[doomed]

Chapters is my favourite book shop.

Its a bit eccentric but the value on remaindered books is excellent. Never had a bad experience there.

[spanx]

Originally Posted by Finneen

The next time I'm in Chapters .....

Maybe you shouldn't go in there again. Then you wouldn't be so upset.

[Fuinseog]

Originally Posted by cloud493

How do you buy a DVD without taking it off the shelf?

cannot say I have had that experience but the second hand dvds are selling at 5 euro. in some cases you can get them cheaper new. most places would want to shift dvds as they are becoming outdated.

I think down stairs with its new books is better value than its second hand stock.

[dukedalton]

Originally Posted by Grievous

Haha, I know the guy you are all on about. I don't know him personally but I am going in to Chapters years.

It's wierd, because Chapters is one of my favourite bookstores ever (C'mon, no amount of ****ty staff could ruin how awesome their second hand section is).

I think I remember another member of the staff there saying to Mr Obnoxious about some guy leaving his CV in and he responded by saying "I asked him out on a date, and he said no, he clearly didn't want the job!).

Yes, rude and imposing and intimidating, but that moment made me laugh in a horrible bosses sort of way.

I've been going to Chapters for about 15 years. When I was a student I loved going to their downstairs, second-hand section in Abbey Street and having a good root around. I remember in late 2006/early 2007 I had just started going out with a girl (a fellow book-lover) and feeling excited bringing her for her first visit to my Mecca, only to be devastated by the "Closed" sign on the door- but then being amazed at the size of the new store on Parnell Street. Even though the second hand section was quite smaller than it is now, I remember thinking at the time it was the largest second hand bookstore I'd ever been in. Happy memories

I did bring a couple of books there to trade one time, but they wouldn't accept them, for a variety of reasons. To be honest, I think seeing as how their second hand prices are so low, you can't reasonably expect to get anything but rock bottom prices for them. At the end of the day, you are bringing them there because you want to get rid of them- they aren't necessarily going to be as desperate to have them.

As for the comments about that certain individual, I know who you are talking about I remember being upstairs one time and hearing two other members of staff talking about him, questioning whether it was natural for someone to be so fussy (not the term they used, but "fussy" is the only polite word I can think of )

[LiamMc]

I have been trading with Chapters since the early 1990's, there are at least two strong personalities in their store. I am sure both of them feel they are entitled to their opinions.

If you need to trade then unfortunately the in house credit is the best value. There will be something a customer can eventually put it towards. One novel, map, travel guide to a place they are going to or uncherished Christmas Present.
The range is very good and only online have I bought specific books cheaper.

In 2001 the nombre un asked a French member of staff if a 1993 Michelin Map de Paris was too old. "yes, far too old" was the reply. If a business is denying Irish Tourists accurate information on Paris, where do we go from here.

The lift has been out of order, which an inconvenience.

[Desmond_T]

Here' a copy of a letter I have written to chapters, about my bad experience there last Friday (November 23rd, 2012):

To Whom It Concerns:

I wish to draw attention to your acceptance policy, and the implementation thereof, of secondhand books at your shop.

Last Friday (November 23rd) I went in to sell two hardback books for credit, in your upstairs department, and the woman behind the counter (whose name I did not ask for, but who I will hereinafter refer to as ‘Tweedy Bitch’, or TB for short), informed me: “These books are new, we only take secondhand books.” I was rather flummoxed at her logic, but managed to inquire: “I don’t understand: if I’ve owned them, then they are secondhand.” To which she replied, “No, I’m not taking them.”

So I make my way out, and it is only as I am halfway down the stairs that the penny drops: she thinks the books are stolen. I decide to go back to the counter to say my piece: “You think they’re stolen, don’t you?” To which Tweedy Bitch replies: “I didn’t say that.”

I then explain: “I’m a book reviewer, that’s where I get them from.” To which TB has the audacity to respond: “Why didn’t you say that?”, as though the onus is on me to prove the books were not stolen. So I retort: “You didn’t ask.”
This terminated our exchange, with no apology forthcoming.

The point is that TB presumed the books were stolen, yet would not give me an adequate explanation as to why she would not accept the books. Furthermore, she implied that it was up to me to prove the books are not stolen, even though I was completely unaware of her suspicions.

I am not accustomed to being treated like a common thief, nor as a receiver and seller of stolen goods. I have been reviewing books for nigh on twenty years, for a wide variety of Irish and international newspapers, magazines, and journals:

http://www.desmondtraynor.com/books.html

yet never before have I encountered such an obnoxious and condescending attitude in selling unwanted books, or books I have multiple copies of, which presumes an ulterior and illegal motive for selling newly or recently published books.

