Second-Hand Bookshops in Britain: 2024 Report
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Second-Hand Bookshops in Britain: 2024 Report
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Re: Second-Hand Bookshops in Britain: 2024 Report
#2The proliferation of charity and community bookshops is substantially the product of tax policy. Commercial property is taxed at ~50% of the nominal rental value, but charities are substantially or wholly exempt from this tax. Importantly, this tax is owed regardless of whether the property is occupied; for a commercial landlord, it is therefore preferable to lease a unit to a charity at a peppercorn rent if the unit is expected to remain vacant for some time. This has had a profound effect on the makeup of retail tenants, particularly in small towns with high vacancy rates, which some argue amounts to a harmful market distortion.
Re: Second-Hand Bookshops in Britain: 2024 Report
#3The proliferation of charity and community bookshops is substantially the product of tax policy. Commercial property is taxed at ~50% of the nominal rental value, but charities are substantially or wholly exempt from this tax. Importantly, this tax is owed regardless of whether the property is occupied; for a commercial landlord, it is therefore preferable to lease a unit to a charity at a peppercorn rent if the unit…
can you elucidate on if this was un- or intended consequence, and "harmful market distortion"?
Re: Second-Hand Bookshops in Britain: 2024 Report
#4To be honest, I prefer charity shops to professional shops for 2nd hand books.
That said, I still visit professional shops rather more than I should (it depends on the shop.)
Of course charity shops are cheaper, that's part of the appeal, but I have more success in them because they are less discerning.
Over the years I've acquired a LOT of books, so now I tend to limit myself more. Mostly I now collect science fiction, with an emphasis on work pre 1970. These were made cheap, and are usually in "poor" condition now.
Professional shops won't shelve them, whereas charity shops will, so I have more success there.
Re: Second-Hand Bookshops in Britain: 2024 Report
#5The proliferation of charity and community bookshops is substantially the product of tax policy. Commercial property is taxed at ~50% of the nominal rental value, but charities are substantially or wholly exempt from this tax. Importantly, this tax is owed regardless of whether the property is occupied; for a commercial landlord, it is therefore preferable to lease a unit to a charity at a peppercorn rent if the unit…
Yes, perhaps there's an argument that having charity shops is better for the area overall than having too many vacant shop fronts. But if that's the case, why not cut business rates for all, rather than for this arbitrary group?
Re: Second-Hand Bookshops in Britain: 2024 Report
#6A.Z. Fell has a decent bookshop but when I called recently they said: "Fell's Bookshop. We probably don't have what you're looking for and we wouldn't sell it to you if we did."
Re: Second-Hand Bookshops in Britain: 2024 Report
#7The proliferation of charity and community bookshops is substantially the product of tax policy. Commercial property is taxed at ~50% of the nominal rental value, but charities are substantially or wholly exempt from this tax. Importantly, this tax is owed regardless of whether the property is occupied; for a commercial landlord, it is therefore preferable to lease a unit to a charity at a peppercorn rent if the unit…
I don't see how encouraging charities can be seen as harmful?
It would be good if it was extended to organisations like CIC however.
Re: Second-Hand Bookshops in Britain: 2024 Report
#8A.Z. Fell has a decent bookshop but when I called recently they said: "Fell's Bookshop. We probably don't have what you're looking for and we wouldn't sell it to you if we did."
It sounds like a real life Black Books.
Re: Second-Hand Bookshops in Britain: 2024 Report
#9To be honest, I prefer charity shops to professional shops for 2nd hand books. That said, I still visit professional shops rather more than I should (it depends on the shop.) Of course charity shops are cheaper, that's part of the appeal, but I have more success in them because they are less discerning. Over the years I've acquired a LOT of books, so now I tend to limit myself more. Mostly I now collect science ficti…
This is going to sound bad but another upside to charity shops is that often they misprice their books, so you can get some real bargains.
Re: Second-Hand Bookshops in Britain: 2024 Report
#10To be honest, I prefer charity shops to professional shops for 2nd hand books. That said, I still visit professional shops rather more than I should (it depends on the shop.) Of course charity shops are cheaper, that's part of the appeal, but I have more success in them because they are less discerning. Over the years I've acquired a LOT of books, so now I tend to limit myself more. Mostly I now collect science ficti…
I've had a lot more luck with science fiction in professional shops than in charity shops. In the latter I tend to find only mainstream fiction and non-fiction. It's exceedingly rare to find any sci-fi at all. I wish I knew one where people brought it in.
One thing I enjoy is when people get rid of their computer science textbooks. They are sometimes older editions, but can be had for less than 10% of the original price. It's rare, though, so just have to keep going and take the opportunity when it arises.