BOOKOFF Values Only Book Condition

For visitors from Writer's Digest Forum, the title answers the burning question left yesterday: what is this book store's unique new business model?

Back story: a colorful, tabloid half-page ad a local give-away attracted me to a new used book store opening. One of the few U.S. outlets of the Japanese giant BOOKOFF opened in San Diego yesterday. The lure for me? They buy books -- and CDs, DVDs, and games (presumably video).

My experience trying to discover how much they would pay for assorted books and four Frank Sinatra CDs was astonishing. They offered ten cents per CD and $2.50 for a primo first edition new, top novel with a retail price of $26. In that aspect, BOOKOFF is no different from any other business attempting to make a profit: buy low, sell high.

Although language problems were a high barrier to an information exchange, repeated questioning of employees elicited the idea that this company has a "new business model". Nothing matters about an item a customer hopes to sell to them, except its condition. Not content, author, autograph, or bestseller status. One woman demonstrated how "We wipe off covers" before, as their English web page states, "reuse of books."

To be more fair and accurate, I think the business information online indicates that the innovative business model is recycling, and nowhere could I find this stress on books' conditions. Perhaps this new staff was overly trained in this aspect of evaluation.

"So," I asked, "your customers would be, say, people decorating a home, who want a nice-looking set of books for a shelf?" I've heard of such, but never see a store dedicated to that idea.

Indeed, the rows of books I perused looked fine. All hard-bound copies had flawless slip cases marred only by the BOOKOFF stickers, at about half the original prices. Of course, I did find Stephen King's On Writing in the "Novels" section. Across the aisle was a section labeled "Nonfiction". Not signs that encourage a return visit.

And what is so innovative about recycling, anyway? Just another used book store.