Ripped off by Easons.

SuperInfinity

I bought a book today for about €21 only to find it available online at less than half that price. With shipping included it is delivered for about €11.82. What a rip-off. I could have gotten two similar books online.

I knew Easons were a little bit dearer, I thought it was like 20%. I didn't think that they would be getting away with murder on the lesser known books.

Denerick

The only shop that I will pay premium prices for is Hodges and Fidges in Dublin. I have no great love for the chain bookstores like Easons but the independent booksellers like Hodges and Fidges/Chapters are a vital resource for the Irish literary world, and it always helps to be able to 'stumble' upon something on a book buying spree.

alie

I always check Bookstation first, always much cheaper than Easons:)

hatful

Do you still have the receipt? Take it back and say exactly what you've said above. Btw Hodges Figgis aren't an independent.

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

Eliot Rosewater

Denerick wrote: »

The only shop that I will pay premium prices for is Hodges and Fidges in Dublin. I have no great love for the chain bookstores like Easons but the independent booksellers like Hodges and Fidges/Chapters are a vital resource for the Irish literary world, and it always helps to be able to 'stumble' upon something on a book buying spree.

That is, Hodges Figgis owned by the HMV Group?

thebullkf

SuperInfinity wrote: »

I bought a book today for about €21 only to find it available online at less than half that price. With shipping included it is delivered for about €11.82. What a rip-off. I could have gotten two similar books online.

I knew Easons were a little bit dearer, I thought it was like 20%. I didn't think that they would be getting away with murder on the lesser known books.

what made you check for the book online after you bought it

Sounds like an Easons bashing thread.

Chapters ftw.

Paddy Samurai

The only books I buy in shops,are if they are on Sale/Special offers,or second hand books.
Last weekend I was in Easons because someone gave me a gift voucher,but could'nt bring myself to pay the prices they are charging. So bought no books even though I seen a couple I liked.

I love wandering around bookstores in general ,but rarely buy.While I do pick up the odd book ,more often than not I take photos on my mobile of the ones I am intersted in,and buy online later.I will pay a couple of euro more ,to support irish businesses,but not double the price.

cailinoBAC

I have to agree with Denerick re Hodges Figgis. Yes, I am aware that it is owned by HMV, but it doesn’t seem to run like a chain. I hope that doesn’t change now that Waterstones across the road is gone. Also, I’m a sucker for the loyalty card. I think it’s quite common these days to find books 50% cheaper on the internet. But I’m living in Spain now and one of the things I do every time I’m home is go into Hodges Figgis and buy up a load of books. Sometimes if I’m not sure I write the name down to check out later and buy online but I’ve only bought 2 books online since I moved out and one of them didn’t arrive. I love shopping for books almost as much as reading them, so whatever the ownership, I like supporting HF. I’ve never been as fond of Chapters for some reason.

Sorry, kind of off topic I know, but in respect of the orginal post, when I am impulse buying in shops I usually wouldn’t spend over €10/€12 on a book. When you start getting above that, it’s definitely time to shop around, whether on internet or in other bookstores.

ScouseMouse

hatful wrote: »

Do you still have the receipt? Take it back and say exactly what you've said above. Btw Hodges Figgis aren't an independent.

But you are still not entitled to a refund.

If they give you one, thats fine, but it would be goodwill only and you cannot do anything about it.

ztoical

superscouse wrote: »

But you are still not entitled to a refund.

If they give you one, thats fine, but it would be goodwill only and you cannot do anything about it.

Having worked for Easons for a number of years I can say their returns policy is pretty good. Unless a book had clearly been read [ie spine all cracked] or had stickers for a different store [you'd be surprised how many people try to return chapters books to Easons, seriously people take the stickers off] we would refund if there was a receipt or no receipt you'd get an exchange or store credit. People often came in with books they'd bought months ago still in the bag clearly unread and the manager would refund it.

With regard to independant book stores in Ireland people should be aware that the vast majority of them order via Easons wholesale.

SuperInfinity

And they will give me my money back completely if I have the receipt, not vouchers that I have to spend in the store losing another couple of euro?

Asphyxia

I always shop around when looking for a particular book I wouldn't even bother with Easons they're so overriced! Amazon and the Book depository are my usual haunts when looking for books.

