Powell’s says it won’t sell books on Amazon anymore

Post by paulcole » Fri, Aug 28, 2020, 11:39 AM UTC

zxwx wrote: post #45

wrp wrote: post #31

Powell's Technical Books used to be my favorite place to hang out. I would ride downtown in the morning and spend an entire day there, scanning every shelf in my fields of interest, reveling in periodic hits of serendipity. Since PTB closed, I've been back once. It wasn't worth it any more. I'll admit that I did like it better back before the store was spruced up to be like a Borders.

How is it like Borders? It's a warren of different rooms on different floors, half of which are more like a warehouse than a retail store, with a huge selection of used and new books shelved together. I loved the separate technical books stores, too, although they still have a great tech section in the main location. I assume the standalone PTBs shrank then closed because people were browsing more than buying.

Post by carlob » Fri, Aug 28, 2020, 11:59 AM UTC

AnthonyMouse wrote: post #48

ericbarrett wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or would hedge funds and REITs just buy these spaces (or keep them to rent out after building them—a common practice for developers) and continue to charge high rent with more empty storefronts? I’ve thought for years that the growing number of commercial vacancies, even pre-Covid, would “sort itself out.” It certainly hasn’t yet.

The thing you're seeing with covid is that places are empty for the same reason they became empty, and the owners are speculating that demand will rebound in the future (e.g. once there is a vaccine) so they have no reason to sell for less today. If you change the zoning at a sufficient scale, rents would be expected to decline permanently , so there would be nothing gained by holding out until tomorrow.

Post by Eezee » Fri, Aug 28, 2020, 12:20 PM UTC

easytiger wrote: post #37

CalRobert wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fortunately, Powells is great for this. Whenever I need a book delivered in the US they deliver. "In many parts of the world overgrown local busybodies have destroyed "high streets" in attempts to monetize drivers and pad their CV; driving people away. " Not sure what you're getting at here but if you think you deserve free private car storage on public land you might try reading The High Cost of Free Parking by Dona…

Let me guess. All cars are evil and the nation has adopted them simply to anger cyclist folk? Embarrassingly reductive giberish. Not everyone has a living situation to live as you'd wish them

Post by michaelt » Fri, Aug 28, 2020, 12:28 PM UTC

chiefalchemist wrote: post #50

kiba wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Local businesses would stay open if they don't have to pay absurd rents, or that vacant storefronts are actually available for rent.

So they close early to do less business? And that pays the rent?? So instead of being able to catch people coming home from work, the local biz ignores those people? So those people can go home and buy from Amazon?

Post by qppo » Fri, Aug 28, 2020, 12:36 PM UTC

ArkVark wrote: post #34

The problem is not Amazon, the problem is local rents. If we encourage mixed-use zoning, ie. 3-5 storey apartment blocks with the ground and first level for commercial and office use, we'll lower rents and reduce commutes.