Less is More?

Our new website is taking up quite a bit of my time and energy at the moment. I enthusiastically demonstrated our 'beta' version of it to a friend the other day, extolling the virtues of the improved search engine, increased product information, and (most importantly from my point of view) the simplicity involved in keeping it up to date when she said 'Aren't you just giving everyone all the information they need about a book for them to go and buy it cheaper elsewhere?'. Gulp. Uur. Well, I suppose you could look at it like that. Actually, why don't I just shut up shop now and leave the bookselling to Amaz... all those other online retailers?
I don't, purely because I think we can provide a better service. We have a phone number for one thing and many customers will ring for advice about their choice of book, we are happy to source hard-to-find books, we take bookstalls out to special events, we even allow customers to take a box load of books to look through/discuss with Church leaders and then buy some and return some. We have specialist knowledge in our own niche of Christian books and enjoy discussing the finer details of particular titles. I could go on and on... about the mail order customer who buys books obsessively and so for his own well being we tactfully try to limit his purchases... about the 'mad monk' who pops in and likes to discuss the details of Calvinism over Roman Catholicism... about the little old lady who phones for a couple of greetings cards and insists that I describe the picture in detail and read every part of the greeting out to her... about the grumpy local chap who calls in regularly but rarely buys anything. Surely, surely it is worth staying open for that! Okay, so we can't always compete on price, but I'm pretty sure we can compete on service. Try us!
Lorna

Just moaning!

The customer is always right - enough said. But because he is a customer does he therefore have the right to take liberties not accepted as polite in normal social circumstances? Some people seem to think that their money spent in the Shop secures a platform for their sermons / diatribes / non-book related questionings, etc. So my ear gets bent, and I have to smile - or do I? It's good for humility anyway. I end today trying not to feel disgruntled, but confessing to not being exactly gruntled either! Perhaps the 'Resources For Changing Lives' series of booklets we have in a splendid display unit could offer something. Although somewhat 'American' (published by P&R) they certainly touch on a range of subjects in small attractive booklets for only £1.75 each. I might need a dose of quite a number of them as the day goes by: Stress, ADD, Anger...
Jeremy

Customers who minister to us

Most customers we enjoy serving, some are more tricky, and some serve us! The latter are the ones I enjoy chatting to the most. They love to talk of the best things, the God they love. Often without realising it, they give us much food for thought. They leave the shop or put down the phone without realising that they have encouarged us to continue in our ministry with renewed enthusiasm. They have very simply shown us why we do what we do.
We have one particular gem of a customer. Naturally speaking she lives a lonely life, but she has her Bible and her Christian books, plus she is a great letter writer. It is through this that she enjoys Christian fellowship with a wide range of people. She visited the shop yesterday. Having lost her husband a few years ago she has also recently been bereaved of her son at a young age. She talked openly about her renewed struggle to understand the sovereignty of God. She mentioned a particular TBS greeting card that she purchased from our shop which she has found very helpful during this difficult period in her life. She wanted more so that she could send it to her many correspondents - both Christian and non-Christian. She wants them to understand who she turns to for her daily strength.
It is wonderful to hear when customers have found profit from the books/cards they buy from us.
Lorna
BTW, we stock the full range of TBS cards and Bibles. Check them out on their website - http://www.tbs-sales.org/