SuperInfinity

Why does anyone ever bother going to them at all? Don't they care about throwing money away, or do they just not realize how much they're charging?

maximoose

You went into Easons, saw the book you wanted for €21 and thought that was an acceptable price at the time and bought the book.

THEN you decided to actually shop around, and found that you could have got it elsewhere for much cheaper.


Pfft your own fault, noone forced you to buy the book in Easons :rolleyes:

Its happened to everyone, just shop around in future.

Toby Take a Bow

cailinoBAC wrote: »

I have to agree with Denerick re Hodges Figgis. Yes, I am aware that it is owned by HMV, but it doesn’t seem to run like a chain. I hope that doesn’t change now that Waterstones across the road is gone.

It's already started. The week that Waterstone's across the road shut up shop, Hodges Figgis started selling the same chocolates (yes, chocolates ffs). I presume they got them from Waterstone's. They're now doing the 3for2 offer (albeit a limited offer, but I'm sure it'll expand shortly)* and I saw recently they've introduced those 'if you spend X amount, get this book you didn't really want previously for slightly less than the RRP.

I will say that sometimes the 3for2 offer is great, and in the case of their Vintage Classics 3for2, it is indeed a great offer, but the more a shop concentrates on 3for2, the less budget they will have for range (if you have to buy 100 copies of x, then you won't be able to buy 100 copies of individual books).

It also doesn't feel busier since Waterstone's shut up shop. How'd that happen?

Re Eason, the only way they're 'ripping you off' is if they're charging above the RRP or if the conversion rate is bad (which it is in Eason's). Just because a shop isn't giving you a significant discount doesn't mean they're ripping you off. As people have said previously, shop around.

temply

Stopped shopping there a good few years ago now. Total rip off, I do most of my book shopping online these days, book depositry is a favourite of mine. I also pick up a good few bargains in various charity shops around the city. Easons can jog on! Am so surprised they are still in business with the money they charge!

diddlybit

I really destest buying books online. Nothing beats browsing and finding something unexpected. Saying that, I would rather buy online than in Eason's, it's like a cattle market, and the choice isn't great. Love Books Upstairs and Hodges Figgis, could lose myself for hours in those.

Denerick

Eliot Rosewater wrote: »

That is, Hodges Figgis owned by the HMV Group?

I feel so wronged!!! They give the impression of an indepedent bookseller and everything.

Now I have to re-evaluate everything I ever stood for

Fuinseog

SuperInfinity wrote: »

I bought a book today for about €21 only to find it available online at less than half that price. With shipping included it is delivered for about €11.82. What a rip-off. I could have gotten two similar books online.

I knew Easons were a little bit dearer, I thought it was like 20%. I didn't think that they would be getting away with murder on the lesser known books.

I once saw a book in Easons for 10 Euro in one section of the shop and for 20 in another. they obviously forgot to change the price. I still shop at Easons but for a broader election and people who know their books I look elsewhere.

Fuinseog

SuperInfinity wrote: »

I bought a book today for about €21 only to find it available online at less than half that price. With shipping included it is delivered for about €11.82. What a rip-off. I could have gotten two similar books online.

I knew Easons were a little bit dearer, I thought it was like 20%. I didn't think that they would be getting away with murder on the lesser known books.

DVD boxsets in HMV can cost 55 Euro, The same boxset can be delivered to your door with amazon for 20.

vicwatson

www.bookdepository.co.uk - unfortunately always cheaper than Easons, I wish I could buy from Ireland but I'm afraid price matters for exact same book.

Toby Take a Bow

Toby Take a Bow wrote: »

It's already started. The week that Waterstone's across the road shut up shop, Hodges Figgis started selling the same chocolates (yes, chocolates ffs). I presume they got them from Waterstone's.

Waterstone's and Hodges Figgis are one and the same. Worked there for a weeks work experience when I was 16 and I was told they are owned by Waterstone's. Did a quick google there and Wikipedia says that HF is part of WS which is owned by HMV.

I do love Hodges Figgis though, it's the atmosphere and selection. It's like a temple to books, with the big staircase at the front but also little nooks and crannies here and there. And they had War and Peace for €2.99 a few months back!

