One thing people don’t understand it that it is not possible for any bookstore to have every book ever published in stock. A book’s popularity determines its shelf life. Shelf life is how long a book will stay on a shelf and if it is ordered back in. If the book doesn’t sell, it might only have a shelf life of a couple of months and then it is returned to the publisher to gather dust. So if the book you need was printed in 1979 and we haven’t carried it in the last year…then don’t be surprised we don‘t have it.
Some people will go as far as loudly announcing that the book they are looking for is “a classic” and that we should have it. First of all, if it’s written in 1979 it is not a classic…it would be a modern classic. And second of all if it was a modern classic…we would have it. After explaining that to a particular customer I encountered his face turned red, he let out an angry sigh and told me “You guys should change that stupid policy so true writers can be read.” It seems that this “true writer” had his chance in 1979 and failed. It looks like it’s someone else’s turn on the shelf.
Remember, when you are yelling at this bookseller behind the counter, they do not control what books are carried. I know, I know…the bookseller works in a bookstore so they must have the utmost highest power and control of the store. Unfortunately we booksellers are just normal people who are hired to stand at a desk, help people find books, and take their money. That’s it. We have no power over what happens in the store…we don’t have a direct line to the owner of the bookstore to pass on your complaint…And Frankly, we don’t give a shit.
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