Suffice to say, I will not be buying or selling in Chapters ever again. My only regret is that I have done business there in the past, and spent money there (all of which seems to count for naught). In future, I will stick to favouring southside secondhand bookshops with my custom, such as The Secret Book and Record Shop, on Wicklow Street, with whom I enacted a much friendlier transaction later in the day, for the same books). A quick internet search shows that your (bad) reputation goes before you:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...p?t=2056533617

I will also be letting all my colleagues in the National Union of Journalists know about my negative and humiliating experience in chapters, which will hopefully do some more damage to your business, however slight.

Yours sincerely,

___________________
DESMOND TRAYNOR

[ElleEm]

I would encourage you to omit the nickname for the staff member from your letter.

Regardless of her attitude, noone will take a letter seriously where you resort to insulting a member of staff through name calling. There is no need.

[cloud493]

I'd agree with that. Name calling wont get you anywhere. Although I will add my business in chapters has decreased significantly recently.

[Agent J]

A Single thread on a single forum with people defending chapters itself doesn't really count as a bad reputation on the internet.

Naming calling & region snobbery is really unbecoming of a person & will get your complaint zero attention.

And the complaint is a bit silly really imho.

If they'd said they suspected the books were stolen you'd be up in arms at that.

[hooplah]

Originally Posted by Agent J

If they'd said they suspected the books were stolen you'd be up in arms at that.

Absolutely.

I have also bought what were obviously 'Advance reading copies' in the second hand setion before the books official release date so I'd imagine they would have no problem taking them if you had said you were a reviewer first.

From talking to people who work in bookshops there seems to be a fair amount of theft and attempted sales to other shops. It would seem good practice for Chapters to query sales that encourage theft from other bookshops.

[CatFromHue]

Originally Posted by Desmond_T

Here' a copy of a letter I have written to chapters, about my bad experience there last Friday (November 23rd, 2012):

To Whom It Concerns:

I wish to draw attention to your acceptance policy, and the implementation thereof, of secondhand books at your shop.

Last Friday (November 23rd) I went in to sell two hardback books for credit, in your upstairs department, and the woman behind the counter (whose name I did not ask for, but who I will hereinafter refer to as ‘Tweedy Bitch’, or TB for short), informed me: “These books are new, we only take secondhand books.” I was rather flummoxed at her logic, but managed to inquire: “I don’t understand: if I’ve owned them, then they are secondhand.” To which she replied, “No, I’m not taking them.”

So I make my way out, and it is only as I am halfway down the stairs that the penny drops: she thinks the books are stolen. I decide to go back to the counter to say my piece: “You think they’re stolen, don’t you?” To which Tweedy Bitch replies: “I didn’t say that.”

I then explain: “I’m a book reviewer, that’s where I get them from.” To which TB has the audacity to respond: “Why didn’t you say that?”, as though the onus is on me to prove the books were not stolen. So I retort: “You didn’t ask.”
This terminated our exchange, with no apology forthcoming.

The point is that TB presumed the books were stolen, yet would not give me an adequate explanation as to why she would not accept the books. Furthermore, she implied that it was up to me to prove the books are not stolen, even though I was completely unaware of her suspicions.

I am not accustomed to being treated like a common thief, nor as a receiver and seller of stolen goods. I have been reviewing books for nigh on twenty years, for a wide variety of Irish and international newspapers, magazines, and journals:

http://www.desmondtraynor.com/books.html

yet never before have I encountered such an obnoxious and condescending attitude in selling unwanted books, or books I have multiple copies of, which presumes an ulterior and illegal motive for selling newly or recently published books.

Suffice to say, I will not be buying or selling in Chapters ever again. My only regret is that I have done business there in the past, and spent money there (all of which seems to count for naught). In future, I will stick to favouring southside secondhand bookshops with my custom, such as The Secret Book and Record Shop, on Wicklow Street, with whom I enacted a much friendlier transaction later in the day, for the same books). A quick internet search shows that your (bad) reputation goes before you:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...p?t=2056533617

I will also be letting all my colleagues in the National Union of Journalists know about my negative and humiliating experience in chapters, which will hopefully do some more damage to your business, however slight.

Yours sincerely,

___________________
DESMOND TRAYNOR

You come out of this far worse then they do.

From your letter I fail to see how the staff were "obnoxious and condescending attitude" to you. It's your letter that is "obnoxious and condescending" if you ask me.

[hyperborean]

I have never had a bad experience in Chapters,


just say lioke,

[dukedalton]

Originally Posted by Desmond_T

I then explain: “I’m a book reviewer, that’s where I get them from.” To which TB has the audacity to respond: “Why didn’t you say that?”, as though the onus is on me to prove the books were not stolen.

With all due respect, if it's something you're trying to sell, the onus is on you to prove the goods are not stolen.

I don't think geographical snobbery or calling people names will get you anywhere either, to be honest.

[Desmond_T]

To dukedalton:

Indeed, I should have gone into the shop and said:

"Madam, I'd like to sell these books for credit. And by the way, they are NOT stolen."

The geographical snobbery and name-calling is intentionally offensive, in response to the offense caused to me.

[Desmond_T]

To hooplah:

They didn't query it. They presumed.