, but witnessed staff more interested in weekend activities than any of us who were in the store. After a half hour of wandering I left saddened by my experiment at wanting that handselling experience.

I came back more intent on working and encouraging this with my company. [Handselling] can be the key to success, or the way to closie doors. We need people who love books and love to share that passion.

It is not for the money or we would all be doing something else. So let’s share that passion.

Cathy Jesson

Black Bond Books

Surrey, B. C., Canada

]]> By: "Orange Mike" Lowrey http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-9415 "Orange Mike" Lowrey Sat, 03 Feb 2007 02:55:36 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-9415 I hope you come by Renaissance Books in Milwaukee's Mitchell Field (yep, world's first used book store in an airport) some time. Give us a chance and we will handsell you until you're out of breath! (Especially if you come on Saturday and Cicatrice or I can help you.) Lack of handselling, I strongly concur, can lead to mortality among bookstores. It's the essence of what independents can do better than the chains. I hope you come by Renaissance Books in Milwaukee’s Mitchell Field (yep, world’s first used book store in an airport) some time. Give us a chance and we will handsell you until you’re out of breath! (Especially if you come on Saturday and Cicatrice or I can help you.) Lack of handselling, I strongly concur, can lead to mortality among bookstores. It’s the essence of what independents can do better than the chains.

]]> By: john akins http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-5882 john akins Wed, 27 Dec 2006 17:27:53 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-5882 I served as a marine rifleman in Viet Nam, 1968-69. I’ve read much Viet Nam war literature and published a collection <img title="Cover Image" alt="Cover Image" src="http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/11140000/11144164.gif" align="right" />of war poetry, On The Way to Khe Sanh, (three of which appeared in The Iowa Review, Spring 2005), and a memoir, Nam Au Go Go - Falling for the Vietnamese Goddess of War. Nam Au Go Go is different. It talks about something no one I can find has written about - what violence does to war fighters. How, if combat soldiers and marines see too much, do too much, they can cross a threshold into an adaptation to violence and become addicted to it. <strong>When your emotional self is killed off by the insanity of war, survivors of this addiction have a hard time re-connecting with society. Combat is a one-way door. Once you go through, you cannot go back. You are changed. </strong> For a glimpse, go to www.johnakins.net Find Nam Au Go Go on booksellers’ websites. e: <a href="mailto:jacolesdad@comcast.net">jacolesdad@comcast.net</a> I served as a marine rifleman in Viet Nam, 1968-69. I’ve read much Viet Nam war literature and published a collection Cover Imageof war poetry, On The Way to Khe Sanh, (three of which appeared in The Iowa Review, Spring 2005), and a memoir, Nam Au Go Go - Falling for the Vietnamese Goddess of War.

Nam Au Go Go is different. It talks about something no one I can find has written about - what violence does to war fighters. How, if combat soldiers and marines see too much, do too much, they can cross a threshold into an adaptation to violence and become addicted to it. When your emotional self is killed off by the insanity of war, survivors of this addiction have a hard time re-connecting with society. Combat is a one-way door. Once you go through, you cannot go back. You are changed.

For a glimpse, go to http://www.johnakins.net

Find Nam Au Go Go on booksellers’ websites.
e: jacolesdad@comcast.net

]]> By: Edward Winterhalder http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-1573 Edward Winterhalder Sat, 19 Aug 2006 18:30:06 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-1573 Hello Lynne, Sitting here with Kara in New Hampshire at her brother's wedding, and thought I would drop you a line. Kara, when she sees you, will have what we think is a very interesting project/proposal (biker related) for you. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. <em>Note from the Wicked Witch of Publishing (TM): Kara is in New Hampshire? I feel like i just saw her at the Springs General Store. A "biker" related project. Hum.... You've got my attention. (I still have some regrets about not hopping on the back of that biker's motorcycle in LA and going to Cinco de Mayo many years ago.) Thanks, Edward, for dropping by!</em> Hello Lynne,

Sitting here with Kara in New Hampshire at her brother’s wedding, and thought I would drop you a line. Kara, when she sees you, will have what we think is a very interesting project/proposal (biker related) for you. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Note from the Wicked Witch of Publishing (TM): Kara is in New Hampshire? I feel like i just saw her at the Springs General Store. A “biker” related project. Hum…. You’ve got my attention. (I still have some regrets about not hopping on the back of that biker’s motorcycle in LA and going to Cinco de Mayo many years ago.) Thanks, Edward, for dropping by!