BostonB

I don't get it. You know they are expensive, and you bought it anyway. Knowing you can get it elsewere cheaper.

You ripped yourself off.

temply

BostonB wrote: »

I don't get it. You know they are expensive, and you bought it anyway. Knowing you can get it elsewere cheaper.

You ripped yourself off.

Yup - oh I could lose myself for hours in a book shop... you're paying over the odds for that experience, go and loose yourself for hours so, note what you want, and then go online and buy your choices for a lot cheaper!

I love HF for their large scifi&fantasy section. The shop itself is lovely as well.
Otherwise it's usually online for me.

You are not entitled to anything back but Easons may be nice about giving you a refund. Just shop around in future.

BostonB

Of course if everyone does that, they'll close. Borders....sniff....

But I take and accept the point 20% maybe but 100%, eeek. They've priced themselves out of my budget anyway. I'm back to the library, and bargains on amazon. Unless I'm stuck traveling without something to read.

Caros

vicwatson wrote: »

www.bookdepository.co.uk - unfortunately always cheaper than Easons, I wish I could buy from Ireland but I'm afraid price matters for exact same book.

Thanks so much for the link to this, just saw a book I bought Sunday and it's less than half price on the site! Will deffo be spending my book euros there in future!

Giselle

thebullkf wrote: »

what made you check for the book online after you bought it

It just happens. Last year I bought a boxed set of six titles in a series for about 70e, to see the same boxset on Amazon the next day for 21e.

Its really annoying.:(

Coriolanus

Denerick wrote: »

The only shop that I will pay premium prices for is Hodges and Fidges in Dublin. I have no great love for the chain bookstores like Easons but the independent booksellers like Hodges and Fidges/Chapters are a vital resource for the Irish literary world, and it always helps to be able to 'stumble' upon something on a book buying spree.

Hidges Figgis is owned by the HMV group though. Hardly "independent".

Autosport

I love Easons and I love going to Easons and spending hours there but now its over in an hour due to the fact its nearly empty, Are they closing some of their stores???? I'm scared

Triamour

Okay, so while I understand entirely that everyone needs to look for the best value they can get, especially nowadays, I can't let this one slide...

I work in an independent bookshop, and we are not a rip-off. I would wager that most bookshops aren't, and certainly not most independent shops. What happens is we have to charge the RRP (converted into euro from sterling, or dollars, or whatever it is, and usually rounded down at that). The reason people see books on Amazon and the like for half the price they'd see the book for in a shop is NOT because the shop is ripping people off. The shop is charging the correct price for the book, the price which has been set by the publisher, and which reflects the price that the shop itself has been charged by the publisher.

What Amazon can do is demand massive price reductions and discounts from publishers, which allows it to then sell books on at (sometimes) massively reduced prices. Amazon basically has publishers over a barrel, and is slowly driving them, as well as bookshops, completely out of business.

So, by all means, spend your money wherever you want to spend it. But I am just driven mad by people who think bookshops are wilfully overcharging people and then laughing all the way to the bank. Amazon is going to spell the end of the book and publishing industries, and eventually there will be no choice in where to buy books (or, possibly, music), no more bookshops, no more dedicated and talented booksellers with their oodles of esoteric knowledge. And once Amazon has us all under its thrall, what do you think will happen to prices then?

Not a world I want to see or live in. But one which is coming.

BostonB

Amazon or Google. I read ebooks but I still prefer a physical book.

Looking Glass

I love TBD, but every single book that I've ever gotten from them has been damaged, if only slightly. Nothing major, but it'd have a funny looking crease on the cover, or in the case of a Vintage Classic would have the edges of the cover pealing back a tad showing white underneath. If you're browsing in a shop what you see is quite literally what you get - no worries about beaten up looking books when you can pick which one you want!

kippy

News at 11.
SHOCK - Buying almost anything online is generally cheaper than buying in bricks and mortar store.......

I though most people knew this fact at this stage and appreciated some of the reasons why this is the case?

