the book

I come home for lunch, and on my way into the building, stop to check the post.

Junk mail. And a flyer. A flyer from a local independent bookstore.

The interesting thing about this independent local bookstore is that: A: it looks like chapters inside, even has its own coffee bar; and B: it rarely has anything in stock that is advertised. In fact, you will likely find more empty spots on their "bestseller" wall, than you will find books. But nonetheless, it's an independent book store and that gives it more than chapters from the onset.

In today's world of advertising and instant gratification, I've almost come to believe that a retail store will advertise a "sale" when the sale is current. This book store has me on a mailing list, so the flyer is sent to my address; not just bulk post. I figure that if they've sent the flyer out, the sale is on.

There were a few titles that caught my eye, if only for reading a portion in the store, for free, and then leaving it on the shelf because it's not as good as the flyer led me to hope and believe.

But do not forget that this store is notorious for not having stock. Of the five or six books I saw in the flyer that would warrant a brief reading, only two were actually found in the store. One of the two was good enough to purchase.

I proceed to the counter to purchase the book. Wondering why the sale price was not applied to the sticker, I inquire: "Why is the sale price not listed on the price sticker?"

"The sale doesn't start until Thursday."

"But I got the flyer in the mail today. I figured that the sale would have started if I've already got the direct mailing flyer addressed to me."

"I'm sorry."

"So, you can't sell it to me at the sale price?"

"No."

"Can I buy it now, and then return it on Thursday, and then buy it again at the sale price?"

"No."

"Ok...But you will hold the book for me until Thursday, for free, and then I can buy it on Thursday at the sale price?"

"Yes."

"Well, that doesn't make any sense at all. I want to read it today. Isn't there anything you can do?"

"No, I don't make 'the rules', and I cannot change them."


Now, if I had not been with someone else, who was waiting over at the coffee bar for an attendant to come and start making our orders, I would have just said: "Ok then, I will just continue to read the book in the store today, for free, and finish it before leaving, therefore removing my desire and need to purchase the book. Then, because you couldn't see any way for me to purchase the book legitimately today at Thursday's sale price, you would forfeit the entire transaction and lose my business entirely. Not only would you be losing my business, but you would also allow me to read an entire book in the store without buying anything! Does that situation make sense to you?"

But I didn't say any of that. I just had the book placed on hold. I will buy it on Thursday at lunch, before my flight leaves.