]]> By: Mary Miller http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-1304 Mary Miller Fri, 28 Jul 2006 19:34:12 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-1304 I have worked for Borders for 12 years and I love the chance to handsell. I have many customers who seek me out for advice on selections for book groups or for the newest books. I am the "go-to" person for many of my staff because I read avidly and also read lots of reviews. I came to Borders after several years of being a "Reader Advisor" at a library. The longer someone works around books, the more comfortable they are going to be at recommending stuff. Unfortunately, economics comes into play. I could afford the horrible wages because my husband had a good job. Many of our employees are part-timers who have another job or are going to college. We are often thinly staffed, but in my store we do our best to give a high level of customer service. And lets not forget that the large chains are full-service bookstores. We have many customers who want to find something about house design, car engines, collectible china, etc. Should I slight the customer who wants to find a book about VW engines to help the person who wants to find something to read after reading all the Patrick O'Brians? <strong>Over the years I have noticed a distinct whiff of snobbery concerning independent bookstores. They are romanticized as the last, best hope for civilization, while the evil chains just want to make money.</strong> <strong>Borders and Barnes & Noble hire lots of people who will work there just because they love books and music and want to be around them all day long. The wages are terrible, the stress from understaffing is incredible and often the customers are rude, but I wouldn't work anywhere else. I yearn to put a good book in a customer's hands. </strong> I have worked for Borders for 12 years and I love the chance to handsell. I have many customers who seek me out for advice on selections for book groups or for the newest books. I am the “go-to” person for many of my staff because I read avidly and also read lots of reviews.

I came to Borders after several years of being a “Reader Advisor” at a library. The longer someone works around books, the more comfortable they are going to be at recommending stuff. Unfortunately, economics comes into play. I could afford the horrible wages because my husband had a good job. Many of our employees are part-timers who have another job or are going to college. We are often thinly staffed, but in my store we do our best to give a high level of customer service.

And lets not forget that the large chains are full-service bookstores. We have many customers who want to find something about house design, car engines, collectible china, etc. Should I slight the customer who wants to find a book about VW engines to help the person who wants to find something to read after reading all the Patrick O’Brians? Over the years I have noticed a distinct whiff of snobbery concerning independent bookstores. They are romanticized as the last, best hope for civilization, while the evil chains just want to make money.

Borders and Barnes & Noble hire lots of people who will work there just because they love books and music and want to be around them all day long. The wages are terrible, the stress from understaffing is incredible and often the customers are rude, but I wouldn’t work anywhere else. I yearn to put a good book in a customer’s hands.

]]> By: Sridhar Balan http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-695 Sridhar Balan Mon, 19 Jun 2006 06:59:36 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-695 Hi Tall Woman with dark tan, Sorry, just happened to see this and loved both your piece and all the comments. No, never been to Arkansas, and don't know whether there are any ivory woodpeckers. But seriously, Lynn, sighting handsellers in bookshops is as rare as sighting the famous Tragopan in Nagaland. Forget help in a bookstore, and if you wrestle with them, you will get a broken arm, sellers just coudn't be bothered. A handseller would know when help is required, he would also leave you alone when you ust want to browse. At a course, I recently asked participants about their recent experiences in a bookshop. almost all of them unanmously spoke about the uniform lack of knowledge of stock by staff in the shop. No wonder that in retail selling, we have the highest turnover of staff in retail bookshops. The point is, if you don't have it in you, can you be trained? If the answer is in the positive, believe me, there is huge, wide world out there, just waiting! Way to go, Lynn! PS On Isabel Allende, in addition to your Mom, I just picked up the book fro my sister's home in Toronto! Sridhar Balan Hi Tall Woman with dark tan,
Sorry, just happened to see this and loved both your piece and all the comments. No, never been to Arkansas, and don’t know whether there are any ivory woodpeckers.
But seriously, Lynn, sighting handsellers in bookshops is as rare as sighting the famous Tragopan in Nagaland. Forget help in a bookstore, and if you wrestle with them, you will get a broken arm, sellers just coudn’t be bothered. A handseller would know when help is required, he would also leave you alone when you ust want to browse. At a course, I recently asked participants about their recent experiences in a bookshop. almost all of them unanmously spoke about the uniform lack of knowledge of stock by staff in the shop. No wonder that in retail selling, we have the highest turnover of staff in retail bookshops.
The point is, if you don’t have it in you, can you be trained? If the answer is in the positive, believe me, there is huge, wide world out there, just waiting! Way to go, Lynn!
PS On Isabel Allende, in addition to your Mom, I just picked up the book fro my sister’s home in Toronto!
Sridhar Balan

