When readers attend author events at an independent bookstore, should they always buy the writer’s book from that store?
Lissa Muscatine and Bradley Graham, the owners of Politics & Prose bookstore, urged readers to buy at the bookstore arranging the author signing and asked their readers: “why should anonymous, distant Amazon or a big chain profit from all of the indie’s work?” What do you think? Here’s an excerpt from the post:
Politics & Prose has long resisted charging admission for events or requiring customers to buy books for signings. And we have no plans to change this approach. We’re fortunate that the vast majority of people who shop at P&P and attend P&P events are deeply loyal to the store and to the idea of buying local and sustaining community-based institutions.we’re occasionally reminded—as we were last week when a gentleman stood in line to get signed a book he had purchased on Amazon—that some customers are not aware why it matters to buy local. Yes, the book may be cheaper elsewhere. But bricks-and-mortar stores like P&P offer programs that enable customers to meet authors, receive personal advice from expert staff, take classes with others in their communities, and join public book groups. We hope never to have to change our policy of free events or to start policing where books signed by authors at our events were purchased.”