They don’t appear … They don’t appear to be much of an antiquarian bookstore, just ‘used’. Every used bookstore is bound to have some antiquarian at some point but it’s almost by accident. The smaller stores with larger antiquarian inventory have been much more generous in my experience. But one near me, very very similar to John King for date of establishment, store size, variety, etc., rarely gives out discounts. The owner is somewhat infamous so I don’t normally ask anyway; all the others are automatic savings.
Then you’ve been … Then you’ve been allowing yourself to get swindled, my friend. I too have shopped antiquarian books in many different States and (almost) every seller haggles if you just try. If a book is priced at $100, then tell the seller “I can do $90 if I pay cash” and see what happens. Trust me, haggling is a tradition of the trade.
I was not impressed … I was not impressed by this store. It is huge and they have a lot of stuff but I was shocked when I was informed that the prices are not negotiable! I have never encountered another book store anywhere that wasn’t willing to negotiate the price of most any book in their stock. It is a long standing tradition of the antiquarian book trade. Anyway, I still shop at John King’s store occasionally but I try not to if I can help it–because half the fun in buying is the haggling!
For Amy, a visit to that wonderful storehouse of used & rare books in downtown Detroit, John King Used & Rare Books…part one
January 16th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
They don’t appear …
They don’t appear to be much of an antiquarian bookstore, just ‘used’. Every used bookstore is bound to have some antiquarian at some point but it’s almost by accident. The smaller stores with larger antiquarian inventory have been much more generous in my experience. But one near me, very very similar to John King for date of establishment, store size, variety, etc., rarely gives out discounts. The owner is somewhat infamous so I don’t normally ask anyway; all the others are automatic savings.
January 16th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
lol i love that …
lol i love that place
January 16th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Then you’ve been …
Then you’ve been allowing yourself to get swindled, my friend. I too have shopped antiquarian books in many different States and (almost) every seller haggles if you just try. If a book is priced at $100, then tell the seller “I can do $90 if I pay cash” and see what happens. Trust me, haggling is a tradition of the trade.
January 16th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
I’ve never been to …
I’ve never been to a used book store that haggles, and I’ve been to used book stores all around the country.
January 16th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
I was not impressed …
I was not impressed by this store. It is huge and they have a lot of stuff but I was shocked when I was informed that the prices are not negotiable! I have never encountered another book store anywhere that wasn’t willing to negotiate the price of most any book in their stock. It is a long standing tradition of the antiquarian book trade. Anyway, I still shop at John King’s store occasionally but I try not to if I can help it–because half the fun in buying is the haggling!
January 16th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Amazing bookstore! …
Amazing bookstore! Jewel of Detroit.
January 16th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
my english class is …
my english class is taking a trip to this book store.
i anticipating the moment i walk in the doors!
January 16th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
if you get the …
if you get the chance to visit this book store pack a lunch, you will be there all day. Greatest bookstore EVER!!!!
January 16th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
so cool, i would …
so cool, i would love to go to that store…
January 16th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
went to this place …
went to this place today and spent $80
goddamn amazing store
January 16th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
You can easily lose …
You can easily lose your whole day in that great store.
January 16th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
This place is …
This place is awesome. Great everything. Tom Reed Chicago, IL