SuperInfinity

Looking Glass wrote: »

I love TBD, but every single book that I've ever gotten from them has been damaged, if only slightly. Nothing major, but it'd have a funny looking crease on the cover, or in the case of a Vintage Classic would have the edges of the cover pealing back a tad showing white underneath. If you're browsing in a shop what you see is quite literally what you get - no worries about beaten up looking books when you can pick which one you want!

I have never experienced this. In my experience it's been the opposite: any books that are labelled "like new" or "very good condition" seem almost new. Meanwhile second-hand books in stores are a lot more likely to look "beaten up".

Once a second-hand book I got had university of arizona or something stamped on it, lol. That's it.

angel01

This is exactly why I bought a kindle, I can get all the books I need or want for next to nothing!

I bought Room by Emma Donoghue on my kindle for £2.99 which converted to about 3 Euro something. That book is in Easons for €8.99 or something.

I bought about 5 books on the Amazon UK store and that was worth less than 5 pounds.. will never use a regular book shop again!

Travel is good

I just saw this in the paper this morning:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2011/0617/1224299069100.html

So it looks like Eason's might be safe for a while, hopefully. I'm not a fan of Easons, but there are fewer and fewer book shops to browse around these days. I certainly don't want to see any more of them disappearing. You just can't beat the experience of physically handling the book and coming across an interesting read. It's harder to do that on the internet, as you normally have to know what you're looking for.

A question for the kindle owners - are the kindle versions cheaper? Anytime I look on Amazon the kindle books seem to be expensive. I don't have a kindle yet, but yesterday managed to download a free book from TBD onto my i-pad. These days I prefer to pay as little as possible for my books! Though I know, that means I'm putting the bricks and mortar stores at risk.

Callan57

Was never a fan of Eason's much preferred Waterstone's or Hughes & Hughes
.... I'm a Kindle convert too

baconsarnie

no more bookshops, no more dedicated and talented booksellers with their oodles of esoteric knowledge

Exactly. Serious readers need to keep this in mind.

I'm far from loaded and occasionally buy some titles from Amazon (particularly hard to reach books), but by and large i buy my books (and plenty of them- i see it as one of my few indulgences in life) from my local independent bookstore.

Not because I'm some form of altruistic angel, but for purely selfish reasons. I like the idea of the town i live in having a top quality bookshop with well-read staff, with well-stocked shelves. I'm no Luddite but my preference will always be to visit a bricks & mortar bookstore, do some browsing (possibly reading a few of the opening pages to make a judgment) and who knows, maybe even a chat with the staff about books (or other matters).

Manach

To reiterate a few points. Yes that on-line bookshops are cheaper and I do purchase books there. However the local bookshop people have know me for years and have an excellent taste in books
- so I reckon both types can co-exist.

Giselle

Manach wrote: »

To reiterate a few points. Yes that on-line bookshops are cheaper and I do purchase books there. However the local bookshop people have know me for years and have an excellent taste in books
- so I reckon both types can co-exist.

I don't think they can co-exist long term. If more books are bought online than in the bricks and mortar shops and online sellers consistently undercut the shops because of bulk-buying or whatever, sooner or later the uncompetitive shops will go under.

Its a real shame.

SuperInfinity

Giselle wrote: »

I don't think they can co-exist long term. If more books are bought online than in the bricks and mortar shops and online sellers consistently undercut the shops because of bulk-buying or whatever, sooner or later the uncompetitive shops will go under.

Its a real shame.

I agree. I feel the extra money is going towards paying the people at the tills, the police you see around, the renting out of a lot of space in a city centre, and the CEOs and managers etc. As a business model, the Amazon one makes more sense one would think.

As for the kindle, some books on the kindle are significantly more than their physical books price. So I don't know where that person is getting the idea of: " I can get all the books I need or want for next to nothing!". Maybe they just recently got their kindle or something....

I also think a physical book is significantly better though I have nothing against e-readers.

angel01

SuperInfinity wrote: »

I agree. I feel the extra money is going towards paying the people at the tills, the police you see around, the renting out of a lot of space in a city centre, and the CEOs and managers etc. As a business model, the Amazon one makes more sense one would think.

As for the kindle, some books on the kindle are significantly more than their physical books price. So I don't know where that person is getting the idea of: " I can get all the books I need or want for next to nothing!". Maybe they just recently got their kindle or something....

