It Goes Both Ways
Time for yet another unpopular opinion. See, I really do want to support small, independent bookstores. I’d like to believe we’re in this together, so to speak. But that’s an idealistic, unrealistic view. Because, as with so many things in this f***ed up world, it actually comes down to money.
I live in an area that has an indie bookstore “chain” (there are two locations) and a Barnes & Noble. We also have a Half Price Books about 20 or so minutes away. That’s pretty much it, sadly; I suppose most people order their books online and/or utilise the libraries. (I’m a library person myself.) Well, and our central library branch has a small bookstore made up of donations and discards, too.
In any case, as a local indie author, I have tried many times to get our indie bookstore to stock my titles. I’ve asked about doing events, etc. When I go to the store in person to chat and ask about the possibilities, I’m always told to send an email, and I’ve done that numerous times and never received a response.
Now, before you assume I am someone walking off the street and asking for favors, let me be clear that I used to patronize this store regularly. You know, before they made it clear they have no interest in supporting local talent. Because they finally did order seven books (mine are available via Ingram with the usual discount and are returnable), four of one title and three of another. They did this, not because of my persistence, but because I was part of an author event where they were to be the on-site bookstore handling purchases. They’d “forgotten” to order my books in previous years, leaving me on the hook to provide my own stock, so at the last event, I stayed on top of the organizers to ensure the bookstore would have stock (because I had run out of my own and didn’t have time or money to order more). Finally, the bookstore (begrudgingly, I imagine) ordered a few books.
Then immediately returned all but one after the event.
I understand that smaller bookstores have limited shelf space. I understand that they have to lean into whatever is popular to stay competitive, if not simply to stay afloat. Customers are often looking for something familiar—something they’ve seen on TikTok, or an author with a recognizable name. But indie bookstores, more than larger chains, are positioned to hand sell lesser-known titles. They are the ones who should be recommending indie books to readers: “Oh, you liked X? Have you heard of Y?”
Not all indie bookstores are like this one, I’m sure. But I henceforth refuse to recommend my local indie bookstore. I will go to B&N first, or order from another store, before giving any more of my money to this one. I was prepared to have their back, but they just keep putting knives in mine, and my motto for this year and going forward is:
They’ve actively not chosen me, repeatedly, and I’m prepared to return the favor. My lack of patronage probably won’t make a difference to them anyway, but it will make me feel quite a bit better.