Actually, that depends on the technology/application the bookstore is using. I've chatted with independents since then who are using bookstore-applications (usually with built-in net connection WOAH what fanciness) and a book's purchase triggers the book being added to the next order.
I ended up writing the program we used in my shop (because I hated the interface on the system we originally purchased), and any purchases went into a compiled list -- the thing was, that produced a weekly order. We couldn't do automatic orders because we just weren't going to sell enough in one day to make the shipping costs worth it, so we saved up and ordered once or twice a week. I guess you could say that's semi-automatic.
The automatic element does boost the part I'm saying about there being certain books that you just reorder automatically because, y'know, it sold, so maybe another one will. (The other reason I can see independents not doing that is because with a smaller clientele, you can't always assume that a one-time-order will automatically produce a second sale of the same. Niche books, yeah, possibly. Otherwise, hrmm.)
Although, to be honest, I really enjoyed ordering books one-by-one over the phone, especially with New Leaf. That being all small presses and whatnot, the person would invariably say, "you've got a lot of X and Y topic, this time," and I'd say, "oh, we've got some new customers who are really into that," and the person would say, "then you have GOT to try these books, they just came in, here's the titles," and I'd go, "send, send!" That's one reason I say those folks were awesome. They were like mini-booksellers all by themselves.
Well, that, and the time someone walked in and wanted to know if I could name a book with a blue cover that had a woman holding a candle and the author's name was something like, y'know, Jones. Or maybe Brown? or Smith. Something like that. I was on the phone to New Leaf and in ten minutes one of their phone-guys had the title. They ROCKED. I still remember that moment with great fondness, and the look of absolute shock on the customer's face. Priceless.
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Date: 11 Jan 2009 02:31 am (UTC)I ended up writing the program we used in my shop (because I hated the interface on the system we originally purchased), and any purchases went into a compiled list -- the thing was, that produced a weekly order. We couldn't do automatic orders because we just weren't going to sell enough in one day to make the shipping costs worth it, so we saved up and ordered once or twice a week. I guess you could say that's semi-automatic.
The automatic element does boost the part I'm saying about there being certain books that you just reorder automatically because, y'know, it sold, so maybe another one will. (The other reason I can see independents not doing that is because with a smaller clientele, you can't always assume that a one-time-order will automatically produce a second sale of the same. Niche books, yeah, possibly. Otherwise, hrmm.)
Although, to be honest, I really enjoyed ordering books one-by-one over the phone, especially with New Leaf. That being all small presses and whatnot, the person would invariably say, "you've got a lot of X and Y topic, this time," and I'd say, "oh, we've got some new customers who are really into that," and the person would say, "then you have GOT to try these books, they just came in, here's the titles," and I'd go, "send, send!" That's one reason I say those folks were awesome. They were like mini-booksellers all by themselves.
Well, that, and the time someone walked in and wanted to know if I could name a book with a blue cover that had a woman holding a candle and the author's name was something like, y'know, Jones. Or maybe Brown? or Smith. Something like that. I was on the phone to New Leaf and in ten minutes one of their phone-guys had the title. They ROCKED. I still remember that moment with great fondness, and the look of absolute shock on the customer's face. Priceless.