I also think a physical book is significantly better though I have nothing against e-readers.

I bought one book for £2.99, one book for 68p, one for 49p - you tell me where I can beat that? If I wanted, I could pick free books to read and not have to pay a penny...

I have never seen a kindle book being more expensive than a regular book, not sure where you are getting that idea from and kindle books from Amazon UK are dirt cheap (least the ones I want to buy are anyway!!) ..

Seems to me, like you are anti e-readers :rolleyes: I love my kindle and will never use either a regular book store or go back to lugging books around. Excellent invention.

SuperInfinity

angel01 wrote: »

I bought one book for £2.99, one book for 68p, one for 49p - you tell me where I can beat that? If I wanted, I could pick free books to read and not have to pay a penny...

I have never seen a kindle book being more expensive than a regular book, not sure where you are getting that idea from and kindle books from Amazon UK are dirt cheap (least the ones I want to buy are anyway!!) ..

Seems to me, like you are anti e-readers :rolleyes: I love my kindle and will never use either a regular book store or go back to lugging books around. Excellent invention.

angel01, can you please stop using smileys like that? To kind of "tut-tut" what someone else has said. It's obnoxious and doesn't add anything to the discussion. This is not just against you, I find it annoying in general.

Here's a topic discussing the price of kindle books and how some are more expensive, especially popular books:

http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php?topic=25299.0

angel01

SuperInfinity wrote: »

angel01, can you please stop using smileys like that? To kind of "tut-tut" what someone else has said. It's obnoxious and doesn't add anything to the discussion. This is not just against you, I find it annoying in general.

Here's a topic discussing the price of kindle books and how some are more expensive, especially popular books:

http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php?topic=25299.0

In fairness to you, I will use what smileys I like, they are quoting Amazon US prices (which are a bit on the pricey side) UK store is cheap though...:)

Coriolanus

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CAn't buy any of them here though, or am I missing something?

angel01

Nevore wrote: »

CAn't buy any of them here though, or am I missing something?

My address is listed to the UK and bought lots of books through the Amazon UK store.

Coriolanus

That's a rather niche case then. For the vast majority of people in this country, a kindle isn't going to be a whole lot of use for reading anything other than books that are out of their life+70 restriction.

FloatingVoter

When you can drop a Kindle in the bath or lend it to a mate and not worry too much if it comes back or not, I'll care about the toy.
As for books, they're a bit like DVDs. See the book in Easons etc. (interesting, buy it online with a few more to get the free postage).
As for DVDs...they're free aren't they ?

crotalus667

Triamour wrote: »

I work in an independent bookshop, and we are not a rip-off. I would wager that most bookshops aren't, and certainly not most independent shops. What happens is we have to charge the RRP (converted into euro from sterling, or dollars, or whatever it is, and usually rounded down at that). The reason people see books on Amazon and the like for half the price they'd see the book for in a shop is NOT because the shop is ripping people off. The shop is charging the correct price for the book, the price which has been set by the publisher, and which reflects the price that the shop itself has been charged by the publisher.

What Amazon can do is demand massive price reductions and discounts from publishers, which allows it to then sell books on at (sometimes) massively reduced prices. Amazon basically has publishers over a barrel, and is slowly driving them, as well as bookshops, completely out of business.

So, by all means, spend your money wherever you want to spend it. But I am just driven mad by people who think bookshops are wilfully overcharging people and then laughing all the way to the bank. Amazon is going to spell the end of the book and publishing industries, and eventually there will be no choice in where to buy books (or, possibly, music), no more bookshops, no more dedicated and talented booksellers with their oodles of esoteric knowledge. And once Amazon has us all under its thrall, what do you think will happen to prices then?
.

easons whole sales to alot of shops so they do have alot of buying power publisher's cant "set a price" thats called price fixing shops chose what price to sell them at, a bricks and morter shop has more over heads and a smaller pool of clients so basicaly online shops simply have a better buisness plan, i do tend to buy books in bricks and morter shops but it's only the impulse buys if i know what book i want it's online all the way i have spent too many wasted trips to pick up a book that has not arrived at the bricks and morter shop and then when it is there i ge tcharged threw the nose for it