]]> By: Jennifer Redmond http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-454 Jennifer Redmond Tue, 23 May 2006 17:47:45 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-454 Happily, we San Diegans have at least two independent booksellers who still know the meaning of the word "handselling". One is the cozy (translates to wonderfully crowded with books) DG Wills Books in La Jolla and the other is the venerable Wahrenbrocks Book House on Broadway in downtown. Both stores have intelligent, and warm, though somewhat "curmudgeonly in the true Dickensian manner", owner-managers, who know the author of nearly book on their shelves, both new, used, and rare. Happily, we San Diegans have at least two independent booksellers who still know the meaning of the word “handselling”. One is the cozy (translates to wonderfully crowded with books) DG Wills Books in La Jolla and the other is the venerable Wahrenbrocks Book House on Broadway in downtown.
Both stores have intelligent, and warm, though somewhat “curmudgeonly in the true Dickensian manner”, owner-managers, who know the author of nearly book on their shelves, both new, used, and rare.

]]> By: Lorra Laven http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-423 Lorra Laven Fri, 19 May 2006 21:31:45 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-423 I just had to tell you about my wonderful experience at Borders this afternoon. A nice young man named Kevin escorted me to the "Parenting" section to buy a book for a friend. Rather than point and walk away, he stayed with me, recommending book after book after asking me, specificaly, what I was looking for. When I asked him if it was his custom to recommended books to customers, he said he did it all the time, adding that he had strong preferences for certain books. When I complemented him on his knowledge and helpfulness, telling him that I had heard that handselling was a dying art but that he was living proof there were still knowledgable book lovers working in the big book stores, he grinned hugely and told me that was the nicest thing a customer had said to him all week. Next time I'm in that Borders, I will seek out Kevin because he is an asset to me both as a customer and as a writer. I just had to tell you about my wonderful experience at Borders this afternoon. A nice young man named Kevin escorted me to the “Parenting” section to buy a book for a friend. Rather than point and walk away, he stayed with me, recommending book after book after asking me, specificaly, what I was looking for.

When I asked him if it was his custom to recommended books to customers, he said he did it all the time, adding that he had strong preferences for certain books.

When I complemented him on his knowledge and helpfulness, telling him that I had heard that handselling was a dying art but that he was living proof there were still knowledgable book lovers working in the big book stores, he grinned hugely and told me that was the nicest thing a customer had said to him all week.

Next time I’m in that Borders, I will seek out Kevin because he is an asset to me both as a customer and as a writer.

]]> By: Shameless Words http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-418 Shameless Words Tue, 16 May 2006 10:52:14 +0000 http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2006/05/08/are-handsellers-in-bookstores-as-rare-as-the-white-billed-woodpecker-in-arkansas/#comment-418 This would be good advice for my friends over at the blog Mostly Books; they are opening a new independent in the UK soon. Thanks for your insight Lynne! This would be good advice for my friends over at the blog Mostly Books; they are opening a new independent in the UK soon. Thanks for your insight Lynne!

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