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Can You Afford to Be a Snob?

This was an actual poster put up in a Borders store that was closing.

There were three bullet points in there that bothered me (well, okay, the whole thing bothered me, but that’s another story).

  • We hate when a book becomes popular simply because it was turned into a movie.
  • Nicholas Sparks is not a good writer… If you like him, fine, but facts are facts.
  • Oprah was not the “final say” on what is awesome. We really didn’t care what was on her show or what her latest book club book was. Really.
Really? 
If I was a bookstore and Oprah said a book I sold was awesome, I would be loving it! I’d buy more. Make a fancy display. Sell the heck out of ’em.
If there was a writer that everyone wanted his or her books, as far as I would be concerned, if I had no moral judgment against the actual books, I would love that! I’d buy more. Make a fancy display. Sell the heck out of ’em.
If there was book I was selling that became more popular because it was turned into a movie, I would love that! I’d buy more. Make a fancy display. Sell the heck out of ’em.
After reading this poster, I often wonder if Borders went out of business because of Amazon or because of the attitude of the staff.
When the sun shines, make hay.
-Phil Wrzesinski
PS Some of you may be ready to call me out on this since there are certain toys I won’t sell, one of them being toys that are tied to a movie. My reasoning is that most of those items aren’t toys so much as novelties. If the toy has great play value first, the movie tie-in is wonderful. I have sold a ton of LEGO related to Star Wars, Harry Potter, and now Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit.  First it has to be something I would sell. Then if I get a movie tie-in, an endorsement from Oprah, or the general public falling in love with it – that’s a bonus I’m going to run with, not lament.  See the difference?

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