If you've only visited the first Powell's on the south side of Chicago (Hyde Park), you'll be blown by the Portland location. It truly is a book lovers paradise.
Powell’s says it won’t sell books on Amazon anymore
161–170 of 212 posts
Re: Powell’s says it won’t sell books on Amazon anymore
#162Once things are better... if you like books, you have to visit Powell's at some point in your life. I used to work a few blocks away and would often spend my lunch break there. The trick was to look at books before eating, so I'd get hungry enough to remember to leave.
Re: Powell’s says it won’t sell books on Amazon anymore
#163Earlier quoted context omitted.
I order meat from The Great British Meat Company and my meat arrives 2 days later, still refrigerated, in a hard polystyrene case packed in with still frozen ice cube bags. It costs a little more to deliver, but it arrives upright and in a perfect condition at 3 degrees Celsius (~38f). Its ridiculous that something of regular shape, in a regular box, is so difficult not to damage in transit especially from a company…
Those meat packages end up getting very different handling, because of the dry ice that's used to keep them cold. It's necessary to keep a careful track of the dry ice and know how much of it you're loading into a container, in order to avoid asphyxiating your colleagues. Most packages are just tossed along as quickly as possible, because there's a tight schedule to keep. But you have to temporarily slow way down whe…
Just to clarify: the meat packages I ordered didn't use any dry ice. They provide two (standard) ice packs, one which is placed beneath the meat and one which is placed above the meat.
Because the polystyrene is so thick and they send so much ice, the ice was still fully frozen when I received it 42 hours after my order.
We've actually kept the polystyrene box and ice packs to reuse for picnic days and things like that.
Re: Powell’s says it won’t sell books on Amazon anymore
#164Earlier quoted context omitted.
I tried but local store really is much more expensive, like double or at least 50% - that is if they can even get it. I dont ever want to go there and browse, just buy some books. For me Amazon is sooo much easier and much cheaper as well, I wonder what the point of supporting local is for.
A site like Amazon is always going to be better than a local shop if you already know exactly what you want. Local shops offer human curation instead of algorithmic recommendation, and create situations where you can stumble into something that you would have never even thought to search for. If this isn't a way you like to shop that's fine of course, but it's something that a lot of other people enjoy. Personally, I…
ditto this. amazon, in its current form, will never be able to emulate a brick and mortar bookstore. a dedicated staff with exceptional customer service will curate books and recommend books that an algorithm will never catch.
also, local bookstores tend be an integral part of the local, geographic community, where you can engage with likeminded folks who live nearby. amazon can't do that in 2020.
and, amazon has so much power that they force publishers to offer lower prices. that's bad for your margins if you're a publisher and causes the quality of book to go down since they're gonna want to sell more of what sells. what sells well doesn't necessarily mean better quality. i don't want the good publishers to go out of business.
and! amazon can't do readings and book signings. if you're not into that, then ok, but book signings are very important for a thriving literary culture.
keep buying on amazon if you want to save money but consider throwing a few bucks to your local independent from time to time, please
Re: Powell’s says it won’t sell books on Amazon anymore
#165Earlier quoted context omitted.
Where I live there is no bookstore with their web store within a close distance (it's greater than 30 minute drive). So, it's not an option. One bookstores within 30 minutes all have very limited selection essentially tied to those who live at the edge of suburbia and rural. So, if I'm going to order online I'm happy to do it in a way that supports small bookstores. I imagine there are others like me.
There needs to be some sort of shopify solution for Libary stacks and small bookstores
the bookshop.org site that the parent comment mentioned is an attempt at that solution
Re: Powell’s says it won’t sell books on Amazon anymore
#166Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm conflicted over this business. It's ran by good people but I don't think it's the right solution for independents to compete with Amazon. Just go straight to the local bookstore's website. A lot of the stores on bookshop also have an online store. Bookshop is a supplement and basically just plugged straight into Ingram (the distributor), so they're able to sell whatever your local indie's web store lacks.
Where I live there is no bookstore with their web store within a close distance (it's greater than 30 minute drive). So, it's not an option. One bookstores within 30 minutes all have very limited selection essentially tied to those who live at the edge of suburbia and rural. So, if I'm going to order online I'm happy to do it in a way that supports small bookstores. I imagine there are others like me.
yeah that makes sense. some folks will find an independent store from far away and make that their "home" bookstore. powells is that for a lot of people
Re: Powell’s says it won’t sell books on Amazon anymore
#167Kudos to Powell's, I've spent literally thousands of dollars over the years at that magnificent store and will continue to do so; spent hour upon hour there in my childhood getting lost in wonders it holds. They don't try to undercut smaller bookstores by offering discounts on new books like B&N, Amazon, etc., their employees seem to actually enjoy working there, it's a family-friendly environment and the selection s…
I've never lived in Portland, but try to visit annually; Powell's has earned its place as a 'must go' destination every year. I mean, it's a bookstore, with active curation, that spans a city block. Amazing! I end up with the book I had in mind, plus half a dozen books discovered along the way...
At one point it was more than a city block! Endless towering shelves, Espresso Book Machine, espresso to drink at the café, rare books collection… Paradise for book lovers.
Re: Powell’s says it won’t sell books on Amazon anymore
#168Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've never lived in Portland, but try to visit annually; Powell's has earned its place as a 'must go' destination every year. I mean, it's a bookstore, with active curation, that spans a city block. Amazing! I end up with the book I had in mind, plus half a dozen books discovered along the way...
I've yet to go to Portland, but if I ever do I intend to make a stop at Powell's assuming the world is in a place where that can happen. Thankfully we have our own good indie bookstore where I live that's a stand in until I can make it there.
They have managed to reopen in a limited fashion. Hoping they’ll make it through the pandemic intact.
Re: Powell’s says it won’t sell books on Amazon anymore
#169Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've never lived in Portland, but try to visit annually; Powell's has earned its place as a 'must go' destination every year. I mean, it's a bookstore, with active curation, that spans a city block. Amazing! I end up with the book I had in mind, plus half a dozen books discovered along the way...
One of the few "perfect mornings" in my life was a day off during a Portland business trip: with a Stumptown coffee, a Voodoo donut, and Powell's. Simply magical.
I live here and still had a similar perfect morning. Walking down a snow covered street, no cars, crisp and quiet, and then a warm Powell's book store serving their own coffee and cookies.
Re: Powell’s says it won’t sell books on Amazon anymore
#170Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think next day is overrated. If something is important enough for you, surely most people should be willing to wait a few days e.g a week for it to arrive. It's not like you are going to finish that book the same day (usually).
Many people use books for tasks other than pleasure.
Then you buy the e-book :-)