Bookseller Profile (2002)

Abebooks' uniqueness is our network of independent booksellers who work with us to provide the most diverse selection of rare, used and out-of-print books on the Internet. Take a moment and meet our member booksellers from around the globe. It is these booksellers, with their experience, commitment and love of the used and out-of-print book business who help all our buyers find that treasure they've been looking for.

How did you get started in bookselling?
Lee worked at another local bookstore and was searching for an out-of-print book for a customer. Her former boss did not support networking with other shops, so Lee did this on her own. The previous owner of our shop had the book Lee was looking for but stated she needed to get it soon as the shop was about to close its doors. We not only bought the book for the customer ... we bought the shop too!

Bookselling is not the easiest way to make a living. What keeps you doing it?
Phil is a Fireman working 24 hour shifts every three days allowing us to work together as a team most days. It has become an enjoyable way to spend time together. We have been married for 20 years and spend more time together now, than we ever have in the past. This shop has become much more than a job, it is a true labor of love, and we have found some very good friends among our customers. Over this past year Lee had to be away from the shop for an extended time to help care for her parents. Initially we were worried about the impact this would have on the business, but we were surprised by the strong support from friends, customers & fellow book dealers alike. It was a powerful lesson in generosity, compassion & friendship.

What is your specialty? How did you choose it?
We have no particular specialty, but we carry a wide variety of subjects. We like to try different things to see what people might want & are always looking for new ways to better meet customer needs. Being the only bookshop in our town gives us a slight edge, but we still take pride in providing good service to our community, and are keenly aware that folks can shop anywhere they like, but they choose to shop with us.

Do you collect anything besides books?
Stray animals. We have a little home in the rural county, outside of Seattle, and stray animals just seem to come our way, light up our lives for the rest of their lives, and when one leaves us, another always comes along. It is hard to have them with you for a short time, but we try to never turn one away.

Do you have a shop pet?
We have a Springer Spaniel named Wylie who loves to come to work with us, but he is still working on improving his manners, so he can be a regular visitor. Many of our customers seem to appreciate being able to bring their dogs in with them while they are out for a walk. It helps make the shop more customer friendly. Luckily, we've never had a "mishap" as a result.

What is the most unusual book you ever bought?
There are so many…but one that stands out was a traveler's guide to nude resorts around the world. Wooo Hoo!
 

Do you have any legendary stories you tell about incidents in your store or as a bookseller?
Well there was the day the next door neighbor's hot water tank broke and water flowed into our shop for over 24 hours on a weekend. (For some reason they didn't feel the need to let us know!) I don't need to tell you as booksellers what water does to paper. We lost about 1/4 of our inventory. A good Insurance agent can be your best friend at a time like that, or as in our case, he became our best customer. We received a fair settlement, the neighbors have a new water heater, and we learned an invaluable lesson about having stuff on the floor.

What are your favorite books, or your recommendations?
Lee recommends: All Over But the Shoutin', by Rick Bragg, because I find it is well written and it takes place in the area where I lived when I was young. Many things in the book are reminders of my childhood. Of course, the Lord of the Rings Series, always a good read. Phil recommends: True adventure, i.e. Into Thin Air and Climb. Also we enjoyed the Harry Potter Series ... bring on number 5.

Any other comments?
Buy the Book is a small family operated, neighborhood bookshop. We enjoy going beyond the norm for the industry. We work with other shops in our area, and don't consider them competition, but rather an asset. If we sell another stores' book ... it is more a customer service, and the customers have always come back. They usually bring their friends as well. Two years ago we had an earthquake in the Seattle area, causing extensive damage to business and homes. We actually had customers call and stop by the shop to see if we needed any help. I guess you can use that as a measure of what a small business like ours means to a small community. I can't help but wonder how many of the chain booksellers had their customers stop by to see if they needed help.

We would be remiss if we didn't take a moment to thank our many friends in the book selling community. We have been very fortunate to meet some truly wonderful people in other shops. In general, we have found other book dealers to be supportive of one another, generous with advice & willing to share lessons learned from past mistakes. They have welcomed us as friends and helped us immensely on our journey. We are indebted to them.

"What keeps us going", you ask? We love what we do, we love our customers & we have a strong sense of community. It's all good.

- Phil & Lee, Buy the Book